[WGF_Flame]

I am not sure about the following sequence:
1♠ - D - P - 3♥
P - 3NT

What is the meaning of this 3NT, must it be too strong for an initial 1NT overcall or its just an acceptance of the 3♥ invitation with a nice 14 points.

If it can be both, then there is a new question, should partner switch from 3nt to 4♥ with a 5 card suit (lets say unbalance)
and if he does, should the 3NT bidder bid a natural 4NT now with 19 points and 2 hearts ? (this actually doesnt make sense sicne responder could have a 6 card suit)

Thanks in advance
Sharom

[gnasher]

Any 14-count that would make a takeout double of 1♠ would also be a raise to 4♥. Hence 3NT is either a balanced hand too strong of a 1NT overcall, or some other hand that was too strong for an overcall. Advancer wouldn't remove to 4♥ with only five of them, so if he did bid 4♥ the other hand would usually pass.

[WGF_Flame]

gnasher, on 2013-December-15, 09:19, said:

Any 14-count that would make a takeout double of 1♠ would also be a raise to 4♥. Hence 3NT is either a balanced hand too strong of a 1NT overcall, or some other hand that was too strong for an overcall. Advancer wouldn't remove to 4♥ with only five of them, so if he did bid 4♥ the other hand would usually pass.

I'm talking about hands like AX KXX KXXX KQXX (this is 15 hcp, but could be nice 14 for the question)
It would be great if 3NT would show such a hand, and let partner decide where to play, and avoid playing a 4-3 fit.

[aguahombre]

WGF_Flame, on 2013-December-15, 09:33, said:

I'm talking about hands like AX KXX KXXX KQXX (this is 15 hcp, but could be nice 14 for the question)
It would be great if 3NT would show such a hand, and let partner decide where to play, and avoid playing a 4-3 fit.

This is a good question and an interesting thread, IMO. I would really hate to overcall 1NT with that hand initially. So, the question really is whether Doubler is bidding 3NT because of the 3H advance, and therefore does not have a (say) 19-count --- or is bidding despite the 3H advance and does have the too-strong NT hand.

Would the hand with appropriate strength but only 4 hearts bid 3♥? Or would she cue bid 2♠ instead? I would simply raise this 3H advance to 4 with your AX KXX KXXX KQXX regardless of the answer to that question.

This leaves the 3NT rebid as a too-strong hand with only 2 hearts.

[monikrazy]

18-21 points with 1-2 hearts. (Normally this would promise exactly 2 hearts but opener might prefer a double with a hand like AK x AQxxx AQxxx or AJx x AQxxx AKxx to unusual NT since 3N could be difficult to find after 2N.



Agree that partner should never bid 3H with only 4 cards, but could bid 3S with the 15-point hand described to inquire about suitability for NT.

[WGF_Flame]

How do you define your 2s cue bid playing that style of which 3h show 5 cards?

[aguahombre]

WGF_Flame, on 2013-December-15, 16:50, said:

How do you define your 2s cue bid playing that style of which 3h show 5 cards?

Another good question on topic. For this specific case (1S X), we use the cue as inv+ with only 4 hearts and give up a natural 2NT advance because of low frequency. So, 2NT would be same strength to pick a minor. With a NT advance, we choose 1NT or 3NT forsaking the 2NT invite.

On 1H X, we can do the same with only 4S. Advancing 1m X, however, the cue is for choice of Major, but our low end is lower than standard..could be as few as 7 pts, in anticipation of opener rebidding his minor.

Sort of like a "Responsive" cue bid style, where if their suit were raised by RHO we would double.

[gnasher]

WGF_Flame, on 2013-December-15, 09:33, said:

I'm talking about hands like AX KXX KXXX KQXX (this is 15 hcp, but could be nice 14 for the question)
It would be great if 3NT would show such a hand, and let partner decide where to play, and avoid playing a 4-3 fit.

Advancer usually has five hearts for 3♥, but even if he has only four that doesn't make 3NT the right contract. With that hand I'd expect the 4-3 fit to play better than 3NT, unless partner has a second spade stop. Imagine partner with xxx QJ10x Axx Axx - where do you want to play?