[kenberg]

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Mps, no one vul. Partner opens 1NT. It may not be everyone's choice but I transferred to spades and passed. In fact we can take nine tricks in either major, but they can take nine tricks in diamonds so even if we double 4♦, playing in spades is better. My general view is that with this much shape bidding 2♣ makes it too easy for them to get in.

Anyway, in later discussion partner mentioned that playing with someone else he hald a hand much lie this one, he bid 2♣, and indeed they did come in. I think he said it went:

1NT-Pass-2♣-X
2♦-3♣-?

There is a recent thread where it is asserted, and I agreed, that in competitive auctions bidding 3♠ over 3♣ is simply competitive, but usually that is when the trump suit has been established. What would you make of a 3♠ bid here? It was at least partly to avoid such problems that I skipped over Stayman and just transferred.

[ggwhiz]

On such a hand as this slow heart losers go away on minor suit winners and a bad split with hearts as trumps is not a factor so unless you were going to invite a light game I'm 100% with the transfer to spades.

[SteveMoe]

Best to treat this hand as weak with ♠ so a transfer is right. The ♦Q is not working.

Change to ♠KJ10xxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣xx and I would bit 2♣ Stayman. Then over partner's 2♦ response, I'd risk a 4♥ Delayed Texas transfer to ♠. 6.5 losers opposite 1NT should play for game.

[kenberg]

 SteveMoe, on 2014-January-01, 16:25, said:

Best to treat this hand as weak with ♠ so a transfer is right. The ♦Q is not working.

Change to ♠KJ10xxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣xx and I would bit 2♣ Stayman. Then over partner's 2!D response, I'd risk a 4♥ Delayed Texas transfer to ♠. 6.5 losers opposite 1NT should play for game.

Right. That's stronger and if they come in over 2♣, as likely they will, I am fine with driving it to 4♠ and letting the chips fall as they may.

[gszes]

The transfer here is vastly superior to stayman for a couple of reasons. Avoiding the

opps coming in at a low level is one the other (maybe even more important) is that the

worst case scenario you have a 8 card spade fit opposite a 8 card heart fit that plays

better. Using stayman it maybe possible to lose out on a ten card spade fit in favor of

a 8 card heart fit (ackkkkkkkkkkkkkkk) so avoiding this problem is even more important

than worring about the opps getting in at a low level:)))))))))))))))))))

[Zelandakh]

Over a strong NT I am also in favour of the simple transfer. Over a weak NT, Texas or a direct 4♠ would probably be a common response. In your auction I think a sensible way of playing after 3♣ would be for 3M to be competitive and X to ask for a 3 card major fragment. Partner can hardly have a penalty pass here if 2♦ denied a club stopper.

[whereagles]

The hand has 8 losers. A strong NT has an average of 4 cover cards, so 9 tricks is statistically the limit.

Just transfer to spades. If pard happens to superaccept, there are good chances of 5 cover cards across, so if it happens, bid game.