[inquiry]

I have always raised with three card support on this type of auction, and am happy with the subsequent bidding. For me the three card raise comes when I have a minimum hand and am unbalanced or have a small side suit doubleton and am unbalanced (as in this case).

Robson/Segal seem to limit their three card raise to the unbalanced variety of minimum hands, as they say the following.

when you have a minimum unbalanced hand with three-card support for partner’s 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ response, show your support
immediately (as a general rule).

and then proceed to give numerous example hands with 3-1-5-4 and 3-2-6-2 as example (more unbalanced than 3-2-5-3, they never show a 3-2-4-4 or 3-2-5-3 raise on three card support, however). They have a couple of pages that explain why raising with three cards "works", and is well worth reading if you fall into the category of people who NEVER raise with three card support.

[Winstonm]

Quote

If partner is weak with 5 ♠ then 2♠ is certainly better than 1NT. If he is weak with 4♠ then 2♠ is probably at least as good as 1NT. If he is stronger then we should be able to sort out exactly where to play.

Besides the above well put reasons by Erik, there may be two other reasons why 2S might be considered superior:

1) Unless partner is 5/4 or 5/5 in the majors, the opponents have an 8-card or more heart fit that is so far undiscovered. Over 1NT, pass, pass they are more likely to find this fit than over 2S, pass, pass.

2) In a 1N contract, we are slightly more likely to get a heart lead than a club lead and my hand is not well suited to handle this development.

That said, I now congratulate all the 1NT bidders when partner puts down:

10xxx, KQ10, Kx, xxxx

WinstonM

[mike777]

2s bidders please keep in mind:

Partner will rebid over 1nt with XYZ if:
1) strong
2) invite
3) weak with 5+s
4) weak with 6+clubs
5) weak with 4 D

If
1D=P=1S=P
1NT=P=P=2H
? We still have option of bidding 2s and playing in 4-3 fit if you choose.

[luis]

2♦ maybe I'm the only one bidding 2♦ but it's more descriptive than 1NT or 2♠ in my humble opinion.

[pclayton]

2♠ of course.

I like 2♣ a little better than 1N at IMPs but v.v at MP's. But both I give 3 to 4 when 2♠ is a 10.

I hate 2♦.

[han]

2S for me to.

Over 1D-1S we bid 1NT with minimal hands and 1453 or 1354 shape, so we always raise with 3 card support.

Over 1C-1S we more often bid 1NT with three cards support. However, with a small doubleton and such a good hand, I would also bid 2S with Jxx xx AQx AQxxx after I had opened 1C. Partner will more often move towards game over 2S than over 1NT, so I prefer to have a reasonable hand for 2S.

[mike777]

A partner, who bids 2s, is worried about:

AKQX=JTX=KXX=JTX where 4s is best or

AQTX=KQX=JXX=KXX Where 3nt is best played by them.


On hand one the bidding could go:

1D=1S
1NT=2D(GAME FORCE)
2S=3H(LIKE 4SF)
(4C)4D=4S

[flytoox]

mike777, on Mar 16 2005, 04:24 PM, said:

2s bidders please keep in mind:

Partner will rebid over 1nt with XYZ if:
1) strong
2) invite
3) weak with 5+s
4) weak with 6+clubs
5) weak with 4 D

If
1D=P=1S=P
1NT=P=P=2H
? We still have option of bidding 2s and playing in 4-3 fit if you choose.

If you bid 2S, they wont have chance to bid 2H at all. And if spade is 1-5, you are likely doubled in the NT then 2S sequence but will not get dbled if you raise to 2S directly.

[flytoox]

luis, on Mar 16 2005, 06:27 PM, said:

2♦ maybe I'm the only one bidding 2♦ but it's more descriptive than 1NT or 2♠ in my humble opinion.

I think 2D is the worst among all choices, worse than 2C or 1N. I think if opps are silent, chance that pd has 5413 is very high.

[flytoox]

whereagles, on Mar 16 2005, 08:16 AM, said:

If I'm playing 3-card raises, I might try 2S. Otherwise I would just bid 1NT.

I think you should play 3-card raise:) Check Lawrence's book about it, I cannot recommend it enough.

[Free]

Flame, on Mar 16 2005, 12:38 PM, said:

What is a fit ? (i thought this mean 8 cards)

Playing 4-3 fits at 2-level is no problem when you have a ruffing value next to the 3 card (♥ in this situation). The game just develops quite similar as if you're playing a 4-4 fit, but one of your opps usually has 4 trumps in his hand If you know you can make grand slams in 4-2 fits (see the site of the Viking Club for example), then 4-3 is too much trumps

[Chamaco]

2S.
I play 3-card raises *with judgment*.

With scattered values, lots of quacks or 4333 I might choose 1NT.

But with a small doubleton and prime values in side suits, I bid 2S here.

[Brandal]

inquiry, on Mar 16 2005, 08:30 AM, said:

I have always raised with three card support on this type of auction, and am happy with the subsequent bidding. For me the three card raise comes when I have a minimum hand and am unbalanced or have a small side suit doubleton and am unbalanced (as in this case).

Robson/Segal seem to limit their three card raise to the unbalanced variety of minimum hands, as they say the following.

when you have a minimum unbalanced hand with three-card support for partner?s 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ response, show your support
immediately (as a general rule).

and then proceed to give numerous example hands with 3-1-5-4 and 3-2-6-2 as example (more unbalanced than 3-2-5-3, they never show a 3-2-4-4 or 3-2-5-3 raise on three card support, however). They have a couple of pages that explain why raising with three cards "works", and is well worth reading if you fall into the category of people who NEVER raise with three card support.

I bid 2D

I know my "ways" are ancient,fossile,simple
so I describe my hand best I can.

I don't sit and wonder if opps will enter or not unless
partner is passed hand,then I might wonder but
still bid 2D

Direct raise=4 cards support with me thank you

[Walddk]

Brandal, on Mar 17 2005, 06:24 AM, said:

Direct raise=4 cards support with me thank you

Yes, Norway is the 3rd country, alongside France and Poland, where they have capital punishment for a 3-card raise

Roland

[Brandal]

Walddk, on Mar 17 2005, 06:59 AM, said:

Brandal, on Mar 17 2005, 06:24 AM, said:

Direct raise=4 cards support with me thank you 

Yes, Norway is the 3rd country, alongside France and Poland, where they have capital punishment for a 3-card raise

Roland

What can I say.....we're insecure

[Fluffy]

Easy 1NTresponse, seriously, where is the problem here?

Can't I show my 2/3 card support and have to invent a 4th card when I can describe my hand accuratelly?

Oh well maybe you don't rebid your 5 card suits when partner is balanced, playing on a 5-2.7 fit its not good enough for you... so be it.

[Brandal]

Fluffy, on Mar 18 2005, 07:49 AM, said:

Easy 1NTresponse, seriously, where is the problem here?

Can't I show my 2/3 card support and have to invent a 4th card when I can describe my hand accuratelly?

Oh well maybe you don't rebid your 5 card suits when partner is balanced, playing on a 5-2.7 fit its not good enough for you... so be it.

Not sure who you responded to,but I like 5-2 fit
alot better than 4-3 on most occasions.

And what is this "easy 1NT,what's the problem" attitude?

Isn't one of the beauties of bridge that 4 people
might have 4 different "easy bid,what's the problem" opinions?



Frode

[Fluffy]

Walddk, on Mar 17 2005, 11:59 AM, said:

Brandal, on Mar 17 2005, 06:24 AM, said:

Direct raise=4 cards support with me thank you 

Yes, Norway is the 3rd country, alongside France and Poland, where they have capital punishment for a 3-card raise

Roland

Hey!, don't forget Spain please, I've been playing for nearly 12 years now, and the only time I have ever seen a 3 card raise from opponent, it was made at the 6 level. After such bid that player asked... what else could I had bid? :-P

[beatrix45]

In my Thursday afternoon 10 cent money game with the girls, 1NT would be automatic because I get to play the hand. At matchpoints with a good partner, I like the pressure bid aspect of 2S - the spade 9 is a big card in this situation. Under any circumstances, I really hate the idea of 2D with that suit.

Trixie

[P_Marlowe]

1 NT.

Describing my shape and my point count range.
Partner will seldom pass 1NT, epesially if he
has a 5 card suit, and minimal values, since
in this case 2S will always play better, even if
the fit willl be only 5-2.

If they balance, I can always bid 2S later, sure
sometimes they will buy the contract on the
3 level, or the balancing made their defense
easier, but so be it, ... and sometimes I will have
additional information how to play the hand.

Another reason: if you play NMF or other convention
after an NT rebid by opener, why do you want to ruine
your constructive bidding or make it more difficult

Someone mentioned Robson / Segal, which are a lot better
than me. But they will have an additional set of conventions
to get the 3 card raises going.
Addional set, because they will also have a convtional set
after opener rebids NT.
This is to much for my memory.

With kind regards
Marlowe