[ahydra]

Cross-IMPs, NS vul.

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NS playing 5cM with a weak NT. How do we locate the spade fit?

ahydra

[TylerE]

4♣ = Game going values with equal length in the majors.

That said, I'm not really a huge fan of N's double.

[steve2005]

North must pass.

[apollo1201]

X in this situation is (usually) 44 M or 5S and not enough strength to bid 2S (to pull out partner’s 2H). When you have H’s, it is better to have 3S to land in an ok-ish fit in case partner bids 2S. Or a back-up plan (2NT...).
All that implies that S with both M’s should bid 2H.
All that also implies that with this hand, N could have passed. After all, we all have 13 cards, no need to emphasize it sometimes.

[mikeh]

If North passes, in what universe does south reopen? He is so ready for north to bid diamonds....not!

It’s not that I am crazy about the double, but to suggest that the way to find spades is for north to pass makes no sense to me.

Also, to suggest that south has a 4C bid after double is nuts. Surely a 4C bid looks maybe like AKJx KJxx x Axxx? North is unlimited and bidding 4C on the OP hand is asking for trouble should North have values, since he should move towards slam, and south’s hand will prove very disappointing


Back in the real world, if North doubles, it is arguable that there should be a distinction between the powerhouse 4C, which is silly on this hand, and 3C. Both are ‘cuebids’, since South would pass the double with long clubs, with any texture at all. Therefore one could play 3C as less than gameforce, and one could argue that South, barely, has enough for the action.

I doubt that many partnerships have discussed this.

[TylerE]

mikeh, on 2019-June-08, 06:02, said:

Also, to suggest that south has a 4C bid after double is nuts. Surely a 4C bid looks maybe like AKJx KJxx x Axxx? North is unlimited and bidding 4C on the OP hand is asking for trouble should North have values, since he should move towards slam, and south’s hand will prove very disappointing

Gotta listen to the auction. Opponents have at least, say, 15 points between them. North should be able to figure out the best his partner can have. Only 40 points in the deck.

[mikeh]

TylerE, on 2019-June-08, 14:15, said:

Gotta listen to the auction. Opponents have at least, say, 15 points between them. North should be able to figure out the best his partner can have. Only 40 points in the deck.

Oh, I see. 2C shows 15 hcp. Odd that you know that, when the OP doesn’t provide that clue. Plus, I gather that in your world, one never goes beyond game unless satisfied that your side has 30+ hcp.

I suspect you and I don’t play the same game.

[TylerE]

mikeh, on 2019-June-08, 16:26, said:

Oh, I see. 2C shows 15 hcp. Odd that you know that, when the OP doesn’t provide that clue.

OP did provide the clue. E opened, W responded.

[smerriman]

TylerE, on 2019-June-08, 17:38, said:

OP did provide the clue. E opened, W responded.

Er, S opened, W overcalled.

[bravejason]

What does west’s 2C bid mean?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

with me as North, you may be defending 2C.

I dont think the X by North is bad, it is just borderline, and
a 50:50 proposition.
On reflection, playing a weak NT, you have to make the neg. X.

There is no blame missing the spade fit.
If you have / allow to stretch to make a neg. X, opener cant go
crazy if he happens to hold the strong NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe