[lhrljr]

Recently I had played a pickup game and was dealt the following hand as West in first seat. Scoring is matchpoints.

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Here it seems to me that there are 3 options that I can possibly choose from: 3♥ as some kind of help suit invite, or 3♠/4♠ to play.

I had decided to take the low road of 3♠, and ended up missing game. Below is the full deal.

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I was wondering what you guys would choose to bid after East's 3♦ bid and why, as well as whether East could/should have done something differently to help our side find game. Thanks a lot everyone

[eagles123]

4 spades seems quite normal you have a singleton and two aces. not saying it's always going to make, but yeah I think most would bid 4S in their sleep to be honest opposite a 4 card limit raise.

[Tramticket]

For a more objective answer, you should hold back on showing the hand until people have voted.

But I think I would bid 4S - even without the double-dummy hint. My hand looks rather nice once the fit is found.

[apollo1201]

I was told that when you have a singleton, you should accept such invites except if the singleton is the reason that led you to open.

The hand is a very good 12 HCP: 2 A, a combined KJ, a singleton. Even at MPs, I accept. Especially facing a partner who seems to be more on the conservative side. I guess some E would impose game with that hand.

Last, I am not sure however that 3H is a help suit for H, it is the only step before 3S.

[helene_t]

If you open a soundish "rule of 20" or so, East has a game force, not a limit bid. This is a very good 11-counts with all points in the long suits, and no jacks. With 4-card support the small doubleton is worth about 2 HCPs.

On the other hand, if you open fairly light (so that West would still have opened if ♦A had been the queen), then West has enough to accept the invite. The singleton has extra weight when you have a 9-card fit, and two aces plus a king is above-average honour composition for suit contracts.

If you have a very sound style so that West's hand is an absolute minimum, then maybe 3♠ is ok, but otherwise West can always bid 3♥. Discuss with p what this means. It is the only bid available below 3♠ so maybe it should be a general game try, but on the other hand, p has shown a limit bid so it's a bit silly to ask if he has a half a point more than what he has promised. On this hand, it would be nice if it was a natural game try, but that is maybe not the most useful definition of the bid.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

3H.

I am better than min, so 3S is not an Option, but do I have enough for game, espesially at MP?
My answer would be no, but …

With Kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Seeing the East Hand, East is max. for the 3D call, he will accept.