[haver]

Sp A,K
H 8,6,4,3
D A, J,10,9,7,5,4

Third seat, vul. against nonv. Bidding goes: pass, 1 Sp - ur turn

[Codo]

Hi,

this hand is a piece of cake for the polish or raptor NT:
1 NT shows 4 Hearts and 5+ in a minor. 8 and more HCPs.

In the later bidding, you show your extra strength and length.

Another sometimes useful tool to solve this problem is the "equal level conversion double". A double followed by a switch at the same level does not promise extra strength. So here after
pass - (1SP)- X- pass
2 CLub-pass 2 Diamond

shows this hand...But if they disturb, or pd jumps in clubs, you have a problem.

For the guys who prefer "KISS"es to science:
Bid 2 Diamond, treating the Hearts as a three carder. Two diamond is just right and enough opposite many hands from pd but sometimes it may loose a Heart, NT or Diamond game. But then, Pd may bid on anyway.
Okay, opposite xxx,A,KQxx,xxxxx you just misses a grand slam , but opposite
Qxx,QJx,xx,KQJxx you are high enough...

Kind Regards

Roland

[the hog]

Roland is right. Not playing Raptor, I ignore the H suit and bid 2D.
(in my heart of hearts I actually have sympathy with 5)

[chronos]

Polish/Raport would be my preference if played, but I'd want to bid 2D at the table.

With agreement that partner cue raises with strong hands, Double would be nice, but that needs to be agreed. Hopefully, partner will bid 2H with a D fit or a good hand.

The question is, will you bid 3H after the following auction:
(1S) 2D / 2NT
/ ?

Chronos.

[the hog]

Probably Justin, as I reckon I can stand 4D; the other question is "Will you read this as a 4 card suit?"

[Free]

I bid DBL! Partner knows I have a 4-card H, and if he doesn't support I bid C showing a very strong hand with C (about 8 playing tricks). If you can play 4H, you should do that, because you still have AK of Spades to get at the table easily.

And those who bid 2D, I think that's underbidding your hand! You have only 4 losers. Give p 5 HCP in C and only 2 hearts and it's 5D without much problems.

With DBL you can give a better description of your hand, whatever partner bids.

[Codo]

Hi Free,

if your bidding is always like in this threat, I know why you say 1 down is good bridge....
If pd has just 5 Hcps in clubs, you will never reach him. Please notice, that you are chicane in his suit.
Sure, you will miss a game opps. xxx,xx,KQxx,xxxx.
But who cares? Never play pd for perfect cards.
And if you and your pd have this hands, they have both short diamonds, an eight card spade fit, a nine card club fit and half of the deck. Do they really pass then in Belgium? I will doubt that....

Kind Regards

Roland

[Free]

Why bid 2D with 4 (!!!) losers and 12HCP??? I think it's really underbidding your hand...

[the hog]

X is a very poor bid with a C void. A bid of 2D will not end the auction by any means.

[inquiry]

I don't have a lot to add to this thread. As stated elsewhere, I like raptor, and would (hesitantly) use it on this hand (that four card heart suit looks very much like a three card suit to me). If raptor wasn't available and if i was playing equal level double conversion I STILL WOULD NOT double with this hand. Without raptor, the only choice is 2Diamonds.

Haver, can we see the other hands?

Ben