[jillybean]

Even when we get a top board, some boards demand post game discussion.

---

Here we took all tricks on a diamond lead (8754), if East starts with his ♠A from AKxx we are -1

I tend to fall in love rather quickly. Here I was looking at a potential double fit in the minors, plenty of points for game and being conditioned to avoid minor games,
I want to probe for nt.

My bid here should be 3♣/2♣, invitational which gets us to a safe (IMP) 5 clubs. Trust partner.

I did have a chuckle with partner about our spade stoppers, of course his Qx is a stopper when I have shown half a stopper.

[WasWinM]

To me, 2S is simply fourth suit forcing, saying or asking nothing about spades but creating a game force, which, btw, I do not think that hand is worthy of creating.
The 2NT bid then becomes an abomination: 3D is enough. Once you know partner is at least 64 in the minors, NT isn't nearly so inviting.

[jillybean]

For us, 2♠ does create a GF, it could be nothing about spades but our first responsibility is to show half a stopper, unless we have a better bid.
Yes, my "plenty of points for game" was a tad sarcastic but this hand definitely has potential.

[WasWinM]

jillybean, on 2026-July-18, 09:36, said:

For us, 2♠ does create a GF, it could be nothing about spades but our first responsibility is to show half a stopper, unless we have a better bid.
Yes, my "plenty of points for game" was a tad sarcastic but this hand definitely has potential.

It looked to me as though south confused this 2S bid with the impossible 2S after a forcing NT. I agree there is potential, but that potential can be shown with a simple 3C bid, after which North can show his slight extras with 3D. Personally, I abandoned the whole idea of showing half-stoppers decades ago.

[jillybean]

I decided to force game, 2♠ is my only method, partner showed half a stopper.
I'm not sure what you are referring to regarding 2S after a forcing NT, or did you mean a non forcing nt - we have xyz.

[apollo1201]

 jillybean, on 2026-July-18, 11:13, said:

I decided to force game, 2♠ is my only method, partner showed half a stopper.
I'm not sure what you are referring to regarding 2S after a forcing NT, or did you mean a non forcing nt - we have xyz.

The sequence is 1H 1NT 2C 2S. Having denied a S suit, the only way to show a strong enthusiasm (more than 3C) is 2S, an impossible bid since every1 knows you don t have them.

[jillybean]

apollo1201, on 2026-July-18, 11:40, said:

The sequence is 1H 1NT 2C 2S. Having denied a S suit, the only way to show a strong enthusiasm (more than 3C) is 2S, an impossible bid since every1 knows you don t have them.

yes, different auction entirely

[pescetom]

3♣ was much better than 2♠, but I think the original sin was 2♣ rather than 2♦.
I am a firm believer in privileging showing the second suit of 6-4 whenever possible, but IMHO it is not reasonable here, in misfit and with admirable diamonds and dreadful clubs.

[off to pay penitence for blowing an assured place in the WC finals]

[mike777]

For a Saturday night😎 I don't think enough conventions have been mentioned yet on this hand.

As North I would rebid an artificial but F1 1NT showing clubs.

Now South can have an invitational XYZ auction in clubs. Stopping in 2C is never an option..
I don't think the South hand is worth a gf auction..

No doubt down losing 2 spades and a club

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-July-18, 17:24, said:

As North I would rebid an artificial but F1 1NT showing clubs.

What's this called?
Are you unable to stop in 1nt after 1D 1H?

[WasWinM]

jillybean, on 2026-July-18, 11:13, said:

I decided to force game, 2♠ is my only method, partner showed half a stopper.

I submit the important question to answer is why did you think it OK to unilaterally commit your partnership to game with this hand?

[jillybean]

It's IMPs, we are vulnerable, the opponents are silent.
My partner has not opened 1nt 12-14
He is showing a 2 suited hand 65 64 55 (I hope 6x)
I have a distributional 10 count with a couple of 10's
My hand has improved after the 2♣ rebid, my club holding is now spectacular.

We are playing in the MBC against weaker opponents, I like testing our limits, my partner is an excellent declarer.
This is a learning session for me, I like to have fun.

We discussed this afterwards and agreed by response was 3♣

[WasWinM]

jillybean, on 2026-July-18, 20:15, said:

It's IMPs, we are vulnerable, the opponents are silent.
My partner has not opened 1nt 12-14
He is showing a 2 suited hand 65 64 55 (I hope 6x)
I have a distributional 10 count with a couple of 10's
My hand has improved after the 2♣ rebid, my club holding is now spectacular.

We are playing in the MBC against weaker opponents, I like testing our limits, my partner is an excellent declarer.
This is a learning session for me, I like to have fun.

We discussed this afterwards and agreed by response was 3♣

It's important to establish good habits, even in friendly practice games. Learning to trust your partner's input on decisions is part of that.

[jillybean]

WasWinM, on 2026-July-18, 20:49, said:

It's important to establish good habits, even in friendly practice games. Learning to trust your partner's input on decisions is part of that.

Yes, I think I'm getting better at that as I play with better players

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-July-18, 19:48, said:

What's this called?
Are you unable to stop in 1nt after 1D 1H?

Perhaps if it goes
1d-1H
1S-1NT


It is called unbalanced diamond

[AL78]

Why did East decide to lead top of nothing in declarer's primary suit instead of leading A from AK?