[pescetom]

One of the more interesting hands from yesterday.

Let's start with these two possibilities:

a)

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b)

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[mw64ahw]

a) 1♣ 3+?
b) 3♥ stopper ask
c) slam potential in ♣

[pescetom]

mw64ahw, on 2026-August-20, 15:26, said:

a) 1♣ 3+?

It says 2+
Only in 4=4=3=2, 1♦ would always be 4+.
1NT 15-17, in this case no 5cM.

mw64ahw, on 2026-August-20, 15:26, said:

b) 3♥ stopper ask

I would take it as a GF raise in clubs, but that is one of the many reasons of post.

[paulg]

On the first auction this looks like a simple 2♣, an inverted minor raise and we'll go from here. Of course there will often be doubt about how forcing this is, but I expect you'll be rebidding 3♦ so that will not matter.

For the second auction, I think the most common continuations (in the UK) after a two-suited overcall when both suits are known is "cheapest cue is a good raise, higher cue is FG other major". This might not be optimal but at least it is simple, so 3♦ would show good clubs here.

With my wife, who is int/adv and plays few conventions, I would respond 3♦ to show a good hand, probably with club support, and a stop in diamonds (when there are two suits to cue, bid the suit you hold), which rates to work better on this hand.

An option is to double as you have a good diamond holding. But your heart length means that you will probably find it difficult to catch them so making a more descriptive call feels better to me.

When playing a short club I always expect partner to hold a weak no trump so, initially, I am not thinking about a club slam; perhaps later.

[pescetom]

paulg, on 2026-August-20, 15:46, said:

On the first auction this looks like a simple 2♣, an inverted minor raise and we'll go from here. Of course there will often be doubt about how forcing this is, but I expect you'll be rebidding 3♦ so that will not matter.

In Italy nobody plays inverted minors as such (1♦-2♦ is good old natural) but 1♣-2♣ is a "2/1" GF (analogous to 1♦-2♣) which seems automatic here.

paulg, on 2026-August-20, 15:46, said:

For the second auction, I think the most common continuations (in the UK) after a two-suited overcall when both suits are known is "cheapest cue is a good raise, higher cue is FG other major". This might not be optimal but at least it is simple, so 3♦ would show good clubs here.

Interesting, thanks. My understanding of traditional Unusual over Unusual is that the cheaper cue is an invitational raise and the higher cue is a GF raise.

[mike777]

1) It seems too easy 3H splinter. Hopefully splinters are allowed in Italy, smile
2) I bid whatever our game forcing bid is over unusual NT, for me that is a cuebid in the higher ranking suit the opponent is showing, in this case 3H. Double is an option, however, will probably lead to a more confused auction for nonexpert level players...but could be very profitable if handled well.

[akwoo]

I have been convinced that the right way to play UvU is that the cheaper cue is a gf showing the 4th suit and the higher cue is limit+ raise.