[pescetom]

One of our promising beginners sent me this delightful board, asking how to bid.
I was impressed that he opened 4♠, but I/A should be able to do better.

MP

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Your opening bid?

[mw64ahw]

1♠ - 1N - 3♠ shows this hcp/playing strength for me
or
1♠ - 2m/♥ - 3♠ SI

[jillybean]

1♠
If partner support spades or makes a 2/1 this will be interesting, any other action and my next bid is 4♠

[pescetom]

I am not a fan of counting losers, but I would be curious to know how those who do count this hand

I think it will be 1♠ for everybody?


MP

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If so, the response is 2♦ (unconditional game force, 5+ diamonds, does not deny any degree of spades support).

[pescetom]

Bonus question to those who would bid 3♠ SI fixing trumps... what would bidding 2♠ and then 3♠ show and does it still fix trumps?

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-08, 02:01, said:

Bonus question to those who would bid 3♠ SI fixing trumps... what would bidding 2♠ and then 3♠ show and does it still fix trumps?

I don't play this system, but to me it would show a long but not strong spade suit like KJ8xxxx(x) that needs some support

[jillybean]

I have 2N available to show 6 spades.
2S 3S does not exist.

3S sets trump and asks partner to cue.
Finding Aces and voids won't be easy.

[bluenikki]

pescetom, on 2026-September-07, 15:34, said:

One of our promising beginners sent me this delightful board, asking how to bid.
I was impressed that he opened 4♠, but I/A should be able to do better.

MP

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Your opening bid?

The partnership needs to have an agreement on the differences between

4♠

1♠ - 1NT - 4♠

1♠ - 2x - 4♠

To me, 1♠ - any - 3♠ guarantees more defense than this hand.

[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-08, 03:53, said:

I don't play this system, but to me it would show a long but not strong spade suit like KJ8xxxx(x) that needs some support

Yes that's one possibility, although I prefer 1♠-2x;4♠ for that (I don't like that controls-nuking jump being anything with decent chance to make slam opposite some reasonably possible hand).
Another possibility is SI but promising 7+ cards, with the jump to 3♠ exactly 6 cards.
Or simply desire to learn more about Responder's shape/intentions before committing to control bids.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-September-08, 05:21, said:

3S sets trump and asks partner to cue.
Finding Aces and voids won't be easy.

MP

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Serious, first or second level clubs control.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-08, 06:49, said:

Serious, first or second level clubs control.

How serious is serious ? (I don't play it)

Can we construct a hand with only one ace that makes the serious 4♣ bid ?

If not just ask aces

[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-08, 07:27, said:

How serious is serious ? (I don't play it)

Not very. In a situation like this where partner has shown at least mild slam interest, Non-serious is only really likely when trumps are unexpectedly poor given the auction - but here Opener already said he is prepared to play opposite a singleton.

Here it would probably be better to play 3NT as something else (natural/singleton, hearts control, keycard parity), but systems are systems.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-08, 08:47, said:

Not very. In a situation like this where partner has shown at least mild slam interest, Non-serious is only really likely when trumps are unexpectedly poor given the auction - but here Opener already said he is prepared to play opposite a singleton.

Here it would probably be better to play 3NT as something else (natural/singleton, hearts control, keycard parity), but systems are systems.

Is a quacky 13 like x, QJx, QJ109x, AQJx serious ? if not, go straight to Blackwood.

[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-08, 07:27, said:

Can we construct a hand with only one ace that makes the serious 4♣ bid ?

Not easily. Although I bet Davidkok would chide us for not having bid 2S to learn more about his hand

[jillybean]

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[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-08, 09:02, said:

Is a quacky 13 like x, QJx, QJ109x, AQJx serious ?

I would bid Non-serious on that, although with a heavy heart, especially if he now bids 4♦.

[pescetom]

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[jillybean]

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[WasWinM]

I'm late to this thread but I really do not like 1S-3S. I'm in the 1-4 group. Over 2D, I don't bid 3S then, either, as that to me is solid suit. I simply bid 1234 spades unless partner gives me an earlier reason to get more excited.

[mike777]

Three spades is not a request for control bidding, it is a demand. Granted this is a very rare auction.

Of course responder does not show shortness without spades.

Please remember responder made a 2/1 gf bid