[jillybean]

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What is 3♥

[DavidKok]

A weak hand with long hearts. For most people, expect approximately 6-11 hcp with 7 hearts.

[mw64ahw]

As David says, but playing the overcall structure it would be an intermediate hand say 6+ 13~17. I've never been quite sure whether either of these bids need to be alerted.

[johnu]

3=3=4=3 with exactly 13 HCP.

2nd choice, preemptive overcall with long hearts, usually 7.

[Cyberyeti]

johnu, on 2026-October-31, 02:18, said:

3=3=4=3 with exactly 13 HCP.

This sounds like a reverse western cue bid type, I have a diamond stop, do you have a running club suit.

[jillybean]

Just another difference in style and yet another sequence to discover with new partners.
Yes, my 3♥ is perhaps a poor bid with AJ Jx

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[Cyberyeti]

If N pulls to 4♥ which I would do suspecting >4 clubs off the top, this is potentially cheap against 3N which I think may make although not sure if anybody will be in it.

[jillybean]

My pard was doing some strange things last night

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Teamies and I still managed to carry him though

[johnu]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-October-31, 02:52, said:

This sounds like a reverse western cue bid type, I have a diamond stop, do you have a running club suit.

I call it Fielder's Choice. Opponents can either double, defend, and earn a big number, or bid on and play double dummy knowing the distribution of every suit and where most if not all of the high cards are.

This bid can also be used when you want to get a new partner but don't want to be the one to break up the partnership.

[jillybean]

lol

[apollo1201]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-31, 10:51, said:

Yes, my 3♥ is perhaps a poor bid with AJ Jx

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A bit pushy maybe at red with 7222 and so-so suit and min strength. But clearly not as poor as partner s 3NT (let alone the final pass).
How much did it go? 1100 or 1400?

[jillybean]

1100.
I wonder about the comments after the hand. Is 3♥ universally strong or was 3nt a punt and the comments more to save face,

[apollo1201]

 jillybean, on 2026-November-01, 09:41, said:

1100.
I wonder about the comments after the hand. Is 3♥ universally strong or was 3nt a punt and the comments more to save face,

3H is almost universally weak. It is rare to play it as intermediate as mentioned by a poster.

Undiscussed, I would take it as a preempt.

But like all conventions, it is best when both partner play it.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-31, 17:37, said:

My pard was doing some strange things last night

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I prefer to have an agreement to bypass the spades with hearts support. It conveys less information to Opener but also to opponents and avoids many awkward auctions like this. YMMV.

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-November-01, 09:56, said:

I prefer to have an agreement to bypass the spades with hearts support. It conveys less information to Opener but also to opponents and avoids many awkward auctions like this. YMMV.

Are you being polite? There are only two reasons why a partner would show their four-card spade suit in lieu of showing four-card support for a 1H opening.

[apollo1201]

 pescetom, on 2026-November-01, 09:56, said:

I prefer to have an agreement to bypass the spades with hearts support. It conveys less information to Opener but also to opponents and avoids many awkward auctions like this. YMMV.

It also allows a cheap overcall by S in a minor, raised by N and then you have to go to the 3 level without consulting partner in a usually only 8-cd fit. 2H could have shut S out. Here with 4-cd support it is even less understandable to mention the S. At least the 3 level is ok provided it does not show extras or SI hand (which is usually implied when support with support with non GF hands).

[pescetom]

apollo1201, on 2026-November-01, 14:27, said:

It also allows a cheap overcall by S in a minor, raised by N and then you have to go to the 3 level without consulting partner in a usually only 8-cd fit. 2H could have shut S out. Here with 4-cd support it is even less understandable to mention the S. At least the 3 level is ok provided it does not show extras or SI hand (which is usually implied when support with support with non GF hands).

Who cares if South can bid a minor (which we can ignore, cue or double) when we have already found fit in a major and communicated Responder's strength?

[johnu]

jillybean, on 2026-November-01, 09:41, said:

Is 3♥ universally strong

3♥ may have been strong in 1930. AFAIK, everybody who played 3♥ strong back then died years ago.

[Cyberyeti]

jillybean, on 2026-November-01, 09:41, said:

1100.
I wonder about the comments after the hand. Is 3♥ universally strong or was 3nt a punt and the comments more to save face,

It's a punt, but not a terrible one, imagine you holding x, AKxxxxx, xx, xxx, your suit is about as bad as it can be at this vul unless you have more than 7, and you can remove in that case.

[apollo1201]

 pescetom, on 2026-November-01, 16:33, said:

Who cares if South can bid a minor (which we can ignore, cue or double) when we have already found fit in a major and communicated Responder's strength?

That is exactly the point. If it goes 2H (3m), opener is in control as you have said a lot (fit and 6-10). While if it goes 1S (2m) pass (3m), you are scr*** as the fit it not located.