[Phil]

Emboldened by some recent success a correspondent sends this hand:

W/W mps

Xxx ax kx jxxxxx

1d (p) 1n (2S);
3C (3S) ?

[mike777]

Non expert response but I will try 4h now.

[WesleyC]

I'd bid 4H.

Hopefully showing a slam try in clubs with a heart control.

[ahydra]

Doesn't this sequence by opener show a weak shapely hand rather than bags of strength, particularly since responder has implied clubs by bidding 1NT? I'd expect e.g. x Kx QJxxx AQxxx, with a stronger hand doubling first. Indeed given the opps have shown no interest in hearts I wouldn't be surprised to find him with 1354.

So I'll just settle for 5C.

ahydra

[mike777]

If pard is 1=3=5=4

The very worst hand for her is:

x...xxx...AQJTx..AKxx

and she could have much more.

If pard has opened some highly dist hand with few hcp or quick tricks then she should have an easy 5c bid now.
If pard has rebid 3c on very few quick tricks or aces and kings then Houston we have a problem.

[billw55]

This hand just got a lot better. 5♣ for me. 4♥ is possible but the chance of a misunderstanding seems high.

[mikeh]

billw55, on 2015-March-18, 13:01, said:

This hand just got a lot better. 5♣ for me. 4♥ is possible but the chance of a misunderstanding seems high.

I realize that no-one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the general public, and for many of us, bridge partners, but surely 4♥ cannot possibly be misunderstood by an intermediate player. Put another, more accurate way, I don't think anyone worthy of the 'rank' of intermediate will pass 4♥, altho I accept that many of them may well be seriously puzzled by it.

So I think it is worth the call, since no way is it being passed. And if it is, then we and partner have both learned something, at the cost of just an admittedly spectacular zero. That is a lot cheaper than the prices I have paid over the years in my learning experiences (here, we have a name for such results: character building).

[Phil]

So when given the hand I thought 4♥ was pretty obvious. Even at MPs, they play slam bonuses - we need x xx AQJxx AKxxx to be stone cold and even a little less makes it good?

The problem is our partner bid 3♣ on Ax Qxx AQxx Qxxx and 10 tricks was the limit. After all, don't we have an implied fit in a minor, and they have an eight card spade fit?

Because we need to give partner a little room, they thought a gentle raise to 4♣ was indicated.

[gszes]

We have already limited our hand with 1n and our distribution (we cannot suddenly have a heart suit) somewhat with 1N also and this hand has suddenly taken on the looks of a monster. P with 3 non spade aces and out might be enough for slam and they took a free 3c bid. If this hand has not become slam oriented I have wasted a good deal of time learning this fine sport. I will trot out the completely obvious 4h and if that does not get a rise out of partner we can always settle in 5c.

HEHE I have just finished reading all of the other posts and it figures that the player with the umm highly optimistic 3c bid would hand out free advice:)))))))))))))))))))))))))

[mike777]

Well Mr. Roth would have opened 1c and said what's the problem.

[nige1]

Phil, on 2015-March-18, 11:41, said:

Emboldened by some recent success a correspondent sends this hand:
W/W mps ♠ x x x ♥ A x ♦ K x ♣ J x x x x x
1♦ (_P) 1N (2♠);
3♣ (3♠) ??

IMO 4♠ = 10, 4N = 9, 4♥ = 8, 6♣ = 7, 5♣ = 6. 4♣ = 5. 4♥ might be best if it's unambiguously a cue-bid.

[Phil]

What is this ambiguity surrounding 4♥??? Can someone explain this please?

[nige1]

rubbish deleted

[Mbodell]

Phil, on 2015-March-18, 20:06, said:

What is this ambiguity surrounding 4♥??? Can someone explain this please?

Well there is a question about if it is investigating slam in clubs or diamonds. Clubs is more likely, but diamonds isn't impossible.

[mike777]

guys I GUESS as an nonexpert I got this very wrong..I bid 4h in my first post as a grand try.

Over 4s will bid 7c

void...xxx...AQJTx...AKxxx


over 6c=pass
over 5c I pass but I wonder what the heck pard has for her bidding.

If 4c is our limit then Houston we have a problem.

[ahydra]

Phil, on 2015-March-18, 16:48, said:

The problem is our partner bid 3♣ on Ax Qxx AQxx Qxxx

I blame whoever removed the pass cards from partner's bidding box.

ahydra

[fourdad]

ahydra, on 2015-March-19, 04:54, said:

I blame whoever removed the pass cards from partner's bidding box.

ahydra

BINGO!!

[Zelandakh]

Which system is everyone assuming in their answers? I cannot see whether 1NT is SA, forcing or semi-forcing, nor the meanings of X and 2NT at Opener's rebid, all of which seems like relevant information. That said, stopping for 10 tricks here seems like a .

[WesleyC]

White at MPs, I have have some sympathy for your partner's 3C bid.

From experience, I also know that the correct response to any question relating to such a 3C bid is "Sorry Partner".

[Phil]

I told him that if he were to bid that x has more appeal than 3♣.

In our partnership, 2N is g/b which at least makes some sense.

Regardless, 3♣ is crackers.