[karlson]

♠K9x ♥Kxx ♦Qxx ♣KJxx

Partner opens 1♦, unbalanced (5♦ unless (4441)). You bid 2N natural invitational, and partner bids 3♥ (natural and game forcing).

3N or 4♦? (or something else?)

[the hog]

Depends on your agreements. If 3S expresses doubts about a S stopper, then I bid that, else i bid 3NT. You are a long way from 5D with more than half of your points in the black suits.

[kenrexford]

What's the philosophy behind partner's 3♥ call?

In my perfect world, Opener only bids 3♥ in one of two scenarios. He's either bidding around the stiff (and hence has shown a stiff club) or he has slam interest with diamonds and hearts. (3♠ would be clear, as Opener won't isolate two stiffs, 3♣ is unclear, but there is space to resolve.)

In either world, 3NT seems clear. Not particularly slammish opposite a heart-diamond two-suiter, but perfect for 3NT opposite a stiff club.

Deciding what to do is not a matter of hand evaluation as much as a matter of understanding what 3♥ is supposed to mean. The "he has hearts" definition seems silly unless it is a purposeful call.

[karlson]

To Ken: What does opener do in your perfect world with xx AKJx AKJxx xx? or for that matter with x AQJx AKJxx xxx? or x KQxxx AJxxxx x?

No sarcasm intended, maybe this all can work, but to me those all look like 3♥ bids, and i wouldn't really jump at calling them "slam interest".

[kenrexford]

karlson, on Aug 20 2009, 09:53 PM, said:

To Ken: What does opener do in your perfect world with xx AKJx AKJxx xx? or for that matter with x AQJx AKJxx xxx? or x KQxxx AJxxxx x?

No sarcasm intended, maybe this all can work, but to me those all look like 3♥ bids, and i wouldn't really jump at calling them "slam interest".

With 2-4-5-2, I actually would open 1♣ if playing a true "unbalanced diamond." If you are playing am "unbalanced or quasi-balanced 1♦," that's different. (I may sound like I'm being ridiculously technical, but my understanding of the treatment, as I play it anyway, is that it promises a stiff or void somewhere).

With a COV 1-4-5-3, I'd bid 3♣ even though my clubs suck. Three clubs, opposite a balanced hand (presumablu with no four-card major) is fine, even if 4-3-2 in the suit. Works for me.

With 1-5-6-1 shape, I'm planning on rebidding hearts again. Sure, that's not technically "slammish" on its own. But, take your actual hand. If partner has one black Ace, one red Ace, and one red King, an 11-HCP hand, I probably do want to be in slam.

[Phil]

Many play 3♥ as shortness. This helps us find 5♦ when its right.

I would think your partner will have shortness 80% of the time for a 1♦ opener. If its in spades (and our 2N shut out LHO's spade overcall), a spade lead is a real concern, but I have no real way of knowing.

[Cascade]

Shortness bids are usually much more help to partner judging whether to play 3NT or 5minor. Or maybe even 4Major on some hands perhaps in a Moysian.

[the hog]

karlson, on Aug 21 2009, 09:53 AM, said:

To Ken: What does opener do in your perfect world with xx AKJx AKJxx xx? or for that matter with x AQJx AKJxx xxx? or x KQxxx AJxxxx x?

No sarcasm intended, maybe this all can work, but to me those all look like 3♥ bids, and i wouldn't really jump at calling them "slam interest".

xx AKJx AKJxx xx is an obvious 3NT bid

x KQxxx AJxxxx x is an obvious 1H opener.

[Codo]

3 NT I did this with lesser stoppers before.

[rd6789]

3NT - all those points in the black suits...