whereagles, on 2011-January-26, 04:19, said:
kenberg, in your example 3♥ isn't going to make it easier to reach 5♣.
Doesn't this depend on how 3]He] is understood?
Cherdano says
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3♥ is very bad, this should show more shape. Bidding 3NT seems a standout, show your extra strength already!
Phil Says
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3♥ leads to complications, and I think it should be reserved for hands that are still interested in playing in hearts, so it shows a 5-6 generally.
Now of course both these gentlemen think 3
♥ wrong because the shape is not that extreme. But if 3
♥ does indeed show a two-suited hand then I think it will help get them to clubs with my example hand.
It's true that over 2
♠ I would bid 2NT (not 3NT, until we find a fit I don't see I have so much extra strength). My reasons would mostly be that w/o discussion I am not so sure what partner will make of 3
♥ and presumably NT is a plausible strain.
With the hands as they actually are, partner will bid 3
♣ over 2NT and now we are in great shape. But opener will not always have a 17 count with AJx of clubs. On some S hands we will want to be in some number, perhaps a large number, of clubs and on some hands we will want to be in NT.
Anyway, I would bid 2NT but, assuming that 3
♥ really does show a club heart two-suiter, I don't think it is as bad a call as has been suggested.
Added: However, if N thinks that 3H shows a club heart two-suiter ans S now says fine, I choose clubs, I have a hard time understanding the pass of 4NT. So I guess I have to admit to confusion. I am trying to understand this by imagining what each partner thought his bid showed. Somehow it doesn't add up.