[gnasher]

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What would you do?

[y66]

The last time I had a hand like this I tried 2D. We got a little high but it worked out ok. So, I think I'll try that again.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

2♦... and then 3♦ after either 2♠ or 2♥! ( Lebensohl ) to show at least a 5d /6+c hand.

[paulg]

I would bid 2♦ but am tempted by 2♣. The opposition silence suggests that partner has a good hand and untangling everything will be non-trivial. At least partner will value a top diamond honour and, with diamond shortage and club length, he may support clubs rather than bidding notrump.

I am not hopeful.

[HighLow21]

2♦. Yes the reverse typically shows more HCP but 7-5's play ok sometimes ;-)

[Phil]

2♦ is easy. Then a club jump (not more diamonds). This is closer to a 7-4 than a 6-5.

[jillybean]

I agree with Phil. 2♦ but then ♣'s

[r_prah]

2♦ has a lot of advantages - getting our playing strength across to partner, showing a two-suited minor hand, to name a couple. However, I would like better diamonds, at least KJ10xx or KQxxx for the reverse - with the actual hand, if partner has a strong hand with two small diamonds (e.g. AKQxx AKx xx xxx), we may not be able to stop short of slam. I bid 3♣.

[rogerclee]

r_prah, on 2012-February-04, 14:14, said:

2♦ has a lot of advantages - getting our playing strength across to partner, showing a two-suited minor hand, to name a couple. However, I would like better diamonds, at least KJ10xx or KQxxx for the reverse - with the actual hand, if partner has a strong hand with two small diamonds (e.g. AKQxx AKx xx xxx), we may not be able to stop short of slam. I bid 3♣.

I don't understand this argument, do you think you will stop short of slam opposite AKQxx AKx xx xxx by bidding 3C? Do you want to?

Will you pass your partner's 3N bid over 3C, having never described your diamonds? Either way, you are on a guess.

Bidding 2D is normal because it shows diamonds, something your hand really wants to do. This is not the same as being 6-4 with weak diamonds and great clubs, since you don't care about showing diamonds, it is not a huge feature of your hand.

[HighLow21]

Phil, on 2012-February-04, 12:12, said:

2♦ is easy. Then a club jump (not more diamonds). This is closer to a 7-4 than a 6-5.

It's a 7-5. Busted! ;-)

[Phil]

HighLow21, on 2012-February-04, 16:35, said:

It's a 7-5. Busted! ;-)

The operative word is 'closer'.

[r_prah]

rogerclee, on 2012-February-04, 15:10, said:

I don't understand this argument, do you think you will stop short of slam opposite AKQxx AKx xx xxx by bidding 3C? Do you want to?

Will you pass your partner's 3N bid over 3C, having never described your diamonds? Either way, you are on a guess.

Bidding 2D is normal because it shows diamonds, something your hand really wants to do. This is not the same as being 6-4 with weak diamonds and great clubs, since you don't care about showing diamonds, it is not a huge feature of your hand.

I agree that 3♣ has its own flaws. The issue I was trying to get at is what is the minimum acceptable diamond holding do you need to reverse, with the rest of the hand being the same? I suspect you would agree that void x J109xx AKQ10854 does not warrant a reverse. I (mildly) disagree that QJ9xx is acceptable; As I had mentioned, I think KJ10xx or KQxxx should be the minimum acceptable holding.

[han]

I once had an argument (no, a discussion!) with mikeh about whether one should ever bid 1C - 1S - 3C with 6 clubs and 4 hearts. My view was that you shouldn't, if you are good enough for 3C you are good enough for 2H, and if you are not good enough for 2H you should bid 2C. Perhaps stated like this it is a little strong, but I think that mikeh would agree that with a 5-6 one should never ever rebid 3C. Not showing the 5-card side suit will hurt you in many ways.

I'd bid 2D and if partner bids 2H (minimum) then 3C. Phil wrote he would jump next in clubs, I don't think he meant that (Phil?). If partner shows strength I'd rebid 3D, not only to show my shape but also to warn partner that I could be lighter in terms of HCP.

I think rebidding 2C is too pessimistic but certainly understandable. To my mind 3C is criminal.

[Zelandakh]

2♦ seems obvious. Some people play 3♦ as a super-reverse showing just this hand type, extra shape rather tha hcp, in which case that becomes an option. I cannot understand 3♣ at all.

[Fluffy]

in competition I would never show diamonds myself, and would just go for clubs forever.

I remember han's argument with mikeh, and I agree that you should never bid 3♣ with a nice 6-4M. However I think that minor reverses are more often based on strenght than shape, so this is not exactly the same.

don't think either of 2♦, 2♣ or 3♣ is ridicouslous opponet's silence suggest's partner is strong and 2♣ might work very well. But can't explain if we play it there, so 2♦ for me.

[Codo]

2 ♦ my hand is strong enough for this.

[Phil]

han, on 2012-February-05, 06:06, said:

I'd bid 2D and if partner bids 2H (minimum) then 3C. Phil wrote he would jump next in clubs, I don't think he meant that (Phil?).

I would jump to 4♣ over 2♠ (which I play as start of a signoff in a minor). I would feel sick if partner passed 3♣.

Over 2♥, which I play as 'neutral', 3♦ could be best.

[mikeh]

I've slightly lowered my strength requirements for a reverse so the 4=6 ♥/♣ hand is no longer an issue for me.

As for this, imagine partner with QJxxx AQx A10xx x. If we rebid 3♣, he bids 3N....his hand devalues for slam purposes with a stiff club. If we rebid a quiet 2♣, his 2♦ (should he choose to do it...there is some merit in 3N) is artificial for most, and over 3♦, should we raise 2♦, why wouldn't he bid 3N.....and where are we, since 2♦ didn't show diamonds?

Having bid 2♦, I'll content myself with 3♣ if available....while diamonds can and sometimes should be trump, I think I need to hear partner susggest them before I bid them a second time. Meanwhile, this hand is more clubs than diamonds at the moment.
I see what han wrote and I empathize.....but I don't mind partner trying 3N since I rate to deliver 7 tricks and a diamond stopper....it's his job to stop the majors

No way am I jumping in this auction...for us to go beyond 3N after partner chose that call in a reverse auction seems bizarre to me.

I suspect that he has values due to the lack of opposition bidding. If so, then unless he likes diamonds, I want to stress clubs. If he likes diamonds....well, happy days are just around the corner.

[the hog]

I am going to bid 2C. This hand is not worth a reverse in terms of high card strength. I hope to be able to show the shape later in the auction. I also don't like 3C.

[whereagles]

Come on Ron, it's a 3-loser hand. The only way to have pard have any idea of our hand is by bidding 2D+3D.