[Hanoi5]

Mp's, red:

♠Axx
♥AKQTxx
♦QJx
♣Q

1♥-1NT
???

Would you show the solid suit and game strength, invite in hearts or show a GF hand that wants to play in hearts (by means of an artificial new suit or forcing bid)?

Incidentally, how do you show each of those?

[SteveMoe]

If we give partner a K and Q, it would seem we are likely to make 10 tricks. I'll choose the J/S to 3♦ and pay off if pard responded on QJJ. The upside is if pard holds the key HCP ( say,♠Kx ♥xxx ♦Kxxx {cl]Axxx or the like). We might be able to sniff out the slam.

[aguahombre]

Looks like a 3♥ rebid to me. Our G.F. holding a sixth heart would be 3NT over 1NT expecting a pull to 4H with 2-card support, or a 4m cue with an original 3-card limit raise.

If we want to insist on a heart game over the 1N response, we can bid game in hearts.

[Vampyr]

SteveMoe, on 2013-March-14, 22:48, said:

If we give partner a K and Q, it would seem we are likely to make 10 tricks. I'll choose the J/S to 2♦ and pay off if pard responded on QJJ. The upside is if pard holds the key HCP ( say,♠Kx ♥xxx ♦Kxxx {cl]Axxx or the like). We might be able to sniff out the slam.

This is matchpoints; you don't want to risk getting the dummy in 2♦.

[Free]

3NT shows a GF hand with solid suit in my book, so that's what I'll bid.

[CamHenry]

Vampyr, on 2013-March-15, 03:08, said:

This is matchpoints; you don't want to risk getting the dummy in 2♦.

Steve's post said "jump shift to 2♦", which might mean "reverse to 2♠", "jump shift to 3♦", or "jump shift to 3♠". I agree that 2♦ would be about as bad as possible!

For me, I'm happy treating this as a dead maximum 3♥ rebid.

[the_clown]

Close between 3♥ and 3N. If you respond pretty light I think 3♥ is enough, if not 3N.

[Charlie Yu]

A bit too strong for 3H, but that's the bid anyway.

[wyman]

3D, barely. I dont object to 3H, especially if 1N can be light. I need a better suit for 3N.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Charlie Yu, on 2013-March-15, 05:22, said:

A bit too strong for 3H, but that's the bid anyway.

I think 3H also.

But there is another GF bid for ♥ as trump ( if you think that is the way to go ) -- namely the 4C! self-splinter .

[Trinidad]

Agree with Free: 3NT shows this hand.

Rik

[ggwhiz]

I like a reverse into 2♠ where pard will bid naturally with enough for game and over 3♣ I'll bid 3nt.

2nt from pard would be a relay to 3♣ usually intending to sign off somewhere but I'll bid 3♥ over that and let pard decide

[mikeh]

I'd force to game at imps, if red, but this is mps, where reaching 45% game contracts gets you a 45% score in the long run, and I've never seen that to be a good thing.


I like to use a process of elimination in these situations.

3N: no. Close but no. It shows more or less this heart suit, but I think it is a slight overbid and slight misbid. Partner shouldn't be pulling routinely with xx in hearts. We should be delivering a 6322 type of hand, and he can 'count' 6 heart tricks with xx, and not be worried that we're laying down a stiff on the side.

3♥: no. The hand is just too good for that. It would be a maximum without the club Q, and while that card may be wasted, we shouldn't disount its value in notrump, where it could turn partner's mediocre holding into gold.

3♦: ugh. An overbid and a huge misbid. We could easily get to the wrong spot.

2N: why not? It is invitational, showing about 17-18. Partner will raise on decent 7 counts, opposite which 3N is likely to be better than 4♥ if he has xx in hearts or the equivalent. It shows a higher range than 3♥, and yet is not forcing.

It suggests only 5 hearts, so it is a distortion, but it seems to me that if we slide a small heart into clubs, which happens to me a lot, then it is the perfect description

So I choose 2N as the call that best conveys this hand, albeit imperfectly.

Incidentally, when the posters seems split between 3N and 3♥, that suggests that the true value of the hand probably lies somewhere inbetween those valuations, and 2N is the only call that does.

[Free]

After bidding 2NT you should be delivering (17)18-19 with a 5332, and not necessarily with such a source of tricks. I find it a bigger distortion than 3NT which should indeed deliver a 6322 rather than a 6331. After 3NT however, responder shouldn't bid 4♥ any time he has ♥xx right? Although the ♣Q may be worthless, it can also help to stop the suit. This is the same for a 2NT or 3NT rebid imo. With a small singleton ♣ I wouldn't be so happy to bid 3NT though.

[han]

I agree that 3NT is a slight misbid, and I also think that 2NT is not a slight misbid.

[gszes]

i prefer an immediate 2s bid --- for several reasons
1. it might be a great lead inhibitor
2. keeps the bidding low
3. allows p to appreciate spade honors more than usual
4. there is no reason this hand cant be played in 6d even and
bids like 3h 3n and 2n all make slam a tough bidding problem.
5. with any luck we may be able to pattern out with 3d later if its
available to further help p decide on where to play.
6. 3n is still available if we need it.

[SteveMoe]

Vampyr, on 2013-March-15, 03:08, said:

This is matchpoints; you don't want to risk getting the dummy in 2♦.

mistyped - 3♦

[Hanoi5]

What should responder do over 3NT?:

♠xx
♥J
♦KT9x
♣AKxxxx

[the hog]

I assume the comment about a reveerse into 2S was a joke post designed to provoke discussion.
As the op asked "How would you bid it?"
2D t/f to 2H to show 6, then 3NT.

[gnasher]

Hanoi5, on 2013-March-15, 20:15, said:

What should responder do over 3NT?:

♠xx
♥J
♦KT9x
♣AKxxxx

I think he should have responded 2♦.