[mike777]

The auction
2C-2D
3H

Or
2C-2D
3S

Mean anything to you? Or perhaps I am dreaming

[smerriman]

Sets trumps, asks partner to start bidding controls.

[pescetom]

Absolutely so for me.
Not to be played undiscussed, not to be played any other way.

The more difficult question (and again a partnership choice) is whether the equivalent sequence for a minor is 3m or 4m (and if the latter, what the former may show). For me 3m, minor 2-suited opens 1m and takes it's chances, the borderline hands bid NT.

[DavidKok]

If you play the full Birthright, this shows a game force with a 4cM and 5(+)♦.
If your 2♣ also contains 'weak both majors', this shows a game force with this primary suit.
More commonly, 2♣-then-2M is already forcing (to game, for me) so this jump shows a very one-suited hand. It sets trumps and demands that responder begin cuebidding.
Even more commonly, it shows that the 2♣ opener has fallen in love with their hand and consumed bidding space for no reason.

Without discussion I think this last option is most likely, and you should treat it as a strong hand with 6(+) cards and only discuss what it might mean after the evening has concluded.

[mike777]

Ok, it appears I am at least partially dreaming.

I thought for decades and decades this showed 4 card major and long diamonds.

I mentioned this to a few partners around the club and they all thought I was making it up, perhaps I am.



I thought this was universally standard, something that need not even be mentioned, but.....

[mikeh]

I’ve played this sequence as 4M and longer diamonds, but only when partner wanted to do so. I think it’s awful, although it does sort of address a difficult hand type.

Why is it awful? Say it goes 2C 2S 3S

If responder fits diamonds, he can set trump via 4D but the partnership is now very high and opener hasn’t yet defined his hand beyond ‘strong with 4S and 5D and responder hasn’t done anything at all other than to say that he lacks spade length and couldn’t bid 3N…hardly an informative sequence.

If responder fits spades, what does he do? Are 4C or 4H cue bids agreeing spades? Given that most pairs have strict suit texture/top honour requirements for a positive suit response to 2C, what if you hold xx KJ10xxx xx Kxx, with or without that club king. Try finding hearts now if 4H agrees spades…can’t opener be AKJx AQx AKQxx x?

And if 4H is hearts, how good a hand is it and what does opener do now with or without a fit?

Of course this gadget was invented to solve what is admittedly a tough hand type for no big club (or similar) methods

2C 2D 3C…it’s common to the point of almost being standard to use responder’s 3D bid as a noise, denying a 5 card major or the desire to bid 3N or raise clubs. This allows opener to bid out his 4M 5+ club hands.

But 2C 2D 3D doesn’t give responder that option and it’s easy to miss a 4=4 major suit fit, plus responder may be forced to make a bad 3 N bid simply because all the alternatives are worse.

Personally, I ‘solve’ this by opening even very strong hands 1D….but there is a limit on how far I’ll push this…AKQx AQ AKQxxx x….even I won’t open this 1D, lol.

So I basically accept that I probably won’t get a chance to find a 4=4 major suit slam. Fortunately, I don’t think it’s come up ever.

The traditional meaning…3M sets trump, announcing a suit that plays opposite a void….isnt exactly common either but it’s very powerful when it does happen…bidding thereafter is pretty straightforward most of the time

[Huibertus]

There simply are no universal standard bidding agreements.

[AL78]

A long suit with 0-1 losers, playable opposite a singleton or void, sets trumps.