[mike777]

Old topic I know but it is coming up often in the Spingold.

Partner opens a strong 1NT or 2NT.

What goes into your decision to bid 3NT and ignore the 4-4 or 5-3 major suit fit.

[mikeh]

Extra values, 4333 shape and weak internal texture are imo valid factors to consider as responder. Assuming 15-17, even though I suspect most in events such as the Spingold play 14-16 or 14+-17, I’d want a 12 count.

The idea is to have enough hcp that your side rates to take 9 tricks on power. The reason for considering suit texture is that Axxx opposite Kxxx loses two trump tricks more than 30% of the time. 4333 is because opener might be mirrored. Now, some mirrored hands offer options playing in trump that are unavailable in notrump…so long as trump break you might be able to engineer an endplay. But if your side has around 28-30 hcp and weak trump, 3N will often prove easier.

Same reasoning for choosing 3N with a known 5-3 major fit except it’s usually opener making the decision after something like 1N 2H 2S 3N….pull to 4S with 3?

I’m not going to worry about suit texture as opener….i can’t assess that. But I’m going to bid the major suit if I have a doubleton anywhere…maybe not with AQ or AK and I’m going to strongly consider staying in notrump with no wide open suit plus a good holding in partner’s major.

Especially at imps and if playing a good system, responder will usually be 5332. With a 4 card suit and gf values responder will often show the second suit, so when he doesn’t, he is likely 5332. At MPs that’s not as reliable since he won’t usually look for a minor suit game….slam, yes, but rarely game unless 5=5 or better.

[mike777]

Ty