[Fluffy]

Scoring: IMP

W - N - E - S
2♦*-3♣-ps-??

---

2♦* = multi

[kenrexford]

IMO, this particular auction works well if 3♦ is forcing and either natural OR a punt bid. Even if undiscussed, that's my choice.

[pclayton]

I chose 3♥ but this feels like a very tough problem. I'm curious how the players that frequently play against multi handle this.

[jdonn]

In my multi defense, responder can ask about major suit stoppers with 3♦, and you can still work it out in time if opener has a four card major instead.

[pclayton]

jdonn, on Dec 31 2007, 08:26 AM, said:

In my multi defense, responder can ask about major suit stoppers with 3♦, and you can still work it out in time if opener has a four card major instead.

What would you do if the overcall is 3♦?

[jdonn]

pclayton, on Dec 31 2007, 11:28 AM, said:

jdonn, on Dec 31 2007, 08:26 AM, said:

In my multi defense, responder can ask about major suit stoppers with 3♦, and you can still work it out in time if opener has a four card major instead.

What would you do if the overcall is 3♦?

3♥ = hearts or stopper.
--- 3♠ = I raise hearts.
(yes this doesn't let you find a 4-4 spade fit when advancer has longer hearts, but you can still do so over 3♣. 3♦ leaves you less space.)

[JanM]

jdonn, on Dec 31 2007, 11:32 AM, said:

pclayton, on Dec 31 2007, 11:28 AM, said:

jdonn, on Dec 31 2007, 08:26 AM, said:

In my multi defense, responder can ask about major suit stoppers with 3♦, and you can still work it out in time if opener has a four card major instead.

What would you do if the overcall is 3♦?

3♥ = hearts or stopper.
--- 3♠ = I raise hearts.
(yes this doesn't let you find a 4-4 spade fit when advancer has longer hearts, but you can still do so over 3♣. 3♦ leaves you less space.)

I think I originated that particular gadget (it's one of the few things in our multi defense that Chip didn't invent ), although we recommend it to others only when using a written defense - when the multi defense has to be memorized it's a little dangerous. It's certainly good on this type of hand, allowing the responder to bid 3♦ and find either a 4-4 heart fit or stoppers in both majors to play 3NT.
By the way, for those who have laughed at me when I mention that our multi defense is 11 pages long, it's that long because of things like playing 3♥ here as 2-way. It doesn't come up often, but it is definitely worth having when it does.

On this particular hand, I think that if I couldn't bid 3♦ and then be able to get to either a 4-4 heart fit or 3NT when partner had a spade stopper, I'd pass. This is a fairly marginal advance of the 3♣ overcall, and I'm bidding only because I don't think partner would stretch to overcall on a suit missing the KQ, but I know I might be turning a plus into a minus by bidding. If partner has something like xx, AQx, xx, AJxxxx, 3♣ is the limit of the hand. I bid because if partner has x, AQJx, xx, AJxxxx, 4♥ is cold and if partner has Kxx, Ax, Jx, AJxxxx, 3NT is cold, so bidding can turn a small plus into a much larger one, thus is worth the risk. But if I have to make an inaccurate bid (either 3♦ or 3♥ natural) or one where I won't know what partner's next bid means (3♦ without a clear agreement that 3♥ by partner can be either a stopper or 4 hearts), the risk/reward ration changes.

[whereagles]

this is an easy 3NT for me. Very easy indeed.

[SchTsch]

3♦