[ArtK78]

Scoring: XIMP

1♠ - (P) - 2♥ - (P)
?

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You are playing a method where your opening 1♠ bid at this vulnerability promises 10 or more HCP. Partner's 2♥ bid is not game forcing. Systemically, these are your options over 2♥:

2♠ - mark time bid - does not say anything - partner will describe his hand
2NT - artificial game force - you will tell partner what type of hand you have on the next round.
3 of a minor - natural, game forcing.
3♥ - natural, invitational
3♠ - natural, invitational
3NT - to play
4 of a minor - splinter
4♥ - to play
4♠ - to play

Note: Partner's 2/1 is not game forcing, but it does promise values. And he knows that you have promised only 10 HCP.

I chose another bid - 5♦ Exclusion RKCB (1430 responses). If partner has only one key card outside of diamonds, I would pass (he cannot have 4 key cards outside of diamonds). I deliberately dismissed the possibility of partner holding 0 key cards as unlikely - if that is the case, we are getting to a slam off two cashing aces and the trump king. While the 5♦ bid was somewhat risky, it seemed to me to be the best way to get to a grand when it is there and an easy way to get to a small most of the time.

Your thoughts?

[Gerben42]

It seems I must temporize with 2NT before showing my ♥ fit. I'm not strong enough for 4♦ which could be a bunch stronger...

[MFA]

4♦ splinter is fine. I don't like the exclusion idea. The spade suit is far from running yet, and where is the ♥Q? We will struggle in a bad 5♥ too often, while 4♦ rates to make partner do the right thing.

[helene_t]

4♦.

[Walddk]

MFA, on Jan 3 2008, 04:17 PM, said:

4♦ splinter is fine. I don't like the exclusion idea. The spade suit is far from running yet, and where is the ♥Q? We will struggle in a bad 5♥ too often, while 4♦ rates to make partner do the right thing.

What he said. I am prepared to go to game, not necessarily to slam and especially not the dreaded 5-level. If partner signs off, a hand with only one ace has nothing more to add.

4♦ it is for me too.

Roland

[FrancesHinden]

4D, and pass 4H from partner, seems to describe my hand admirably.

[mcphee]

I think exclusion is bidding too much too quickly. 4D is perfect and makes the statement
that allows us to move along safe and sound. As Roland remarks, the 5 level is not my cup of tea (he's English).

[Codo]

Even if 4 ♦ looks like a underbid, this is it for me, for the reasons the Danes showed.

[keylime]

2NT, since I have the bid free to do so. I want to see how the spade secondary fit looks before making any educated slam tries. I'm probably giving up at 4H on this hand. I have no logical rationale for splintering here due to the spade length.

The problem with 4♦ is if pard is on 1-5-4-3 with Axxx of diamonds and no spade honor, they may get too high at the five level, even when holding the A♣.

[mike777]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 3 2008, 09:24 AM, said:

4D, and pass 4H from partner, seems to describe my hand admirably.

ditto.

[Fluffy]

Better than direct 5♦ I prefer 4♦ and then 5♦ wich would show void slam invitational values.

[andy_h]

Is there another splinter available, via 2NT then 4D? If so, I presume it's a stronger sequence? Or maybe partner might not ask what we have after 2NT, so I will bid 4D now. Not 5D EKCB like the others have said.

[benlessard]

Well if you cannot show a void here might as well not play it. Considering you could have 10 pts your hand as enough extras to be at the 5 level. I assume partner 2 level bid show something like 12 pts so unless heavy wastage in D we should be safe at the 5 level.

To play 1S---2H----3H & 1S----2H-----3S as non-forcing in IMPS is something that doesnt make any sense.

[ArtK78]

benlessard, on Jan 3 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

To play 1S---2H----3H & 1S----2H-----3S as non-forcing in IMPS is something that doesnt make any sense.

Actually, it does in the context of the system.

This is a method that was shown to me by a friend of mine who played on one of the US Senior Teams that medalled at one of the Olympiads. I suggest that you give it a closer look.

The fact is that auctions that start 1♠ - 2♥ can be somewhat difficult to handle in Standard methods. This method gives you a lot of options.

[pclayton]

5♦ EKCB looks a little premature, but will pard really move over a splinter with a black ace and ♥KQ-5th (or ♥KJ-6th)?

I like 2N, but the continuations seem murky. If pard rebids 3♥, is 4♣ a cue bid? If pard rebids 3 minor and I show support for hearts, is pard compelled to cuebid?

[ArtK78]

pclayton, on Jan 3 2008, 11:49 AM, said:

5♦ EKCB looks a little premature, but will pard really move over a splinter with a black ace and ♥KQ-5th (or ♥KJ-6th)?

I like 2N, but the continuations seem murky. If pard rebids 3♥, is 4♣ a cue bid? If pard rebids 3 minor and I show support for hearts, is pard compelled to cuebid?

Since 3♣ over 2♥ is natural and game forcing, 2NT followed by 4♣ would be a cue bid.

Further, just like in any forcing auction, it is expected that when you announce a fit below the level of game that you are in a mandatory cue bidding situation. So, after opener's artificial 2NT game force followed by 3♥ showing a heart fit, responder should cue bid.

On the actual hand, if you choose to make a game forcing artificial 2NT bid, partner will bid 3NT. If you choose to bid 4♣ now, it will be a cue bid, but it could be in support of hearts or spades - that has not been clarified.

[pclayton]

ArtK78, on Jan 3 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

Further, just like in any forcing auction, it is expected that when you announce a fit below the level of game that you are in a mandatory cue bidding situation. So, after opener's artificial 2NT game force followed by 3♥ showing a heart fit, responder should cue bid.

This is a reasonable approach, but IMO it doesn't function well without serious / non-serious 3N. I will try 4♣.

Quote

On the actual hand, if you choose to make a game forcing artificial 2NT bid, partner will bid 3NT. If you choose to bid 4♣ now, it will be a cue bid, but it could be in support of hearts or spades - that has not been clarified.

Ugh. Why wouldn't there be some sort of stall over 2N so that I can clarify my hand type? Apparently I have GF in either hearts or spades. Wouldn't it make sense to have some sort of inversion here? One idea: 3♣ = I was about to bid 3N. 3♦/3♥/3♠ = natural, 3N = clubs.

So what does he does over 4♣? No diamond cue is good news...

[bhall]

The structure after 2N (artificial game force) is crucial here. Presumably, you were playing that responder's rebids of 3♥, 3♠, and 3N were simple, natural choice-of-game bids. Probably, 3m showed a high card in the minor, not necessarily 4+ cards. And the 2N rebid itself denied a biddable minor.

If that's the case, then 2N becomes a standout choice. It gives responder a chance to show a ♦ high card, over which you can jump to 4♥, or a ♣ high card, over which you can jump to 4♦. If he rebids 3♥, then 4♣ should be a cue in support, and you can subside over his 4♦ or cue 5♦ over his 4♥. Similarly, if he rebids 3♠ or 3N.

[miguelm]

I don't know the structure after 2NT, but unless I can anticipate problems by going in that direction that is what I am bidding.... 4D (splinter) is my second choice.

[ArtK78]

Here is what happened at the table:

Scoring: XIMP

1♠ - (P) - 2♥ - (P)
5♦* - X - 5♥* - (P)
6♥ - X - All Pass

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I bid 5♦ exclusion RKCB, and my LHO doubled on Qxxxx of diamonds (brilliant). My pard bid 5♥, a ROPI response showing 2 key cards outside of diamonds without the trump queen. I thought the slam should have reasonable play and bid it. My LHO disagreed with me, and this time he was right.

6♥ is a reasonable contract, but, obviously, fails miserably when hearts are 4-0 offside. Thanks to the "lead directing" double of 5♦, the opening lead was the ♦A. That left little to the play, and 6♥x was down only one trick.

Many of you disagree with the 5♦ bid, calling it precipitous, or just too much. I am not convinced, although I agree that the bid has its flaws. Here, it led to a very reasonable slam, which can be bid by other means, although someone will have to take a rosy view of the hand at some point in the auction - probably my hand. Still, if you are going to be aggressive on my hand in any event, why not bid 5♦ over 2♥?