[Gerben42]

You pick up the following gem:

Scoring: IMP

---

and RHO opens 1♥. No problem yet, 2NT shows the minors, lefty passes and partner gives a preference to 3♦. My hand is still promising so I bid 3♥. To recap:

1♥ 2NT Pass 3♦
Pass 3♥ Pass

In scenario #1, partner bids 3♠.
In scenario #2, partner bids 4♠.

How do you interpret either bid, and what would you bid next?

[ASkolnick]

3 Spades should be a probe for 3N or a cue-bid in spades.

If you bid 3N and he pulls, it was a cuebid.


4 Spades is much tougher. I actually think it is probably natural with a weak suit. He would settle for 3 of a minor if you had the bad hand, but would suggest spades or diamonds with the good hand.

Over 3 Spades, I bid 4C. I have a big hand for slam if partner has some stuff.
Over 4 Spades, I bid 5S. When in doubt, bid once more. He can bid 6D if it is better, pass 5S if he has spades, or raise spades.

[RichMor]

#1) Control bid ?
#2) Suggestion to play.

#1) Since overcaller has shown a strong hand, advancer may now have interest in a high-level minor suit contract. Maybe 3♠ sends this message.

#2) Advancer could also have a moderate hand with Spades, Qxxxxxx perhaps. If overcaller has some Spade support then 4♠ could be better than 5 of a minor.

[whereagles]

Pard has, in my interpretation, a bucketload of spades and weakish hand. He prudently took a preference before bidding spades, because bidding them right away might cause confusion.

Anyway: 1st case I bid 4♠. 2nd I pass. There's WAY too much of a chance for lefty to have 2 aces.

[Gerben42]

Quote

4 Spades is much tougher. I actually think it is probably natural with a weak suit. He would settle for 3 of a minor if you had the bad hand, but would suggest spades or diamonds with the good hand.

Bingo

The partner hand was

♠QT7532
♥8543
♦A6
♣5

and bid 4♠, which wasn't passed as partner misunderstood. Unfortunately, 5♦ was kinda hopeless.

[P_Marlowe]

3S showes a stopper, i.e. values, 4S is ???, I would guess
a fit jump, i.e. at least 3 diamonds, at least 5 spades.

I will ask, means both are artificial?

With kind regards
Marloweasplinter

[han]

What on earth did partner think 4S was? (no answer required)

One could argue about the differences between 3S followed by 4S and 4S directly, but clearly both show spades.

[jdonn]

Gerben42, on Nov 7 2008, 04:15 AM, said:

The partner hand was

♠QT7532
♥8543
♦A6
♣5

and bid 4♠, which wasn't passed as partner misunderstood. Unfortunately, 5♦ was kinda hopeless.

Misunderstanding the strength or suit quality is understandable, but if it was understood as not showing spades, that is unbelievable. If it might be natural...