[kgr]

1♠-(2♥)-3♠-(Pass)
4♥-(Pass)-???
 
Your 3♠ was a preemptive raise. What is best agreement for 4♥ bid?
===================
Very good hand and a splinter.
something like:
AKJxxx
-
Axx
AKxx
= ...=...=...=...=...=
AKJxxx
A
Kxx
Axx
=========OR========
Partner could have bid 4♣ and 4♦ controls, but choice 4♥. Only with bad Spades he needed a cue bid of 4♥. His hand should be something like:
Kxxxx
x
AK
AKxxx
===================

[Phil]

Hi welcome to the A/E section.

5♥ is exclusion.

[kgr]

Phil, on Sep 14 2009, 11:57 PM, said:

Hi welcome to the A/E section.

5♥ is exclusion.

Sorry...topic title wrong
Should be: What is 4H cue be opener? What hand do you expect opener to have?

[kenrexford]

If and when 3♠ is a preemptive raise, Opener's calls that are slam moves should be rather specific, IMO.

Often, Opener will want to know the location of Responder's stiff, if any. To find that out, Opener can relay (3NT), asking for a stiff.

With a two-suiter, Opener could describe the location of the second suit, by bidding 4♣ or 4♦. To understand a reasonably good meaning for a 4♥ call, think through Responder's options after a 4♣ call and compare this with the options after a 4♦ call.

After a 4♣ call, Responder could show a control in either diamonds (4♦) or hearts (4♥) with acceptance values. In other words, with a nice holding of four trumps, an honor in clubs, and a control (stiff or honor) in either diamonds or hearts, Responder could bid 4♦ or 4♥ after the 4♣ call.

After a 4♦ call, however, there is insufficient space to show two things. Responder could reject (4♠), but the only acceptance is 4♥.

So, 4♦ could show a diamond suit with one side interest but 4♥ diamonds with the other side interest. The easiest method is to "bid what you have" or to isolate what you need.

If Responder "bids what he has" after 4♦, he bids 4♥ but cannot bid 4♣. Thus, 4♦ best works as a slam try asking for a heart control, as well. 4♥ is Opener bidding what he has and isolating the problem. Thus, Opener would have diamonds, heart control, and a need for something in clubs.

Of course, you could just as easily reverse these, but the memory load might be higher. Or, maybe it is easier for you the other way, as an asking focus (4♥ shows diamonds and asks about hearts; 4♦ shows diamonds and asks about the other minor and the lower-ranking suit).

You could then add another layer of complexity. If opener bids 4♦, he has need for whatever OR just general need. If Responder bids 4♥, he has slam interest without whatever 4♦ focuses -- with what 4♦ focuses, Responder just bids above game.

4♣ could also be handled that way. 4♥ by Responder after 4♣ shows a heart control and acceptance. 4♦ shows either general acceptance or also a diamond control, with 4♥ by Responder inviting only if Responder also has the diamond control.

That way, Opener's second-suit bidding covers any situation -- need for a side control or not.

[WesleyC]

Epic post Ken.

For most of us simpler folk, 4H would show a slam try without a significant second suit. How much it shows depends on how crazy your 3S bids are - mine vary significantly with the vulnerability.

AKJxxx - Axx AKxx

might bid 4H, but is strong enough to bid again afterwards.

AKJxxx A Kxx Axx

seems like a fine 4H bid. Note that on this hand you would love to be able to bid 3NT and ask for partner's shortage (and find out that its clubs).

Kxxxx x AK AKxxx

looks more like 4C for me - partner will know to upgrade values in Spades and Clubs (and downgrade holdings like 3 small clubs).