[phil_20686]

You have the hand an auction:

---

So you tend not to open 1d with 4 cards in balanced hands. Its reasonably common to have two clubs for a 1c opener. 4d is COG, so it looks like partner is 4-6. It didn't seem right to play in a 4-3 heart fit with a spade tap likely coming, when partner might have good enough clubs for 5C.

Now answer the poll questions:

Other things I dont understand: How is this sequence different from bidding 4C over 1S when it comes back, that is surely 4-6 and GF. Why did partner not double 3S? Isnt that what you should always do if you care about whether partner has natural clubs. If partner does not have 4+ clubs he just bids 4H? Bidding 4C might then already show 6, and presumeably a worry about passing 3Sx. Does that indicate a slam try with a spade void?

[wank]

I wouldn't think 4♦ was choice of games.

Still, even if it is, bidding it seems bizarre on a small doubleton club - you couldn't have fewer clubs could you? Just bid 4♥ and let partner bid 5♣ if he wants to. As it is, partner's choice of 5♣ was no doubt impacted by your implying some more cards in the suit.

Anyway, no, partner's not making a slam try - how can a CoG bid followed by choosing one of those games be a slam try?

[billw55]

Interesting. If I was bidding this hand at the table, I would have thought that after my support double, partner's 2♠ cue set hearts as trump. And therefore that 4♣, 4♦, and 5♣ are also all controls. Hence I would bid 5♦. The good news is, I would still pass partner's 5♥, perhaps recovering from the confusion.

[WellSpyder]

billw55, on 2012-March-26, 06:30, said:

Interesting. If I was bidding this hand at the table, I would have thought that after my support double, partner's 2♠ cue set hearts as trump. And therefore that 4♣, 4♦, and 5♣ are also all controls. Hence I would bid 5♦. The good news is, I would still pass partner's 5♥, perhaps recovering from the confusion.

I don't normally play support doubles, but I would have thought it more likely that when partner bid 2♠ he was just trying to establish a forcing auction in whichever suit he bid next. So once he follows with 4♣, I think he is setting the trump suit in a F auction. Like wank, therefore, I don't expect 4♦ to be COG but rather a cue-bid for clubs, and I think I would bite the bullet and pass here, accepting I will have to play in my not very good club suit.

(Disclaimer: the above may be biased by knowing the hand, though I have tried to think about what I would expect these bids to mean. I held the same hand as shown as part of the other pair in the same direction in the same team of 8, and certainly didn't get to the right spot on the hand....)

[the_clown]

The first question is if you bid inverted minor with 5+♣ 4♥ and Gameforcing. If you do, this means partner has made a slam try in ♥ with no ♠control and you should correct fo 5♥.

If you always bid the 4card major first, it is less clear. I would guess that p made a slam try in clubs, which I would decline because of my low doubleton. AAK and nothing wasted in ♠ is great, but slam is too much of a gamble for me.

[Phil]

Continuations after a one level support double are very awkward. Why not play 'xy' when it comes back to responder? This eliminates the need for a general-force cue bid, and responder can clarify his intentions at a lower level.

This is an awkward hand. It seems partner just wants to play 5♣, since could have bid 4♠ with a ♠ card or 4N without a spade control but great trump, assuming that is your agreement.

Also agree with the_clown that playing an inverted 2♣ that can conceal a 4cM makes a lot of sense, especially with a 'short' club.

[WesleyC]

I'm a little confused by your methods. If partner really has a strong hand with 6♣ & 4♥ why didn't they start by bidding 2C natural & forcing? (or whatever other method you use to show hands with a real club suit...)

[MrAce]

Wank nailed it imo.

[TS999]

Hmmm, everyone seems to be in agreement on this one too.

Looks like you should probably listen a bit more to this partner in future Mr. Scotland!