[rasmuskold]

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My opponents thought I was lucky that my bid worked out well. Matchpoints btw, second hand of the evening.

Edit: 2nt as artificial raise was not available, but feel free to make that case that it would be the right bid for this hand.

[fromageGB]

I think the problem with 3♠ is that it gives an easy X to opener to invite a 4♠ bid. 4♥ immediately removes that option.

Having said that, if partner overcalls on much less than a full opening strength, I would be happier with 3♥.

[ggwhiz]

I can see 4♥ working unless it goes 4♠ and I (nor pard) have a clue what to do next, 4♦ OR 4♣ (for the lead if they bid on) as fit-showing.

Since I have no idea I'll aim for the fairway with 3♠ but don't mind anything else except 3♥. I'm starting to like a sneaky 4♣ fit bid for a matchpoint swing.

[VM1973]

Well it's 27 zar points, 2½ quick tricks and 7 losers. I definitely would have opened it.

[ArtK78]

I don't see the problem here. I would bid 4♥ on any day that ends in a "y."

[BillHiggin]

My quarrel with 4♥ is that I expect the opponents to accept the transfer to 4♠!

4♣ might get lucky, but it can go wrong in several ways (the K is on my left and they find it even easier to bid 4♠ is one of them)

So, I am a dog walker today - sometimes that actually works. 3♥ now and i will "take the push" next round (I have faith that there will be one) if possible.

[TylerE]

I don't think I mind opponents bidding 4♠ here. At MP I'd probably even double it. If they're bidding it over 4♥, they're probably bidding over 3♥, or at least 3♥-4♥ as well.

[DJNeill]

3♠. This gets my partner involved. 4♣ or 4♦ don't have the requisite suit to jump in (4C is nice for lead direct but also requests pd bid higher with cK with any length).

[akhare]

Making a FSJ into the moth eaten ♦ suit seems wrong. A 3♠ cue bid might be delicate, but gives them too many options.

Given that 2N isn't available, a direct 4♥ seems to the best choice (would have opened the hand BTW). Yes, it might them into 4♠, but partner should reason that we rank to have at least 4♥ for the bid.

[CSGibson]

I don't see why everyone is assuming they will bid 4S over 4H. They are vul, opener was 3rd seat, partner made a strong call and we have two aces. If they do bid 4S, I'm going to X, partner can remove or not as appropriate, but I'll bid 4H now.

[rasmuskold]

Ok, thanks for the feedback and sorry if this was trivial. I really just needed to make sure I wasn't going crazy. At the table, I bid 3♠ and it went p - 4♥ - dbl - all pass. After pard made 10, the opponents (who are way more experienced than I am) thought I was lucky. Still not sure if they were trying to intimidate me or what. Or maybe they just felt robbed because my partner had overcalled on J9x, QJTxx, K, Kxxx (not a two-level overcall even favorable in my book anyway). But they still specifically pointed their fingers at my bidding.

Re: Opening the bidding: The position, lack of good rebids, and the fact that you don't want diamonds led anyway persuaded me not to open.

Re: 4♥ vs. 3♠: This is probably the more interesting discussion. I am pretty sure I would hit 4♠ at MP, so in retrospect, bidding 4♥ and later doubling should convey this hand type to partner, whereas 3♠ and then double would sound a bit more defensive (probably just 3♥). Fit bid in clubs could also work.

[straube]

DJNeill, on 2013-September-04, 13:28, said:

3♠. This gets my partner involved. 4♣ or 4♦ don't have the requisite suit to jump in (4C is nice for lead direct but also requests pd bid higher with cK with any length).

I like 3S, too. I'd rather concentrate on helping partner know what to do if they bid 4S than distort my hand trying to talk them out of 4S.

[RSClyde]

rasmuskold, on 2013-September-04, 14:46, said:

Ok, thanks for the feedback and sorry if this was trivial. I really just needed to make sure I wasn't going crazy. At the table, I bid 3♠ and it went p - 4♥ - dbl - all pass. After pard made 10, the opponents (who are way more experienced than I am) thought I was lucky. Still not sure if they were trying to intimidate me or what. Or maybe they just felt robbed because my partner had overcalled on J9x, QJTxx, K, Kxxx (not a two-level overcall even favorable in my book anyway). But they still specifically pointed their fingers at my bidding.

Re: Opening the bidding: The position, lack of good rebids, and the fact that you don't want diamonds led anyway persuaded me not to open.

Re: 4♥ vs. 3♠: This is probably the more interesting discussion. I am pretty sure I would hit 4♠ at MP, so in retrospect, bidding 4♥ and later doubling should convey this hand type to partner, whereas 3♠ and then double would sound a bit more defensive (probably just 3♥). Fit bid in clubs could also work.

I would say that your partner was lucky. Did you ask them why they doubled you after you told them you were making it?

[Fluffy]

I would also bid 3♠, I don't know anyone who plays double of 3♠ as encouraging, all the partnerships I know focus on lead or not lead the suit, and I want partner to be able to bid 5/4 if he feels like it.

[nige1]

rasmuskold, on 2013-September-03, 02:43, said:

My opponents thought I was lucky that my bid worked out well. Matchpoints btw, second hand of the evening.
2nt as artificial raise was not available, but feel free to make that case that it would be the right bid for this hand.

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IMO 4♣ = 10, 2N (if available) = 9, 3♠ = 8, 4♥ = 7.

[rasmuskold]

RSClyde, on 2013-September-04, 14:55, said:

I would say that your partner was lucky. Did you ask them why they doubled you after you told them you were making it?

No, but I was tempted to offer them a course in hand evaluation

[Fluffy]

I don't understand, why would anyone want to bid 2NT instead of 3♠?

[mr1303]

For me, 4C is clear cut, asking partner's opinion as to what to do over 4S (would 3C show this hand?)

If 4C is a splinter or something else, I bid 4H then double 4S

[nige1]

Fluffy, on 2013-September-05, 04:41, said:

I don't understand, why would anyone want to bid 2NT instead of 3♠?

A common local understanding: 2N = high card rasie with 4 trumps, 3♠ = UCB (Unassuming cue-bid: often a high card raise with 3 trumps)

[Fluffy]

common sense is much simpler 2NT is not game forcing, while 3 spades is.