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Imps.
AQJxx
xxx
xx
xxx
Partner deals, silent opponents. Auction 1♣ - 1♠ - 2NT.
Here are the considerations as I see them.
1. If opener has xx in spades, the game _must_ be in spades.
2. If opener has Kx(x) in spades, the game should probably be in notrump.
3. If opener has xxx in spades, opener should make the guess.
Is there a way to accomplish these?
In practice, I was opener and had Kxx. Offered the choice, my heart said 3NT but I feared being accused of masterminding. Down on a heart ruff.
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4S or 3NT?
#2
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Posted 2025-October-12, 06:59
bluenikki, on 2025-October-11, 16:26, said:
Imps.
AQJxx
xxx
xx
xxx
Partner deals, silent opponents. Auction 1♣ - 1♠ - 2NT.
Here are the considerations as I see them.
1. If opener has xx in spades, the game _must_ be in spades.
2. If opener has Kx(x) in spades, the game should probably be in notrump.
3. If opener has xxx in spades, opener should make the guess.
Is there a way to accomplish these?
In practice, I was opener and had Kxx. Offered the choice, my heart said 3NT but I feared being accused of masterminding. Down on a heart ruff.
AQJxx
xxx
xx
xxx
Partner deals, silent opponents. Auction 1♣ - 1♠ - 2NT.
Here are the considerations as I see them.
1. If opener has xx in spades, the game _must_ be in spades.
2. If opener has Kx(x) in spades, the game should probably be in notrump.
3. If opener has xxx in spades, opener should make the guess.
Is there a way to accomplish these?
In practice, I was opener and had Kxx. Offered the choice, my heart said 3NT but I feared being accused of masterminding. Down on a heart ruff.
Over 2NT we bid 3♣ as an artificial DSI, now Opener with xxx will bid 3♠ and with Kxx may prefer a red suit or a direct 3NT. If he bids a red suit we repeat spades.
#3
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Posted 2025-October-12, 07:27
Hi,
I would ask for a 3 carder, play 4S with a 53 and 3NT otherwise.
Anyway, you could bid a forcing 3S, which would sell the spade suit as a 6 carder.
Partner will most likely bid 3NT with Kx or Kxx, seeing 6 tricks in spades, and 4S with xx in spades,
and will do as well with xxx in spades.
I would not do it, but it may be an option for you.
With kind regards
Marlowe
I would ask for a 3 carder, play 4S with a 53 and 3NT otherwise.
Anyway, you could bid a forcing 3S, which would sell the spade suit as a 6 carder.
Partner will most likely bid 3NT with Kx or Kxx, seeing 6 tricks in spades, and 4S with xx in spades,
and will do as well with xxx in spades.
I would not do it, but it may be an option for you.
With kind regards
Marlowe
With kind regards
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
#4
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Posted 2025-October-13, 16:47
No need for you to make the decision. Partner knows what his hand looks like…you have only a vague idea.
I am a strong proponent of transfers after 2N so I’d bid 3H than offer a choice of games via 3N. Of course that will usually mean playing 3 N opposite xx, but what makes you think that 4S from your side is going to work well if he has xx? The lead is going through his hand, and you almost surely need spades to behave for you to get 10 tricks. Ok, you’ll go down more tricks in 4S than in 3N when both fail but at imps you focus on which game has the best chance…undertricks play little role until and unless they double.
Opener is absolutely allowed to pass 3N with 3 spades…it depends on his hand just as it does with a strong 1N action…1N 2H 2S 3N…it’s common to pass with 3 card support if the hand is otherwise suitable (excuse the pun) and that’s in an auction where he’s playing both strains, thus the lead coming through him isn’t a factor. Here, he knows that the lead is coming through him in spades so, depending on his hand, he might well pass 3N.
Nothing is, imo, clearly right or wrong from your side so I describe my hand and let partner make the final (maybe wrong) guess.
I am a strong proponent of transfers after 2N so I’d bid 3H than offer a choice of games via 3N. Of course that will usually mean playing 3 N opposite xx, but what makes you think that 4S from your side is going to work well if he has xx? The lead is going through his hand, and you almost surely need spades to behave for you to get 10 tricks. Ok, you’ll go down more tricks in 4S than in 3N when both fail but at imps you focus on which game has the best chance…undertricks play little role until and unless they double.
Opener is absolutely allowed to pass 3N with 3 spades…it depends on his hand just as it does with a strong 1N action…1N 2H 2S 3N…it’s common to pass with 3 card support if the hand is otherwise suitable (excuse the pun) and that’s in an auction where he’s playing both strains, thus the lead coming through him isn’t a factor. Here, he knows that the lead is coming through him in spades so, depending on his hand, he might well pass 3N.
Nothing is, imo, clearly right or wrong from your side so I describe my hand and let partner make the final (maybe wrong) guess.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari
#5
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Posted 2025-October-13, 17:28
mikeh, on 2025-October-13, 16:47, said:
what makes you think that 4S from your side is going to work well if he has xx?
It may not, but to my mind it takes a minor miracle to make 3NT.
If opener needed only a secure spade stop to make 3NT, they would not have bid 2NT.
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