[hrothgar]

Echognome and I got a spanking from the Egyptian Bermuda Bowl team...

Here's an hand where we hand one of our two big losses...

---

Playing BBO-Advanced you hear partner open 1♥.
You chose to respond 2N, and partner rebids 3♦...

Name your poison (along with an explanation)

[Blofeld]

3♠. 3♦ doesn't sound encouraging looking at our hand, but partner is unlimited and may need to know about the ♠K. If he now bypasses serious 3NT, I'll sign off.

[dcvetkov]

4♥

Partner has a bad singleton and chances of a slam are significantly reduced. I like to limit my hand quickly and pass the bad news. He will need a big hand to move on.

3S may sound too encouriging to partner thinking that the hands match well and he will press too high. Even 5 level may not be safe on some bad days.

[mike777]

hrothgar, on Jan 30 2006, 08:01 PM, said:

Echognome and I got a spanking from the Egyptian Bermuda Bowl team...

Here's an hand where we hand one of our two big losses...

---

Playing BBO-Advanced you hear partner open 1♥.
You chose to respond 2N, and partner rebids 3♦...

Name your poison (along with an explanation)

4H

I could hardly have a worse hand.
Assuming 2nt was some version of Jacoby.
Assuming 3D showed shortness.

[Kalvan14]

mike777, on Jan 30 2006, 08:25 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Jan 30 2006, 08:01 PM, said:

Echognome and I got a spanking from the Egyptian Bermuda Bowl team...

Here's an hand where we hand one of our two big losses...

Dealer: ????? Vul: ???? Scoring: Unknown

♠ K74 ♥ AQ96 ♦ KJT2 ♣ JT

Playing BBO-Advanced you hear partner open 1♥.
You chose to respond 2N, and partner rebids 3♦...

Name your poison (along with an explanation)

4H

I could hardly have a worse hand.
Assuming 2nt was some version of Jacoby.
Assuming 3D showed shortness.

On the basis of Mike's assumptions, I'd propose 3NT. Pard knows I've a fit in hearts, now let him know that I've wasted values in diamonds.

Obviously, this would not be possible since 3NT would be interpreted as Serious 3N, am I right? 4♥, then (which is the reason for which I don't like Serious 3N).

[pbleighton]

4H.

If I had the SA rather than the SK, I might bid 3S. Making your first cuebid with a king is a bit of a lie, and I don't like to do it with a hand that really has no extras in light of the 3D bid.

Why do I think the correct bid is slam-going?

Peter

[luis]

4♥ completely discouraged with KJTx in pd's singleton.

[DrTodd13]

I think I'm going to try 3N here. Partner knows that I know about the singleton and yet I'm still offering 3N. I must have 4 good ♦ and have already shown 4♥. Give partner the info and let him make the decision.

[han]

4!h for me too, but I don't think that 3NT is completely crazy.

[mike777]

Hannie, on Jan 31 2006, 01:21 AM, said:

4!h for me too, but I don't think that 3NT is completely crazy.

Ditto

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

4H, assuming 2NT was gf and 3D splinter.
Partner asks: Do you have a good opening,
without wastage in diamond?
Take away the diamond suit, or replace the
suit xxxx and you dont have an opener
anymore, so your answer is clear, anything
else is masterminding and says partner is an
idiot, because he did ask the wrong question.

Marlowe

[hrothgar]

DrTodd13, on Jan 31 2006, 09:12 AM, said:

I think I'm going to try 3N here. Partner knows that I know about the singleton and yet I'm still offering 3N. I must have 4 good ♦ and have already shown 4♥. Give partner the info and let him make the decision.

3NT would be "serious"...

Given the number of people suggesting that 4♥ is a picture bid suggesting devaluing the hand based on wasted Diamond values, its hard to justify Serious slam interest.

[FrancesHinden]

I assume the 3NT bidders are making a natural call, not a 'serious' 3NT.
I am also a natural 3NT bidder, if 3D showed a singleton diamond.
That says to partner "I have a game forcing raise with 4-card support and a load of stuff wasted in diamonds. Where do you want to go from here?"

[Walddk]

I have a 10 count after opener's disappointing 3♦, so 4♥ for me as quickly as possible. If he can't make a move over 4♥, we are unlikely to have a slam on. 4♥ gives him the message that 3♦ didn't thrill me.

As others have said too, I can't bid a natural 3NT. That would be "serious" and denying a spade control. This is wrong on both accounts. I don't think it's a great loss not to have the natural 3NT available in this situation. Very rarely do you want to play in 3NT when you have a 5-4 (even 6-4) major fit.

Roland

[FrancesHinden]

I don't feel very strongly about whether or not you want to have a serious 3NT bid available on this auction, but one of the reasons for bidding a natural 3NT is not necessarily to play there, but as a descriptive call to tell partner about your hand.

[hrothgar]

Walddk, on Jan 31 2006, 04:21 PM, said:

As others have said too, I can't bid a natural 3NT. That would be "serious" and denying a spade control. This is wrong on both accounts. I don't think it's a great loss not to have the natural 3NT available in this situation. Very rarely do you want to play in 3NT when you have a 5-4 (even 6-4) major fit.

Yes and no...

I agree that 3NT on this hand would be Serious.
I disagree that Serious 3NT is without cost....

When Frances (and others) suggest a 3NT response with this hand, I don't believe that they are suggesting 3NT as a possible contract (please correct me if I'm wrong). Rather, they are showing a forward going hand with substantial Diamond wastage...

In theory, an accomplished partnership could differentiate between a picture jump to 4♥ and a 3NT response.

[Walddk]

hrothgar, on Jan 31 2006, 02:38 PM, said:

Rather, they are showing a forward going hand with substantial Diamond wastage...

Fair enough if you really had a forward going hand, but you don't. You already forced to game with your 2NT. After seeing 3♦ from opener. you now know what you didn't know then: you no longer have a hand that was good enough to force to game!

Roland

[Echognome]

I think enough responses are now in for the initial question. As opener I'm now going to ask you to change seats. You hold:

♠Txx
♥KJTxx
♦A
♣AKxx

You are playing BBO Advanced without too many other agreements.

You open 1♥ and partner bids 2NT forcing to game.

What is your call?

[mr1303]

Presumably my methods involve 3X when X isn't hearts here showing a shortage, 3NT = 15-17 balanced ish, 3H = 18-19 balanced ish, 4 new suit = slammish 2 suiter, 4H = balanced minimum.

Well, I have a 15 count, which with the singleton ace of diamonds, looks fairly balanced. So I'll try 3NT. I don't like to splinter with singleton aces

[Al_U_Card]

Even tho it tends to promise 5, I would jump to 4C (unless it would be taken as Gerber.... ) to show my hand.