[twcho]

Imp, Nil, you hold ♠Axx ♥xxx ♦AQ9xx ♣Jx, auction went as follows:
LHO Pard RHO You
1D 1S 2H* ?
*Non forcing

How to bid?

[Fluffy]

Both 3♦ adn 3♥ show ♠ fit limit+ values (unless agreed otherwise) so use the one where you have more values: 3♦

[twcho]

Thanks for the opinion. 3D definitely pass the message to your pd but it may also risk bypassing the only makeable contract, 2S.

[pbleighton]

"Thanks for the opinion. 3D definitely pass the message to your pd but it may also risk bypassing the only makeable contract, 2S. "

And 2S risks missing a makeable game. Bidding a marginal invitational hand in response to pd's 1 level overcall (may be 7 points?) is tough. Make a game try.

This hand is a good argument for light opening bids. Get in early and often, make the opps use overcalls and t/o doubles.

No idea if opp's 1D was light, but if it was, he may have fixed you.
Peter

[whereagles]

I wouldn't worry of missing a game here. If the opponent's bidding can be trusted, points split 20-20, so pard has 8-10 points and we're not going anywhere. I would bid a heavy 2♠ because I don't have bidding space to show good support and the hand is by no means worth the 3-level. Besides, odds are the ♦K is offside, so my hand devaluates.

The only problem of bidding 2♠ is what am I going to do if they bid to 3♥ or 3♣. But then again, maybe pard can find a 3♠ bid. If not, I pass and let them go down in peace.

[twcho]

"And 2S risks missing a makeable game. Bidding a marginal invitational hand in response to pd's 1 level overcall (may be 7 points?) is tough. Make a game try. "

Yes, 2S risks missing a makeable game but the prospect is not so good in view of the possible devaluation of DQ. But I just want to know how to express invitation value with 3 card support only in responding to pd's 1 level overcall here.
No space left for any bid below 2S which forces us to 3 level which may not be makeable albeit 2S didn't fully disclose your strength. So the only possible bid left is Double. But what is the best use of double in this case for a well established partnership?

1. Penalty?
2. Showing fourth suit and at least tolerance in pd's suit?
3. Or other?

[inquiry]

Practical answer....

At imps, not vul, I will bid 2♠. No need to stretch to try to get to close games. The opponents will lead a ♦, so I suspect your ♦Q is of little value. Heart cards in your partners hand will also probably not carry full weigth, and your three card ♥ suit on this auction is not encouraging. At MP, any vulnerability, I would also bid just 2♠. If your LHO gets very excited about ♥'s, bidding more later becomes more attractive.

At imps, vul, I will not bid a tame 2♠. Partner will suspect I will bid agressively under those conditions. So I will simply make an invintational raise to 3♠ (by whatever method I have with the current partner). This may mean jumping to 3♠. this may mean bidding 2NT or cue-bidding 3♦ or 3♥. At imps, if we are vulnerable, my partner will know that with a "good inventational hand", I will simply bid game, so he will allow for such a light invite. Such wiould not be true if we were not vulnerable.

What does dbl of 2♥ mean? Here I would typically play that as SNAPDRAGON showing ♣s with modest support for ♠. My ♣ suit makes a snapdragon double not possible. There is nothing stopping you from using dbl to suggest modest support too good for 2♠ and too weak for 3♠, but I don't believe that is anywhere near a standard treatment. And if you do that, and you have clubs, you are stuck with letting 2♥ buy the contract, or overbid 3♣. So I prefer keeping snapdragon and trying my best to make the most appropriate bid for the conditinos with hands like this.

Ben

[Flame]

I think i'll go with the 2sp, this is a serious underbid because i would also bid 2sp with Kxx xxxx x xxxxx
I dont like the dimonds suit (both its being long and the values in it) if you switch diamonds and clubs i would definetly bid more.

[xx1943]

twcho, on May 13 2004, 04:59 AM, said:

Imp, Nil, you hold ♠Axx ♥xxx ♦AQ9xx ♣Jx, auction went as follows:
LHO    Pard    RHO    You
1D      1S      2H*    ?
*Non forcing

How to bid?

My choice is X (support-double see M.Bergen) showing exactly 3!S with an honour and a fair til inviting hand. If partner now bids 2!S I would pass my ♦ and his ♥ probably badly placed.