[dcohio]

Had an interesting hand I wanted to get opinions on:

2♣!-(P)-?

---

2♣ can include a 4cM

Choices are some number of clubs, or 2♦ as stayman. I bid 2♦ with the intent of converting spades to 2NT and hearts to 4 clubs.

Bidding continued:

2♣!-(p)-2♦-(2♠)
3♣-(3♠)-5♣-(P)
P-(5♦)-X-(p)
P-(5♠)-?

Do you double again? take the club sac?

[gwnn]

don't you have a direct support bid available somehow? I think your plan is nice on paper but it's not for me - you have a known 10 card fit.

I wouldn't bid 6♣ though, we are so balanced with so many points outside. I realise that they won't be 5332 or something but still partner opened and he has to have another big card besides AK of clubs.

[rbforster]

I would not have bid 2♦, but either 3♣ or 4♣ preemptively depending on the colors. Or maybe just 3♣, since we've got such soft, defense values and no useful shape.

[dcohio]

gwnn, on Oct 15 2010, 01:28 PM, said:

don't you have a direct support bid available somehow?

The only forcing bid over 2♣ we have is 2♦. The question is whether this hand is good enough to look for 3nt or if it should just bid some number of clubs.

[Hairy_Scot]

2♦ is not the ideal bid with this hand since you do not have 12+ HCP.
The standard bid would be 3♣ which leaves pard options and forces opps up one level.
On this auction I would favour doubling 5♠

[Phil]

If partner has a maximum and I'd like to investigate 3N. I think 2♦ is obvious and so is the pass of 5♠. You had no guarantee of making 5♣, and you might have enough defense to beat 5♠.

[keylime]

There's a lot to be said, about a blast to 3NT, not because of the lack of science, but because you put pressure on the opps to defend. If scared about the spade, a 2NT bid may keep the opps out too.

[petterb]

dcohio, on Oct 15 2010, 01:16 PM, said:

I bid 2♦ with the intent of converting spades to 2NT and hearts to 4 clubs.

2♣-2♦
2♥-4♣

Isn't this usually played as a forcing club raise?

[the hog]

Why not play 2NT as a forcing bid - a weak raise in C or 5D/5H 5H/5S forcing. Now 3C becomes a constructive raise. Playing 2NT as invit to 3NT is silly over 2C. You are contracting to make exactly 8 tricks?

[mikestar13]

Phil, on 2010-October-15, 15:30, said:

If partner has a maximum and I'd like to investigate 3N. I think 2♦ is obvious and so is the pass of 5♠. You had no guarantee of making 5♣, and you might have enough defense to beat 5♠.

If partner has a maximum, he will look for 3NT over 3♣, which is my preference. Over 5♠ I pass--the five level belongs to the opponents.

[Echognome]

I think the obvious part of the question is what to do now over 5♠, to which pass is very clear to me. We have already shown our values (probably more than what we have) and we have already shown our support and our suggestion to defend. Double now would show more defense and more defense to spades in particular. We are looking at xx in spades, so what more defense do we have?

[Phil]

mikestar13, on 2010-October-28, 17:44, said:

If partner has a maximum, he will look for 3NT over 3♣, which is my preference. Over 5♠ I pass--the five level belongs to the opponents.

Is 2♣ - 3♣ constructive in your methods? It is generally played as some form of a blocking call.

Invitational hands after 2♣ are notoriously tough. I think we've all come up with little fixes - mine involves a Lebensohl-type call after 2♣ - 2♦ - 2M.

[cloa513]

the hog, on 2010-October-15, 20:38, said:

Why not play 2NT as a forcing bid - a weak raise in C or 5D/5H 5H/5S forcing. Now 3C becomes a constructive raise. Playing 2NT as invit to 3NT is silly over 2C. You are contracting to make exactly 8 tricks?

Except that that 2NT is vague. Opponents will come in with their own suit and raise it when you have a good secondary fit or possibly not.
Partner's going to need a top quality hand to make 3NT on this hand such 3 aces including AC and an honour in diamonds or strongly top honours clubs and spades with some little support in diamonds so 3C is fine, he will continue with such a powerful hand. You could hardly have a near bust and opponents not enter bidding.

[dake50]

6C. They WANT to slam this hand. Give them another chance.