[Hanoi5]

Butler, all red, you deal and hold:

♠Qx
♥Jxxxx
♦QT8x
♣KQ

It goes:

Pa-Pa-1♣-X
1♥-Pa-2♣-Pa
???

[aguahombre]

I guess the question is pass or blast (3NT). If we try 2NT, partner will probably not bid 3 when it makes, because she has a relatively bad suit.

Probably would not be posted here unless 3NT by responder makes on (say) a spade lead and a lucky combo in the suit.

I understand lots of folks open 1C, then rebid 2C with 4-5 in the minors, so their auction might already be off the rail. Can't bid 2D here without getting too high, since it might not be showing a real suit.

This post has been edited by aguahombre: 2011-May-12, 11:00

[kayin801]

3♣

[whereagles]

Looks like an easy 2NT to me. The clubs honors compensate for the otherwise uninteresting hand.

[menggq]

I think if N/S will hv game sd be 3N,N wd like to hope S has something in ♠ so i wd bid 2♦ to keep choices if pd can bid 2N then raise to 3N,if pd bid
2♥/3♣/3♦ pass it,if pd bid 2♠ that's new question, does it show semi-stoper in ♠ or ♦ FIT or something else?one thing is confirmed that 2♠ sd be forcing.

[aguahombre]

Many more situations where responder with QX of spades should be declarer if we go to 3NT.

[gnasher]

3♣ looks obvious to me. If we belong in 3NT, the knowledge of a club fit will help partner to bid it; if it's a partscore hand, 3♣ is likely to be better than 2NT.

If partner can be 3145, we might consider 2♦, planning to convert 2♥ to 3♣. That will will sometimes get us to a better partscore, but with so few high cards in the red suits it's not very descriptive.

[rhm]

gnasher, on 2011-May-13, 01:19, said:

3♣ looks obvious to me. If we belong in 3NT, the knowledge of a club fit will help partner to bid it; if it's a partscore hand, 3♣ is likely to be better than 2NT.

So the issue is what is the difference between 3♣ and 2NT? I don't think you will normally invite here without ♣ support. Bidding 2NT on a misfit in ♣ is the mark of a beginner. Either you have enough to force to game or there is no safety beyond 2♣.
That 2NT is an unattractive resting place is known to both you and partner and is no argument against bidding 2NT. If partner is unwilling to accept he should usually correct to 3♣ with a six card or longer suit.
If partner decides to pass 2NT opposite this notrump oriented hand I doubt that 3♣ will play better.

2NT should be bid when notrump needs to be played from your side with something in the unbid suits, your hand tends to be balanced and your ♣s are not long enough for considering a high level ♣ contract.
3♣ would tend to be the opposite and should be more suit oriented.
So for me 2NT describes the hand well.

Rainer Herrmann

[gnasher]

Why would you want to play the notrumps from your side when the strong hand is on your right? If partner's spades are AJx, K10x or A10, 3NT should be played from partner's side.

[rhm]

gnasher, on 2011-May-13, 04:13, said:

Why would you want to play the notrumps from your side when the strong hand is on your right? If partner's spades are AJx, K10x or A10, 3NT should be played from partner's side.

Sorry I overlooked the double, which makes declaring notrump from this side much less attractive.
I probably still prefer 2NT, but I agree the DBL makes the decision between 3♣ and 2NT much closer.

Rainer Herrmann

[dake50]

Where are the Spades?
No 1S by LHO. No 1S by partner. No 2S by RHO.
Partner must have 3xS good stop.
What for NT does partner fear? Red-single?
I bid 2D - "partner no fear missing stop here".
My uptick bid may be just enough for partner to see 3NT.

[gszes]

3c

it is hard to imagine too many hands where game will make aside from 3n.
We should try to cater our bidding to that reality and see what is the best
and safest way to arrive at 3n (if its reasonable). 3C has several advantages
over other bids.
1. it excites p since their long clubs have better chance of running.
2. p may be able to bid 3n right away which probably rightsides the contract.
3. p might have to bid 3s (with no dia stop and extras) we then have to bid 3n
but at least we know its feasible.
4. If p bids 3d we can then bid 3s to show partial spade stop.
5. If p is minimum 3c is likely better than 2n.

[aguahombre]

rhm, on 2011-May-13, 04:29, said:

Sorry I overlooked the double, which makes declaring notrump from this side much less attractive.
I probably still prefer 2NT, but I agree the DBL makes the decision between 3♣ and 2NT much closer.

Rainer Herrmann

Yikes, I missed the double also for my alleged contributions above. Now that I see the double, 3C here would probably be interpreted by my pard as merely a club fit and an attempt to make sure lefty didn't wake up. Would have to do something else to invite game without forcing it.

And seeing the double, 2NT does look anti-positional from me, and I seem to have no invite