[SimonFa]

Partner has asked just me about this hand from last night and knows I'm posting here....

Teams, W Vs R, better than average opps, I'm dealing

1C - (1H) - ?

Partner had:

♠QJ
♥AXXX
♦KQJX
♣XXX

FWIW We play better minor and open on a count of 19 in at this vulnerability with a 5/4 or better distribution.

For some reason partner doubled, which I alerted as showing 4-spades (our system but partner keeps forgetting).

My view is too strong for 2NT and it would be nice to have 2 stops for 3NT. 2♦looks OK and a rebid of NT then describes her hand. On balance I think 3NT is probably best.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Simon

[BunnyGo]

I like a 2H bid. He wants you to play NT if that's where it ends up (especially if you have Qx). Double is clearly wrong. I don't like a NT bid, because it's clearly wrongsiding it no matter what you have.

[the_dude]

Agree that NT on Axxx seems wrong .. but I don't like 2H on xxx of clubs either. We don't want to encourage play in clubs unless we hear more from partner. 2♦ seems a much better description of our values.

Better question is, does our system have a way to get partner to bid NT on Qx or Jxx?

[farrnbach]

2nt (if it is 10-11) is out of question
My preferences in descending order
2h if it asks for a stop
2d if it is forcing
3nt otherwise

[BunnyGo]

the_dude, on 2011-September-06, 06:11, said:

Better question is, does our system have a way to get partner to bid NT on Qx or Jxx?

Often people play that cue-bidding their major is a stopper ask. Not always, but that's what a 2♥ bid may elicit (rather than it necessarily being a strong club suit raise).

[mck4711]

I agree: Too strong for 2NT, and with only 1 stopper.

With values for game I would cue-bid: 2♥. After 1m opening that does not necessarily show fit, but tells P that I am strong enough for game, but cant describe my hand as this moment in a better way. Especially I am asking for ♥-stopper. In case P doesnt bid NT, I can still ask with 3♥ for a half-stopper.

Edited: "♥-stopper" instead of "♠-stopper"

[mike777]

"FWIW We play better minor and open on a count of 19 in at this vulnerability with a 5/4 or better distributionedit"

tough problem with a so so 13 I will try 2nt which is far from perfect.

We are told pard can open on:


Axxx...xx...xx....AQxxx


so I dont think we are too strong, I am worried we are too weak.


I will assume 1nt is around 8-11 or so after lite 1c openings.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

3NT, wtp.

You have Axxx, i.e. you have enough cards to cut of the communication in hearts,
so the stopper is enough for 3NT.
Sometimes p asks me, do I have a stopper, and I will bid 3NT with Ax or (heaven forbid)
with Qxx, why should I worry holding Axxx?
Sometimes a Jx showes up in p hand, and Axxx turns out to be ATxx or A9xx.

2D is certainly a reasonable option, but the question arises, what is your plan to
bid next? If the answer is 3NT, the stopper did not improve.

Keep it simple.

With kind regards
Marlowe