[gwnn]

1S-2H-2S-p
p-3D-p-?

[SteveMoe]

The minute I pass, hoping to make one more trick in the 4-4 fit, I'll rue that we're playing for 110 not 140. Grin and bear it - the major partial wins MPs. I'll bid 3♥ here. At IMPS I will pass.

[lalldonn]

3♥ since I think partner usually has 6 hearts here due to not bidding Michaels and of course he isn't 1543. It could play very awkwardly in diamonds IMO. They will start spade spade and he will have to ruff in hand, surely giving up the lead once or twice in the red suits having to ruff more spades in his hand. That could make it very hard to use the hearts.

[Fluffy]

I also think we have more hearts than damonds here, my only concern is giving partner a free shot at bidding 4♥ on his own, but I supose this is not an issue partnering someone decent.

[Zelandakh]

lalldonn, on 2012-November-15, 18:59, said:

due to not bidding Michaels

OP has not given a style for Michaels so ruling out split-range seems premature. Perhaps this is important information here?

[gwnn]

Zelandakh, on 2012-November-16, 03:04, said:

OP has not given a style for Michaels so ruling out split-range seems premature. Perhaps this is important information here?

The fact that OP is not a complete beginner does rule it out. (sorry for trolling my own thread)

Unfortunately I mistyped the thread subtitle, it was actually IMPs.

[Codo]

Csaba, I know people better then you and me who still play split range.

[gwnn]

Codo, on 2012-November-16, 05:27, said:

Csaba, I know people better then you and me who still play split range.

Which goes to show that card play is much more important than bidding.

[Zelandakh]

gwnn, on 2012-November-16, 05:48, said:

Which goes to show that card play is much more important than bidding.

Sorry Csaba but I find this response exactly as arrogant as if I were to come to BBF and state that my bidding system was the very best one ever created. Are you really such a savant on bidding that you can be 100% sure that you know what is optimal? I find this a real shame because your posts are usually so constructive and helpful. In any case, there is a sizable group of players who do not use Michaels on all 5-5 hands and I remain steadfast that the style of playing it is a relevant inference on these kinds of auctions.

[gwnn]

I was just having fun, as per my disclaimer at the bottom of my previous post. I have a personal problem with split range Michaels and I couldn't help expressing it. Kind of a Tourette's if you will.

Anyway, no, we are not using split range Michaels.

[Fluffy]

I laughed (not out loud jsut because I am on an office) thanks to gwnn's coments, BTW I still play split range not vulnerable.

[lalldonn]

Zelandakh, on 2012-November-16, 03:04, said:

OP has not given a style for Michaels so ruling out split-range seems premature. Perhaps this is important information here?

This hand is a perfect reason not to play it.

And gwnn is funny, don't discourage him! He is my early personal favorite for the posty award for poster of the year.

[awm]

Hmm what would be 1♠-2♥-2♠-P-P-2NT? I'd think that would show 6♥ and 4m. Another option with 6♥/4♦ is to double and correct a club bid to diamonds. I'd tend to assume that 6♥-4♦ hands would bid one of those two ways (the 2NT bid being less willing to defend). I'd assume 2♥...3♦ is 5-5 or 6-5.

[Lord Molyb]

Your partner is probably 1-6-4-2 or 1-6-5-1. Barring the unlikely event that your partner might have longer hearts than that, I would probably pass and run to hearts if they double for penalties.

[lalldonn]

awm, on 2012-November-16, 23:59, said:

Hmm what would be 1♠-2♥-2♠-P-P-2NT? I'd think that would show 6♥ and 4m. Another option with 6♥/4♦ is to double and correct a club bid to diamonds. I'd tend to assume that 6♥-4♦ hands would bid one of those two ways (the 2NT bid being less willing to defend). I'd assume 2♥...3♦ is 5-5 or 6-5.

Neither of those strategies work well if they compete to 3♠ before you are able to show your hand.

[Zelandakh]

Perhaps we can get a bit of everything here by using some ken-style logic...

Let's say an immediate 3m shows a big 2-suiter, 6-5 and a decent hand (or 5-5 if playing split-range).
2NT can be simply competitive with a side minor, partner making a Paradox advance.
Double then covers the rest and partner bids 2NT with a preference for diamonds.

This would mesh quite well with the ken-style defence to (1♠) - P - (2♠).