[mycroft]

Again, standard 2/1 with the usual gadgets. In this case, 4-suit transfers + Texas. By partner's preference, we play sound (for modern bridge - "no 11s, please") openers.

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I decided that I wasn't going to reverse this hand, or treat it as a 5=5, so I decided to pass. It then goes:

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Now what, or am I already wrong?

[mikeh]

I agree with the pass. I might well open if my majors were reversed, since I have no rebid problem. But opening this 1♥ leaves me cold.

Again, however, I don't see why we are in a difficult situation just yet.

I assume we have choices here, depending on methods.

I am uncertain as to whether to transfer to hearts and then show spades.....I assume that 2♦ followed by 2♠ is natural, gf but I don't know that.

The alternative is to stayman. This hand becomes monstrous opposite a 4 card major, preferably spades. Again I assume that we have methods.

Thus for me, bidding 3 other major over a 2M response is a gf raise of opener's major with slam interest. Sure, partner may be puzzled by my hauling out a slam try after passing, but that must tell a good player that I have an unusual hand so he should start cooperating with a useful hand.

If he bids 2♦, I assume I have some smolenesque methods, tho my slam ambitions have diminished somewhat.

If we lack smolen or equivalent means of gf after a 2♦ response to stayman, I transfer at the 2-level, otherwise I stayman. I have lots of room, so far, to let partner in on my great hand.

Edit: I don't think I would use a 5-5 major gf gadget if I had one, since the one I know (3♠) takes up too much space. Partner won't usually initiate a slam move even with a slam suitable hand since we are passed and he won't see the benefit. So KQxx Kx AJxx Qxx, where we are odds on for 6♠ won't get his juices flowing and we can hardly force to the 5 level, since we may catch something like Axx QJx KQxx KQx, a 17 counbt where on a bad day we fail in game.

I'm not saying that a lower/slower start solves all problems, but I am saying that any method that allows the partnership identify and set trump in a gf manner at the 3 level is better than one that takes us to the 4 level.

This post has been edited by mikeh: 2012-November-21, 20:39

[ArtK78]

I might open the hand if the vulnerability were reversed, but I can't argue much with the choice of pass at this vulnerability.

As long as transferring to hearts followed by bidding spades is forcing (whether game forcing or not) that is the route I would take. I will attempt to show partner that I have MANY major suit cards and let him draw his own conclusions.

If I have a bid to show 5-5 or better in the majors in response to partner's 1NT opening, that would be even better.

[Codo]

Not to open the hand worked well, I hadn't passed it, but just because I play Ekren 2♥. Without this tool, I had passed too.
You surely have a system to show both suits in a forcing manner, don't you? If not, you should play Ekren or play a structure over 1 Nt where you are able to show both suits.

[Lord Molyb]

Interesting hand. I would probably bid stayman and treat this hand as a 5-4 if my partner doesn't show a major, or transfer to spades and bid 4♥ (showing 5-5 in our system).

[Fluffy]

if partner is 3-2 in the majors I think its better to play in hearts althou it is close. Also good to not give him an option in case he is 2-2 in the majors. So stayman and smolen and setlle for 4♥.

[mycroft]

Interesting to see that almost everybody gives up on slam. Mike's hand, or anything like AKx Kxx ♦A and something looks good; make the ♦A either major Q and you have plays. That was my concern - I'm going to play in hearts. Can I convince partner that spade concentration = slam, but minor cards are wasted?

Thanks for making me feel that I wasn't totally out to lunch.

Spoiler

I ended up transferring to hearts and bidding 2♠ (forcing). After 3♥ I couldn't stomach another disaster after board 1, so I didn't bid 3♠ as I think I should have, but just bid 4♥. Just in when partner's cards were unfortunate. I like the idea of Smolen, but it just won't show the power of the 5=6 vs. the shown 4=5.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

If you initially use a Transfer with the 5s/5h hands, then you can start with Stayman followed by Smolen with a 5s/6h hand :

1NT - 2H!
2S - 3H = 2nd 5 card suit , 5s/5h, GF

1NT - 2C
2D - 3H! ( Smolen, ostensibly 5s/4h )
3NT ( 2s/3h ) - 4H ( 5s/6h, since can't be a 5/5 because of the Transfer alternative )

[PhilKing]

I ended up transferring to hearts and bidding 2♠ (forcing). After 3♥ I couldn't stomach another disaster after board 1, so I didn't bid 3♠ as I think I should have, but just bid 4♥. Just in when partner's cards were unfortunate. I like the idea of Smolen, but it just won't show the power of the 5=6 vs. the shown 4=5.

But why didn't you bid 4♣ over 3♥?

Then partner will bid slam with the right cards. And there is no danger, since you are a passed hand.

♠KQ ♥KQ ♦A is cold and ♠AQ ♥QJ ♦A is very good