[diana_eva]

JEC match, strong opps and pd. Would you cue or make a simple raise with this hand?

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[kenberg]

Possibly I am nuts, but I would bid 3D. My reasons:

1. We are vulnerable, they are not, partner will figure my hand has decent strength for playing inn diamonds.
2. My defensive strength is minimal and with my 5-5 offense may be best.
3. I want us to play in diamonds.

[inquiry]

You should play unusual versus unusual. Here, 2♥ and 2♠ would be artificial (depending upon which flavor you play, one shows good diamond raise an one shows good club suit bid). And a direct 3♦ and 3♣ bid would just be "competitive".

The downside to raising diamonds, which are significant even though 3♦ would clearly just be competitive, is that you hold the heart king and spade Queen. These are NOT good cards for you to hold on this auction. So while I am allowed to bid 3♦ (we all know about law of total tricks), the fact that that my cards suggest I should want to defend rather than declarer make me lean towards passing. Move the king or queen to clubs, and replace it with a small club, and I would bid 3♦.

[diana_eva]

inquiry, on 2015-December-27, 12:19, said:

You should play unusual versus unusual. Here, 2♥ and 2♠ would be artificial (depending upon which flavor you play, one shows good diamond raise an one shows good club suit bid). And a direct 3♦ and 3♣ bid would just be "competitive".

...

Yes, assuming we do play that - my problem was whether to evaluate this hand as a good raise or just a raise.

[kuhchung]

5 of my points are a stiff king and queen dub in their suit

[lorserker]

3D

[cherdano]

diana_eva, on 2015-December-27, 12:27, said:

Yes, assuming we do play that - my problem was whether to evaluate this hand as a good raise or just a raise.

I think it's pretty much worth 3D. Yes, the major suit honours are awful, but we do have 5-5 shape. If you moved them to the minors, I would make a 4♣ fit jump if we play that or just make a 4♦ raise.

[PhantomSac]

Just 3D IMO

[Cyberyeti]

You have the values for a 3♦ raise if you're going to play in diamonds, you have a little more for notrump purposes, where do you think you're going ?

I'd probably settle for 3♦ in practice.

[gszes]

pass I do not see the thrill of a vul 3d bid that might easily turn out to be xx x Axxxx xxxxx on offense. If the bidding stops in 2 h/s I can always back in with 3d. The only thing a 3d bid might accomplish here is pushing the opps into a making game they might not bid left to their own devices. If p can pipe in their with something extra then we can show some extra life.

[Phil]

Don't see any alternative to 3!d. 4!d if I'm in heat 1...maybe.

[neilkaz]

Easy 3♦ is all this is worth noting I have 5 unprotected HCP in opp's suits. I cannot justify a cue bid for a limit raise.

[lycier]

diana_eva, on 2015-December-27, 08:29, said:

JEC match, strong opps and pd. Would you cue or make a simple raise with this hand?

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diana_eva, on 2015-December-27, 12:27, said:

my problem was whether to evaluate this hand as a good raise or just a raise.

Worth more than a simple raise ?
I think Never.
Let me evaluate this hand.
HCP= 9
Singleton K : less than 2 points,more than 1 points
♠Q2,dummy distributional point is 1

In general,its evaluating is about 8 points,whatever with/ without interference, it is only worth a simple raise, but 4♦ is a strategic preemptive raise.

[kenberg]

The problem here is a frequent one. Evaluating the hand for diamonds and evaluating it for NT are two very different things. For NT, partner needs to help me in both majors. and even if hte has something like Kx and Qxx in the majors we had then better have 9 tricks once we get the lead. Possible, but it seems unlikely to me. So I try to evaluating it for diamonds. If I bid 3D pard should figure that I must have some reason for doing this red against white and this may be the information he needs to choose correctly as the auction goes forward (which it is likely to do, since the opponents surely have a fit in hearts at least).

I do, with some partners, extend the U/U convention to 1m-(2m) but I am not sure that this is a good idea. Anyway, I don't think that I would apply it here.


This business of how to decide whether, and how, to explore for NT or encourage playing in the minor is tricky and I am very open to opinions.

[lycier]

In this point, South evaluating his hand should be only for diamond and has nothing to do with NoTrump for the time being,if opener really has considerable extra values, of curse, opener never stop,continue to explore best spot for sure.

[SteveMoe]

I see this hand as closer to a pre-emptive raise than a simple raise because my Major suit values are not likely working. 3♦.
Any other vulnerability and I'd likely raise to 4.

[blackshoe]

3♦. Anything else seems like an overbid. And pass is too wimpy.

[rmnka447]

I'd bid 3 ♦ also. With RHO showing both majors, your ♠ Qx ♥ K have lost value -- worth something but not much. Since you have at least an 8 card fit and often a 9 card fit, compete and let the opponents have to start deciding what to do at the 3 level.

[gedikk]

I will assume 5542 is played. Contrary to the popular belief hereabove, I seriously consider 2♥ as a cue: 5-5 always a strong incentive, 9+card fit, club figures likely onside - in West. Limit Raise or better by responder does not automatically lead to game bidding, esp. in this space-saving layout. 4M rather unlikely after both opponents initially passed. My defensive values are not best, still considerable. Vulnerability matters, but not to the degree to prevent me from exploring eventual game (3NT is not to be set aside as well).
Diana might be so gracious to reveal the actual hands and outcome at JEC's tables :-)

[nige1]

diana_eva, on 2015-December-27, 08:29, said:

JEC match, strong opps and pd. Would you cue or make a simple raise with this hand?

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Partner opened after 3 passes, so is likely to hold a reasonable hand. In spite of the expert consensus, I rank

• 2♠ = Sound ♦ raise. Even with major wastage, you have a maximum pass.
• 3♣ = Mildly constructive fit non-jump.
• 3♦ = Conservative
• 2♥ = ♣s. Probably implying at least ♦ tolerance, since you've already passed.
• 4♦ = Pre-emptive.