[Zelandakh]

 Caitlynne, on 2016-May-19, 07:24, said:

I think you must choose between 2NT (followed by 3D) and an immediate 3D.

Once you start with 2NT there are other options available here, such as following up with 4♦ or 4NT. 2NT followed by 4♦ presumably has to be non-forcing but whether that hand really exists I am not sure. 2NT followed by 4NT has to be different somehow from an immediate 4NT, as well as from 3♣->4♦ and 3♦->5♣. Presumably either the slow route establishes a forcing pass or one shows a mild preference for one minor and the other a mild preference for the other. In any case, 3♦ followed by 5♣ surely has to show longer diamonds so thankfully these gradations are moot.

 fromageGB, on 2016-May-19, 07:38, said:

2♠.

Stop, step away from the coffee pot and find a nice quiet corner to lie down in. You have spent too much time listening to people like Ken and me, fromage!

[mike777]

 zenbiddist, on 2016-May-18, 21:34, said:

---

You're playing IMPs with a thoughtful expert, but you have essentially no agreements.

3d given OP

But strongly prefer to open this a weak 2d...given we are playing with an expert with essentially no agreements, so I would never have this problem.

[bluechip10]

 zenbiddist, on 2016-May-18, 21:34, said:

---

You're playing IMPs with a thoughtful expert, but you have essentially no agreements.

I need very little from partner to make 6 ♦. Ace ♠, AK ♦, KQ ♣. He does have a heart stopper. Bid 4 NT. If he shows 3 aces (assume standard blackwood response), then bid 6 ♦. If he shows 2, then bid 5 ♦. I like to bid aggressively especially with a void and a two suited hand.

[sfi]

 bluechip10, on 2016-May-19, 15:05, said:

I need very little from partner to make 6 ♦. Ace ♠, AK ♦, KQ ♣. He does have a heart stopper. Bid 4 NT. If he shows 3 aces (assume standard blackwood response), then bid 6 ♦. If he shows 2, then bid 5 ♦. I like to bid aggressively especially with a void and a two suited hand.

My reading of your post is that partner needs the perfect 16 count for slam to be reasonable. But she can't have it because she also has heart values. If you were trying to convince me it's not worth aiming for slam, it worked.

[msjennifer]

An expert is supposed to know Lebensohl so Bid 2 NT And convert partners 3 club bid to 3Di. If you suspect his expert level then simply bid an easy passable 3Di.

[Phil]

 fromageGB, on 2016-May-19, 07:38, said:

2♠.
Thoughtful partner will realise that
I am crazy

Fyp

[nige1]

 nige1, on 2016-May-19, 05:01, said:

I rank: 6. 4N = UNT? But might be treated as quantitative.

 Zelandakh, on 2016-May-19, 05:13, said:

I would love to see the hand that would qualify for this one!

This was my 6th choice but I take Zelandakh's point. I confess I didn't realize you're a passed hand

With a weak 6-6 or 6-7 minor two-suiter I think there's a good case for an unusual 4N, because it's highly pre-emptive and gets the hand off your chest in one bid. So, although this hand is only 6-5, perhaps, I should promote that bid.

[rmnka447]

3 ♦ to start.

[zenbiddist]

 nige1, on 2016-May-20, 16:01, said:

This was my 6th choice but I take Zelandakh's point. I confess I didn't realize you're a passed hand

With a weak 6-6 or 6-7 minor two-suiter I think there's a good case for an unusual 4N, because it's highly pre-emptive and gets the hand of your chest in one bid. So, although this hand is only 6-5, perhaps, I should promote that bid slightly.

I settled on 4NT, which I figured an expert would decipher as minors, given my initial pass. It was probably too aggressive, especially NV, but it's not hard to think of hands where 5m makes. Having read the comments I think 3♦ then a choice of games in the minors is probably better, to get to the right strain. People were all over the place when this hand came up, with only 9/20 EWs settling in clubs (the place to be). Pard's hand was

♠KJT
♥QJ96
♦A
♣KJ653

[mike777]

 zenbiddist, on 2016-May-20, 23:07, said:

I settled on 4NT, which I figured an expert would decipher as minors, given my initial pass. It was probably too aggressive, especially NV, but it's not hard to think of hands where 5m makes. Having read the comments I think 3♦ then a choice of games in the minors is probably better, to get to the right strain. People were all over the place when this hand came up, with only 9/20 EWs settling in clubs (the place to be). Pard's hand was

♠KJT
♥QJ96
♦A
♣KJ653

far far too confusing.....3d as natural and gf much much better...



better still is to open 2d and not pass

[nige1]

 mike777, on 2016-May-21, 22:48, said:

far far too confusing.....3d as natural and gf much much better... better still is to open 2d and not pass

Assuming an intelligent partner, who trusts that you're both on the same side and is aware that you're a passed-hand, he should be able to interpret a 4N reply to 1N, correctly. With no relevant agreements, there's more danger that he might treat 3♦ as non-forcing. Although he would probably take the safety-play of keeping the bidding open, just in case you intended it to be forcing.