[AL78]

MPs, opps playing 5CM strong NT:

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A new suit would be forcing, cueing hearts would be inv+ with support, we don't play jump shifts.

[DavidKok]

I think the book bid is 3♣, planning on bidding 3♠ next round. I've never liked that much since you get stuck if NS bid 4♥ - not unlikely when we have weakness and a void. The chance that partner gets excited and starts raising clubs is not very high.
With a slightly stronger hand I'd have sympathy for a 4♣ fitbid (despite the off shape), but this hand is too weak to force to the 4-level.

At the table I would bid 2♠, but I suspect that 3♣ gets a majority vote.

[jillybean]

2♥ is enough, I want to show partner that I have support to let him compete. The hand has shape but gets downgraded for the ♦J84

[AL78]

jillybean, on 2023-February-19, 01:07, said:

2♥ is enough, I want to show partner that I have support to let him compete. The hand has shape but gets downgraded for the ♦J84

South has bid 2♥ in front of you so you'd have to bid 3♥ if you want to show a good(ish) hand with support.

[AL78]

DavidKok, on 2023-February-18, 17:14, said:

I think the book bid is 3♣, planning on bidding 3♠ next round. I've never liked that much since you get stuck if NS bid 4♥ - not unlikely when we have weakness and a void. The chance that partner gets excited and starts raising clubs is not very high.
With a slightly stronger hand I'd have sympathy for a 4♣ fitbid (despite the off shape), but this hand is too weak to force to the 4-level.

At the table I would bid 2♠, but I suspect that 3♣ gets a majority vote.

If you bid 3♣ North bids 4♥.

[pescetom]

On a Friday evening I would probably bid 4♥ at this vulnerability, which takes the wind out of their sails.
But 3♥ is more flexible and sensible.

[AL78]

A selection of bids suggesting it is not clear cut. My partner held this hand and bid 4♠ which worked out well when North bid on and went down:

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4♠ should get hammered but North chose to bid on and went two down. 4♥ can make but no-one did. One EW pair played in 3♠ going two down. I think we got lucky here.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

doubling 4S at MP is hard, ..., given the vul. you have to get it right,
you need to have a fair chance for -4, you assume you have 620 your side.
You are not even in a Forcing Pass Seq.
They told you, that you have no spade looser, you have a 9+ heart fit, bidding
5H is not wrong, ..., sometimes partner has more than a dead min.

Get it right.

The 4S bid is certainly over the top, but you have the right colors, you have
a void in their suit, you have a source of tricks, and sometimes partner has
a suit, worthy to be named a suit, for his overcall.
If it is F2F, you have to make the bid in normal tempo, and this will ask them
a question, will they get it right?

You got lucky, yes, but luck favors the brave.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: We would sell the hands as a mixed raise with a club suit.

[DavidKok]

P_Marlowe, on 2023-February-20, 11:48, said:

doubling 4S at MP is hard, ..., given the vul. you have to get it right,
you need to have a fair chance for -4, you assume you have 620 your side.

I don't think this is the right way to think about doubles. Maybe if it were legal to bid 4♥ over 4♠ you would consider this argument, but even then I'm struggling to follow along.

[P_Marlowe]

DavidKok, on 2023-February-20, 11:56, said:

I don't think this is the right way to think about doubles. Maybe if it were legal to bid 4♥ over 4♠ you would consider this argument, but even then I'm struggling to follow along.

The expectation for a double is 300 - 500.
Playing IMPs I would go for that, playing MP, I need to decide, if the chance for 620/650 is higher.

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2023-February-19, 17:16, said:

4♥ can make but no-one did.

Isn't setting uo a spades ruff enough?

[AL78]

pescetom, on 2023-February-20, 12:29, said:

Isn't setting uo a spades ruff enough?

I would have thought so just looking at the NS cards. My RHO butchered the play by drawing trumps first. I remember being surprised we made two spade tricks in the defence given partner's 4♠ bid, I was expecting declarer to ruff the second round of spades.