[jillybean]

The dreaded transfer to my singleton

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[pescetom]

Not the luckiest of deals, partner has 2 of the outstanding 18 HCP and five hearts with none of the other three honours.
But could be worse, and I think we would land on our feet after 2♣.
If South decides that discretion is the better part of valour and passes then partner will bid 2♥ Red flag, over which I have a difficult decision between 2NT and 3NT, but probably play safe.
If South risks a two-suited overcall then they are going to play 3M doubled.
Not so confident we would land on our feet after 1♦ and 2♦ by South, especially if North is of the school that responds hearts.

3NT is making DD, although my hat is off to anyone who would have made it after your auction on a ♥Q lead.

[smerriman]

pescetom, on 2025-February-09, 15:13, said:

3NT is making DD, although my hat is off to anyone who would have made it after your auction on a ♥Q lead.

Doesn't the contract somewhat make itself here? Crossing to the queen of diamonds and taking a natural looking finesse gets 9 tricks.

[jillybean]

I made the contract. WTP?
The lead was an unusual ♥8 but I don't think it matters

[thepossum]

jillybean, on 2025-February-09, 13:30, said:

The dreaded transfer to my singleton

It is a safe bet that is where any transfer would go
As I said elsewhere I panicked once and passed the transfer. Scored ok but accepting and making scored better - obviously in my case was quite difficult judging by the scores - it was about minisimising damage
At least you have the Ace

[jillybean]

jillybean, on 2025-February-09, 13:30, said:

The dreaded transfer to my singleton

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Does everyone force game with the West hand?
2C 2H 2nt

[mikl_plkcc]

jillybean, on 2025-February-09, 13:30, said:

The dreaded transfer to my singleton

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Your problem here is "opening" 2NT with a singleton. You should never do that even it is an ace. If partner has 0 HCP he will pass the completion.

What I would do will be
2♣ - 2♦ (waiting)
3♦ (showing 5 unless 4441C) - 3♥ (no longer forcing, can be passed)
4♣ (natural) - 4♦ (delayed support)
5♦ (game looks likely) - all pass.

[mycroft]

First, let me note that I am at least 95% in the "don't open NT with a major singleton honour" camp. I don't like playing 2M (or in this case, 3M) in the 5-1 fit, or game in the 6-1. I very much understand the "I don't have a rebid that isn't a worse lie if I don't" people; I just disagree about how often it is worse.

Having said that (and my post above where I said that my "least lie" is an (expected) 18-"21" 3♣ jump shift)(*), there are some small issues with your idea:

• 2♣ then 3♦ wrongsides any diamond contract (and more than zero NT contracts). Here, it "isn't a problem", but half the time the queen's not in the right place...
  
• Two-suiters, without tools, are a reason to *avoid 2♣*, as 3NT is way too close if there's no (or a minor) fit after you've described your hand. Here, of course, it's guaranteed to be in the rear-view, but you're going to show that anaemic (for a 22-count) 5-4 in the minors anyway.
  
• In what world, after 2♣ and a non-negative response, is responder's first real bid NF? How do I investigate slam in my suit? Or is 2♥ "8+, 5+♥, even if it's Q9xxx"? (In which case, you're wrongsiding even more hands!) Frankly, after 2♣-2♥ Immediate Double Negative, we should still be forced to 2NT or suit rebid/agreement (especially if it's "zero controls", where it could be a 12 count, but even if it's played as "A, K, QQ, or 6 HCP" or the like).
  
• If it is NF, what does responder do with 4414 and the same strength? Surely not 3♥. Or 4324? or 4315? Surely not 3♠. I guess 3NT then. Whoops, wrongsided again.
  
• 2♣, then 3♦ is how you handle the marmic club hands? And 3M is NF? How do you ever find 4-4 major fits? I know you want to have real suits when you bid them, but using the *highest possible* call as your "least lie" - seems inefficient.
  
• But it's okay, you don't have 4441, you have 3154. I assume that if 3♥ is NF, so is 4♣ - clearly the implication from your post is that 4♦ can be passed. But "game looks likely" with "delayed support"? Even if that was, say 4522? "Delayed support" in this auction is "preference" - "yeah, plays better in diamonds than in clubs." It's not necessarily actual support.
  
• "At matchpoints, 5♦ is an invite." It is highly unlikely that (and it will usually be obvious when) 11 tricks in diamonds exist without 9 tricks in NT. When both contracts make, it is very likely that 10 tricks in NT are there - even if there are 12 in the minor, 3NT still wins.
  
• Sure, at IMPs, safer contract. but it has to be safer.

Frankly, the last one is the biggest issue. Because:

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And you even get the 3-2 diamond break (which, I do agree, on this hand is probably needed for 3NT to come in).

(*)

Spoiler

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Responder's failure to bid 3♦, or 3♠ for that matter, last round means I might guess to pass here. Or might make the magic guess of 3NT, with added knowledge of the distribution. Or might try a 3♥ "second stopper" ask, and stop in 4♦. Or might do something else, as long as I'm resulting :-).