[thasler]

Hi,

I have played ACOL (4 card majors) for years but am now playing with a few American partners, mostly playing 2/1 game force. However, I am playing with 1 partner who prefers SAYC.

I opened 1D and he held (s) A7 (h) A974 (d) 2 © KT9754.

It seems beginners are routinely taught to respond 1H on hands like this. As you might expect, I rebid 2D. What now? He elected to bid 3C and I showed false preference and bid 3H with 2 hearts and 3 clubs. Partner then bid 4H, which was not a success. You could argue that he could have gambled on 3NT but a) the gamble would not have paid off and b) what would he do with no space stopper? Like most people who encounter something new, my emotional reaction is that this is nuts! Surely, you should bid "length before strength"? Even if you don't play 2/1 game force, 2C seems the only logical choice on a hand like this. Is this a known flaw in SAYC or is my understanding incomplete/ wrong? BTW, 5C was cold as it happens.

[akwoo]

Your partner's second bid should be 2N; 3C is game forcing. Over 3C, you shouldn't bid 3H with only 2 - you need 3. You should bid 3N with a spade stopper and 3S without one.

[mw64ahw]

akwoo, on 2025-February-18, 19:39, said:

Your partner's second bid should be 2N; 3C is game forcing. Over 3C, you shouldn't bid 3H with only 2 - you need 3. You should bid 3N with a spade stopper and 3S without one.

This is the approach I learnt playing Standard American many moons ago.

[thasler]

Thanks to both of you. It seems I have a lot to learn. I agree with Larry Cohen: beginners should be taught 2 over 1 from the start. It is much easier, in my opinion.