[the hog]

I don't like 3NT, but I also don't like 1H, (or 1S for that matter). Well Art and others no doubt, you can claim 4S makes, but it is a pretty foul contract, and how can you avoid it if you bid on that tripe?

[ArtK78]

The_Hog, on May 14 2008, 07:20 AM, said:

I don't like 3NT, but I also don't like 1H, (or 1S for that matter). Well Art and others no doubt, you can claim 4S makes, but it is a pretty foul contract, and how can you avoid it if you bid on that tripe?

4♠ (or 4♥ for that matter) might have been an excellent contract, if partner's strong hand consisted of one more honor in the long major and one less minor honor in diamonds. Partner is allowed to hold

AKxx
x
AKxxxx
Kx

or, even better

x
AKxx
AKxxxx
Kx

Of course, the more common hand on which bidding the major is right is when partner has any moderate unbalanced hand with a major suit.

It is clear from the discussion of the posters that your position is a clear minority position, Ron. That is not to say that pass might not be right on some hands.

[Fluffy]

I copy evertthing Ron says.

To Art: constructing possible hands always works, even if you bid 7NT, hitting partner with a 4 card major hand full of controls is already very good, but it hasn't made game a must, 1♦ scores pretty well in the long run (and mqny people won't sell out).

[ArtK78]

On my way into work, I thought of another very common hand for partner to have on which passing 1♦ is likely to result in a minus score and bidding one of either major gets you to a cold game (and slam is on a 2-2 spade break!):

AKxx
AKxx
Axxx
x

Assuming that you are playing standard methods, you have no real choice but to open this hand 1♦.

What do you think of 1♦ as a final contract now?

And don't count on the opponents balancing to rescue you - your side has a majority of the high card points even if they have a 10 card club fit.

[Apollo81]

ArtK78, on May 14 2008, 07:24 AM, said:

I don't like my pard's bid, and he didn't like mine.  So I ask you, who is to blame?

100% him. 1♥ was reasonable and his failure to bid spades was nothing more than failed masterminding.