[han]

Agree that 1NT was misguided as well. With a doubleton spade and 3-card support I would always make a support double. Your AQ of spades over RHO's king will be well positioned whether you are dummy or declarer.

[whereagles]

If I bid 2NT and pard couldn't double 3♠, I must have a play for 4♣.

[benlessard]

I usually like to make support when I can but here 1Nt rate to be much better then 2H. The K of D is protected you will avoid D ruffs. By bidding 1Nt you are still showing 2H so partner still can bid 2H to play but hell be more careful. Making a support X will encourage partner to play 2H instead of 2C when hes got 4 good H and 2 or 3 spades ( we are in MP).

[jdonn]

I put in a vote for support X instead of 1NT. Responder should bid 1NT over the support double on shapes where he is something like 3433 or 3442 anyway, even without a spade stopper, IMO.

[benlessard]

Quote

Responder should bid 1NT over the support double on shapes where he is something like 3433 or 3442 anyway, even without a spade stopper, IMO.

Whats the point of making a support double with a balanced hand then ?

[cherdano]

benlessard, on Dec 19 2008, 01:53 AM, said:

Quote

Responder should bid 1NT over the support double on shapes where he is something like 3433 or 3442 anyway, even without a spade stopper, IMO.

Whats the point of making a support double with a balanced hand then ?

Responder might have 5 hearts and/or an unbalanced hand?

[OleBerg]

benlessard, on Dec 19 2008, 09:53 AM, said:

Quote

Responder should bid 1NT over the support double on shapes where he is something like 3433 or 3442 anyway, even without a spade stopper, IMO.

Whats the point of making a support double with a balanced hand then ?

To desribe your hand to partner. Sometimes he doesn't have a balanced hand.

And sometimes you have an 8, 9, or 10 card fit, that plays better than NT.

[benlessard]

Unless the 1Nt rebid with a stiff H is possible responder can rebid 2H with shapes and 5 H anyway. With clubs he can also rebid 2C. In this case the only remaining unbalanced hands with 4 trumps are 2452 ,3451 and hand with S lenght these hands are highly unlikely and probably play better in 1Nt anyway. Note that on the hand 2H will be off while 3NT will make (if youre trying to make 3Nt).


Imo the correct strategy for support X is halfway between

hand that you would want to make a 3 card raise
Any hand with 3 card support.

I know some that will X with any hand with 3 cards support (terrible) and some that will only X holding Hxx trumps and ruffing power, wich is not flexible enough for my taste.

[gnasher]

benlessard, on Dec 19 2008, 09:53 AM, said:

Imo the correct strategy for support X is halfway between

hand that you would want to make a 3 card raise
Any hand with 3 card support.

If it is your partnership's style to bid 1NT with this hand, responder's 2NT bid with a 1435 shape becomes even less attractive. If both players tend to bid notrumps on suit-oriented hands, you will face lots of guesses like the one you had on this hand.

[MFA]

benlessard, on Dec 19 2008, 02:53 AM, said:

Quote

Responder should bid 1NT over the support double on shapes where he is something like 3433 or 3442 anyway, even without a spade stopper, IMO.

Whats the point of making a support double with a balanced hand then ?

We are trying to do the right thing in competition. If we hide our 3-card heart support, then it's hard for us, for instance, if LHO competes to 2♠.
A support double doesn't commit us to that strain. Here partner should bid clubs, on balanced hands he could bid NT (as jdonn says).

[han]

gnasher, on Dec 19 2008, 04:38 AM, said:

benlessard, on Dec 19 2008, 09:53 AM, said:

Imo the correct strategy for support X is halfway between

hand that you would want to make a 3 card raise
Any hand with 3 card support.

If it is your partnership's style to bid 1NT with this hand, responder's 2NT bid with a 1435 shape becomes even less attractive. If both players tend to bid notrumps on suit-oriented hands, you will face lots of guesses like the one you had on this hand.

Nice point.

[benlessard]

I agree that 2Nt was a mistake but i think 1Nt is the proper bid. With the A of diamonds in hand it would be a complete different matters but here you are heavy favorite to get a D lead for a bad result in a H contract.