[paulhar]

Please answer this only if you routinely play a strong, forcing, artificial 2C opening bid, 2D "waiting", and 3C (or cheaper minor) as second negative.

Here are four auctions. How do you play them?

(1) 2C P 2D P 2S P 3S

(2) 2C P 2D P 2S P 4S

(3) 2C P 2D P 2S P 3C (second negative) P 3D P 4S

(4) 2C P 2D P 2S P 3C (second negative) P 3D P 3S

I think I have listed them from strongest to weakest, please let me know if you disagree.

By the way, I do have an opinion on these - I just want to know if the world agrees.

[mtvesuvius]

I would agree with you here... I might switch 3 and 4, but that is a matter of partnership agreement

[P_Marlowe]

#1 slam interest, should be able to produce two tricks
#2 one trick, at least hope for one trick, but else dead
#3 same as 2, but maybe the diamond values improved
the hand, showes a fit
#4 dead, not even showing a fit

With kind regards
Marlowe

[paulhar]

Sorry, I'm looking for more information. Do you think any of these say anything about controls? Points?

P.S. I have got to do something about that awful picture

P.P.S: this was posted after I saw the first reply; the second reply is plenty of information

[mtvesuvius]

Sorry about that... Here is my take...

1: This is a hand that is at least a slam try; Partner is expected to cuebid. 3NT should be either Serious or Baby Blackwood. This generally is done with maybe 7+ points or so... But distrubution is valuble ofc.

2: Agree with P_Marlowe

3: Agree with P_Marlowe

4: Dead. Preference, could be completely broke.

[paulhar]

It's probalby my fault... I communicate as well via these posts as I do in the bidding...

[CSGibson]

I think the first has at least 2 control points to cue-bid, the second has at most 1 control point (exception made for any 4-3-3-3 with a bullet and nothing else, of course), and the 3rd & 4th have no controls.