[mohitz]

Consider the auction

1♠ - (4♦) - ?

What is 4N here? What is 5♥?

Suppose you X and it goes

1♠ - (4♦) - X - (P)
4♥ - ( p ) - ?

What do your bids mean now?

[hanp]

I prefer:

4NT = RKC for spades.
5H = good hand with hearts.
Double then 4NT = RKC for hearts.
Double then 5D = slam try in hearts with diamond cue.
Double then 5H = slam try in hearts without diamond cue.

Double then 4S = Have never discussed this, perhaps it is a mild slam try in spades. Or perhaps it shows a doubleton spade and 5 clubs: Kx Axx Axx QJxxx. Yes that sounds more useful.

Double then 5C = Likewise, maybe a slam try in clubs. To be honest I wouldn't mind if this auction never occurs. If partner bids 4S then it shows hearts and clubs.

I know some people who prefer to play that 4NT shows the rounded suits. I don't like that much, with those two suits you can often pick one of double, 4H or 5NT. Keycards seems more useful.

Writing this I can feel that some British poster is going to ask me whether I play 1S - (4H)- 4NT as keycards too, in a tone that suggests I'm an idiot. No I don't Andy, I prefer that 4NT is the minors in that auction. The situation is not quite the same as in the original auction we move past the cheapest game in our suits, 4H.

[MickyB]

hanp, on Jul 14 2010, 06:10 PM, said:

Double then 4S = Have never discussed this, perhaps it is a mild slam try in spades. Or perhaps it shows a doubleton spade and 5 clubs: Kx Axx Axx QJxxx. Yes that sounds more useful.

I'd have thought this was consistent with a balanced hand with three spades, content to defend 4D X if partner passed.

[hanp]

I can see the merits, but in general I don't like doubling with support. For example holding Axx Kxx Axx Qxxx, would you double? If partner passes our double, it's probably a good idea. But I think partner should bid 5C with 5-5 in the blacks, and then I would usually prefer to play 4S.

If I hold 3 diamonds and RHO bids 4D, it's quite unlikely that partner can pass. If I have a singleton, I definitely want to raise partner. If I have a doubleton diamond, well, maybe doubling works out better but at least then we have 5+ clubs so your explanation is close to mine.

With 3325 distribution you have an alternative, 4S. With 2335 your pretty much forced to double and bid 4S, or not?

[JLOGIC]

MickyB, on Jul 14 2010, 01:31 PM, said:

hanp, on Jul 14 2010, 06:10 PM, said:

Double then 4S = Have never discussed this, perhaps it is a mild slam try in spades. Or perhaps it shows a doubleton spade and 5 clubs: Kx Axx Axx QJxxx. Yes that sounds more useful.

I'd have thought this was consistent with a balanced hand with three spades, content to defend 4D X if partner passed.

Partner is not allowed to bid 5C?

[whereagles]

mohitz, on Jul 14 2010, 05:54 PM, said:

1. Consider the auction

1♠ - (4♦) - ?

What is 4N here? What is 5♥?



2. Suppose you X and it goes

1♠ - (4♦) - X - (P)
4♥ - ( p ) - ?

What do your bids mean now?

1.
4NT = RKCB spades
5♥ = I don't do that sort of bids


2.
4♠/5♣/5♦ = heart fit + cue
4NT = RKCB hearts
5♥ = slam invite with wide open diams
5♠ = torture
5NT = pick a slam
6m = insane