[bd71]

---

What's your first bid when partner opens 1♥ (no bidding by opponents)?

If 1♠, what's your later plan? How would you bid later after rebids by partner of 1N, 2m, or 2N?

Given the problems you may have later in making a forcing bid that shows ♥ support, is there an argument for J2N with only 3 trumps?

[mike777]

agree with 1s

If pard rebids 1nt I rebid 2d(xyz) art. gf.
over 2m I will bid 4sf
over 2nt I will bid whatever version of checkback/baron I play.


strongly dislike j2nt with only 3 trumps. 4card support is important in slam auctions. and in any case not sure that my assuming captaincy with j2nt is best.

[kenrexford]

I advocate the style where you show support with support and strength as soon as possible. So, 2♣ for me. But, I play this as (1) real clubs or (2) artificial with a fit and might have five of the other major.

The actual problem works rather easily to explain what I believe to be the benefits. Hearts is a known strain. If spades are a better strain, Opener rebids 2♠, and then Responder switches focus himself. If Opener does not rebid spades, we are better placed when Responder next supports and agrees hearts.

BTW -- I also like 2♦ after this by Opener as possibly waiting, a corollary.

Life is simply easier if you establish the GF imemdiately and then support the right major next. Starting with spades works OK when spades are raised, but in all other situations you have to do the first two tasks (set GF and then raise) with the same two more steps, with time and space running low.

[whereagles]

@Ken: I think some people call that 2♣ as "drury"

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Meckwell offers a partial solution this problem:

1H - 1S
2D - 2S! = artificial GF

whereas if Opener rebid 2C:
1H - 1S
2C - 2D! ( you have a cheap 4th suit GF )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And as others have pointed out, you have "NMF" or xy-1NT over a 1NT rebid to initially force another round:
1H - 1S
1NT - 2C/2D ( whichever is more descriptive )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I still don't know how to handle the 2H rebid:
1H - 1S
2H - ??

[jillybean]

I also play 2♣ as artificial gf or clubs however I would have bid spades here.
Ken's post has me wondering if 2♣ is better to avoid the awkward 1H:1S 2H

I'm worried we could miss a better spade fit because after 1H:2C partner will only
bid 2S if he has extras and will rebid 2H on a 45xx minimum.

[kenrexford]

jillybean, on 2011-October-07, 08:13, said:

I also play 2♣ as artificial gf or clubs however I would have bid spades here.
Ken's post has me wondering if 2♣ is better to avoid the awkward 1H:1S 2H

I'm worried we could miss a better spade fit because after 1H:2C partner will only
bid 2S if he has extras and will rebid 2H on a 45xx minimum.

A few potential solutions to that problem.

One is to have Opener always rebid 2♠ even without extras.

The second is to play Flannery (ugh!).

The third is to play 2NT as 45xx minimum, which is a corollary to the 2♦ rebid. In other words, consider the auction after 1♥ is opened, 2♣ response. Playing 2♦ as "diamonds or balanced" gains space when Responder's intention was to raise hearts all along, and it saves space for balanced hand sequences, at the cost of needing more time to unwind true diamond-heart hands. However, it also frees up 2NT to potentially show the 45?? minimum.

[Phil]

I've come full circle on these hands. Maybe I will move to Ohio soon.

2♣ is very appealing since I play Flannery in every one of my partnerships. If partner has a good hand with 4♠, I will hear about it over 2♣, and partner shouldn't be going bananas in clubs when I later support hearts.

[jillybean]

I don't play Flannery, how do you use it here?

[Flameous]

It's about negative inferences you have since partner didn't open flannery: he doesn't hold 4S and a minimum. Thus the 2C bid is totally safe.

I'll opt for 2C without any special agreements.

[kenrexford]

Actually, there is a fourth option. With no Flannery, no desire to bid 2S unless extras, and no sexy relays, you accept missing spade contracts with 5-4 and play the 5-3 heart fit every once in a blue moon to gain the much more common experience of simple straightforward 2/1, which wins in the long run. The auction is just so easy this way.

The greater risk is actually missing a 4-4 spade fit if you do not bid spades with mins here or instead always bidding 1S even with 4 or bidding 2/1 and then spades before supporting hearts on the third round, so I would very much suggest solving the 5H/4S minimum for opener intelligently.

[sasioc]

I would not consider bidding anything except 1S on this, intending to bid 4H over 1NT (assuming 1H showed 5), 4sf over 2m and 3H NAT gf over 2NT. The only rebid where I think I have anything coming close to a problem is 2H, after which I will have to bid 3C in order to force. This does not, however, feel like the end of the world by any means!

I would not consider J2N, which I feel must always be on 4 cards to avoid muddying the waters in the slam zone.

[aguahombre]

Constrained by style from starting 1S, because no follow-up action will be accurate unless partner rebids 1NT and I can take over. 1S, then 4H would be picture; fourth suit after 2m then heart support would be pattern unbalanced.

Think I will just use our gadget to give partner a choice between 4H and 3NT, forgetting slam unless partner shows surprise extras above the usual 11-14.

"Sparts" was designed for this particular problem, but we have not been converted to it yet. See today's Bridgewinners topic and its reference to an earlier one, for "Sparts".

[Yu18772]

bd71, on 2011-October-06, 11:08, said:

---

What's your first bid when partner opens 1♥ (no bidding by opponents)?

If 1♠, what's your later plan? How would you bid later after rebids by partner of 1N, 2m, or 2N?

Given the problems you may have later in making a forcing bid that shows ♥ support, is there an argument for J2N with only 3 trumps?

I dont see a lot of problems later, even if not playing 2-way bergen (which would make
1♥ -1♠
1NT/2m-3♥ gf and slamish with 3 card support )
If partner rebids
1. 1NT - I just rebid 4H (dont think there are many slam options opposite balanced 12-14)
2. 2♣/♦ - 3 ♥ if its gf for you, or 4 ♥
3. 2NT (18-19) - 3♥ (if gf and support), then RKCB, if not
- 3♣ (checkback/nmf if available), and then 3♥ over 3♦ (must b gf and support, if direct 3♥ isnt), thenRKCB
- If none of the above is available - 4♦ - this also must be controls and ♥ or self sufficient ♠ looking for ♣ control
- 6NT/6H
4. 2H - 4H or 3♣ (can totally be artificial) and then 4H (shows some slam interest)

I really dont like Jacoby with 3 card support, so.....