[Wackojack]

This was the bidding in a club match point evening. The bidding was Standard, 2NT showing 18-19 with no 4 card major.

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I am interested to hear of actual partnership methods that could find the best spot with more certainty in say a teams match.

Thank you

[PhilKing]

1♦(natural or 18-20 balanced)-2♠(mixed raise)
2NT(18-20 bal)-3♥(shortage)

Ship it.

[rhm]

What about Polish club:

1♣-1♦
1NT-3♣
3♦-3♥

1♣: many hands, but the 1NT rebid will show 18-20 balanced
1♦: many hands, but without a four card major like here any hand, which can not force to game opposite a minimum opening bid.
1NT: 18-20 balanced
3♣: transfer to diamonds with a six card or longer suit
3♥: shortage in hearts

Rainer Herrmann

[Zelandakh]

Rainer's auction but with a 2NT rebid and the first 2 explanations changed would work. There was a recent thread about using transfers after a 2NT rebid that might be considered recommended reading for the OP.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Zelandakh, on 2013-March-21, 07:40, said:

Rainer's auction but with a 2NT rebid and the first 2 explanations changed would work. There was a recent thread about using transfers after a 2NT rebid that might be considered recommended reading for the OP.

Do you have that link to the recent thread involving transfers over the 2NT-jump rebid ?

[Hanoi5]

1♣-1♦
2NT-3♦

I like to play that all bids over 2NT are forcing, so this only shows a 6-card suit. Of course, it shouldn't be done on a normal hand that will gladly play 3NT but more on a hand that has 'a problem'. Opener would then decide whether to go on with 3NT, show his best Major (if he shows spades the final contract might be 4♠) or support diamonds and try for slam or just for 5♦.

[Zelandakh]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2013-March-21, 07:59, said:

Do you have that link to the recent thread involving transfers over the 2NT-jump rebid ?

I was thinking of this one.

[Cyberyeti]

For us: bent Acol weak NT

1♣-1♦
1N(wide range)-2♣!
3♣(17-bad 19, 5♣)-3♦

If 5 clubs not held then opener will have 3 diamonds and bid 3♦ instead over which I'll bid 3♠ and see if he bids 3N.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Thx, Zel..... but that thread from 2010 only shows the auctions 1m - 1M , 2NT
... not 1C - 1D, 2NT .

Would the following be plausible for OP's hand:
1C - 1D
2NT - 3C! ( forces 3D for possible pass, "to play" with a weak hand, long ♦ )
3D - 3H ( or 3S ) = shortness w/long ♦

whereas:
1C - 1D
2NT - 3H/3S = stop(s) here but worried about the other major ( for 3NT )

[Alik1974]

I feel your auction is OK, although after 2NT, bidding 3♦ instead of 3NT might be better (or might not).

Obviously you want to be in 3NT when it makes, but what about being there when it doesn't make (I mean doesn't make double-dummy). There is a chance that the opponents will not find the best defence and with your HCP and long suit it is a good bet at this vulnerability to bid game in IMPs.

[rhm]

Alik1974, on 2013-March-21, 14:54, said:

I feel your auction is OK, although after 2NT, bidding 3♦ instead of 3NT might be better (or might not).

Obviously you want to be in 3NT when it makes, but what about being there when it doesn't make (I mean doesn't make double-dummy). There is a chance that the opponents will not find the best defence and with your HCP and long suit it is a good bet at this vulnerability to bid game in IMPs.

What about 6♦ making while 3NT is down of the top, e.g ♠Kx ♥Axx ♦Kxx ♣AKQxx?
Unlucky?
I do not mind gambling 3NT if there is no alternative,
The key is North heart holding.

Rainer Herrmann

[mcphee]

The fact the opening hand does not have a 4 card major would be leading me toward the minor suit game, possibly a slam. I Think rather than a delicate probe I would shoot 4H looking for a home run, although I feel this is a big bid for the hand.

[Wackojack]

Thanks for the replies. I have just generated some hands in Playbridge with 18-19; 2-3 hearts and spades, 2-4 diamonds and 4-5 clubs and excluded the deals that came up with 4 clubs and diamonds on the basis that this would be a 1♦ opener. Out of 12: 3N at least makes 10 times (off twice); 5D at least makes 6 times including 2 slams. A small sample but enough I think to tell me that the shortage in hearts needs to be conveyed below the level of 3NT.

I play 3♣ checkback with my experienced partners after 1m-1M-2NT so have never been interested in the Wolff sign-off. However, 1♣-1♦-2NT is an undiscussed area. I like the idea of the Wolff sign-off after 1♣-1♦-2N where 3♣ is a relay to 3♦. So after 1♣-1♦; 2NT-3♣; 3♦-3♥; would a partner intuit that 3♥ shows a singleton? I think by a process of elimination it has to be. So this could be a useful add-on without affecting other aspects of the system.

[gnasher]

Wackojack, on 2013-March-22, 09:29, said:

Thanks for the replies. I have just generated some hands in Playbridge with 18-19; 2-3 hearts and spades, 2-4 diamonds and 4-5 clubs and excluded the deals that came up with 4 clubs and diamonds on the basis that this would be a 1♦ opener. Out of 12: 3N at least makes 10 times (off twice); 5D at least makes 6 times including 2 slams. A small sample but enough I think to tell me that the shortage in hearts needs to be conveyed below the level of 3NT.

This probably doesn't make much difference to your results, but I don't think you should have included the 2245 shapes. Most of those should game-force and then show diamond support.

Quote

I play 3♣ checkback with my experienced partners after 1m-1M-2NT so have never been interested in the Wolff sign-off. However, 1♣-1♦-2NT is an undiscussed area. I like the idea of the Wolff sign-off after 1♣-1♦-2N where 3♣ is a relay to 3♦. So after 1♣-1♦; 2NT-3♣; 3♦-3♥; would a partner intuit that 3♥ shows a singleton? I think by a process of elimination it has to be. So this could be a useful add-on without affecting other aspects of the system.

I don't think you should do it wothout discussion and hope that he'll understand it, if that's what you're suggesting. The right time to explore the meaning of an undiscussed sequence is after the session, not during the auction.

[han]

I play transfer walsh and my auction would be

1C - 1S
2NT - 3H (shortness, either diamonds or both minors).

I play both 3C and 3D as non-forcing which is perhaps not optimal. If I got rid of the non-forcing 3C I could distinguish between diamonds and both minors, which would be nice.

[Zelandakh]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2013-March-21, 10:04, said:

Would the following be plausible for OP's hand:
1C - 1D
2NT - 3C! ( forces 3D for possible pass, "to play" with a weak hand, long ♦ )
3D - 3H ( or 3S ) = shortness w/long ♦

This was what I meant by referring to Rainer's post but only with the first 2 explanations changed. Another possible option here might be to play 3♥ as a general slam try (Frivolous if you like) and for 3♠ to be a serious cue. However you decide to distribute the follow-ups, you can mirror the structure for clubs with the other bids if you want to. I fully agree with Andy that making this sort of shortage 3M call without discussion is a bad idea.