PhilKing, on 2015-August-12, 14:49, said:
Sorry MikeH, but I think North HAS to be worth a raise to 3♥ - you can basically count 9 tricks on a dummy reversal (possibly even opposite a 3514 zero count), and partner can go on to game with an extra trick. And I think there is a considerable chance that a jump to 3♥ by south will lead to a minus.
Sure, 2♥ is not invitational, but that can't mean don't raise with five primes and a fit.
Anyway, the people who raise all the way to FOUR hearts as North are getting too excited. Raising to three is almost certain to get the job done when game is on, and you are just punishing partner when nine tricks are the limit. Sure, you might fluke 10 tricks opposite Qxx xxxxx x xxxx, but if partner passes 3♥ game is not likely to be cold.
Hi Phil. No need to apologize. It's been a while since the hand was originally posted, but I think that while I blamed S for what I see as an underbid of 2
♥, I also said that on this hand N was worth a raise. I see nothing inconsistent with that. 2
♥ is not the least bit invitational, but N is still allowed to think! S has a hand willing to compete in hearts opposite at most a tripleton, and opposite values in diamonds, some of which may be pulling less than full weight. N can look at AKJ in hearts and xxxx in diamonds, with S often stiff, given the auction, and should bid anyway. The point is that S's action is based on expecting a somewhat different, less heart-suitable, hand than N had.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari