[briannz556]

Hi
First time use of the Forum so apology if I err. Also, new to 2/1. I’m a little bit lost for thoughts on dealing with 3-card support for partner with a possible splinter hand.

Partner opens 1S and I have xxx Axx x AKxxxx

My options seem to be 3D ( Modified Reverse Bergen -10-12 & 3 card support ), 2C or 3H (Ambiguous Splinter - but lacks 4 cards I should have for this). With 5 controls and a fit I smell game and would like to convey splinter shape somehow. What would people bid and why?

Thanks
Brian

[steve2005]

1♠ -3♥ &
1♥ - 2♠
shows 3 card limit raise
solve that problem
may not fit in your system

the normal 2/1 solution is to bid 1N then jump to 3M

[helene_t]

I think the hand is good enough for 2c. Otherwise 1nt followed by 3S.
A direct limit raise with three small trumps and such good clubs is not ideal. You could go down in 6S with 6c being cold.

[rmnka447]

The hand you cite is more than just an invitational hand to me. You have a 3 QT hand plus look to be able to cover at least 1 ♦ loser with a ruff. That looks like being able to cover 4 losers in partner's hand. If partner has a typical 7 loser opener, that should be enough to make game.

I'd be inclined to bid 2 ♣ over 1 ♠ and jump to 4 ♠ next.

However, with a more mundane 10-12 hand with 3 card support, then 1 NT followed by 3 ♠ would be the way to show it playing 2/1.

[spotlight7]

briannz556, on 2018-April-19, 18:01, said:

Hi
First time use of the Forum so apology if I err. Also, new to 2/1. I’m a little bit lost for thoughts on dealing with 3-card support for partner with a possible splinter hand.

Partner opens 1S and I have xxx Axx x AKxxxx

My options seem to be 3D ( Modified Reverse Bergen -10-12 & 3 card support ), 2C or 3H (Ambiguous Splinter - but lacks 4 cards I should have for this). With 5 controls and a fit I smell game and would like to convey splinter shape somehow. What would people bid and why?

Thanks
Brian

Welcome to the forum.

Almost everyone making a splinter promises 4+ trumps.

With 3 card support, you use another method.

Sometimes called 'bidding around the clock.' If you bid two suits before

raising partner, you can show 3 card support 'plus shortage' in the unbid suit.

1S-2C-2D(?)-2H(partner will not have 4Hs since no 1S-2C-2H would be bid.

Over 1S-2C-2D-2H-2N-3S would suggest 3Ss and shortness in Ds.


Bergen raises promise 4+ trump. In 2/1 auctions,

1M-1N*-2m-3M raise shows the invite with 3 trump.

[briannz556]

helene_t, on 2018-April-19, 18:57, said:

I think the hand is good enough for 2c. Otherwise 1nt followed by 3S.
A direct limit raise with three small trumps and such good clubs is not ideal. You could go down in 6S with 6c being cold.

As a fellow Kiwi, I’ll abide by your suggestion. Can’t find one bid that does all I need but that I’m not too surprised or worried about. 3D does the hcp and 3-card support but like you I worry about hiding the C suit if I choose that option. 2C is GF and leaves lots of room for swapping information which could become important.

Thanks