[alphred]

I have ♠ Q 4
♥ 8 7 2
♦ K 10 8 7 5
♣ K 10 5

After one Pass my partner opens 1♥.
He may have only 4 cards in ♥.
(We open 4-card suits up the line. To open 1♠ we need 5 cards).
Next hand passes.
What is my best answer?

[The_Badger]

From your profile I see you play SAYC so can't bid 2♦ as it would show a stronger hand. When playing Acol (4 card majors including ♠s) I would only raise to 2♥ with a 5431 shape hand as there is a ruffing value. So here I would bid 1NT assuming it is not forcing but showing a balanced 7-10. If partner says it should guarantee a stop in ♠s then that's not a pre-requisite as far as I am concerned especially at the one level. 5332 is a balanced shape and you should make the most descriptive bid possible. If partner has a second suit he will bid it and then you can (given his bid) give preference to ♥s. If he doesn't have a second suit then he's likely to be balanced too, except when he has 4441 with ♣s as the singleton.

In the unfortunate case that neither of you has a stop in ♠s and the opponents take the first five tricks in the suit in a 3NT contract, well we've all been there.

[gszes]

it is easy to begin with 1n. You have a balanced 8 count only 3 hearts and no real ruffing value. If the bidding ends there it is very unlikely to be a disaster. If partner bids on we have the ability to belatedly :support: hearts (most likely by giving
preference and not really promising support).

[gordontd]

I think the shape suggests raising, but the ♠Qx suggests bidding 1NT.

[ggwhiz]

So many of partners holdings in spades like Ax(x) and Kxx are a positive for playing notrump from my side as well as being a better description shape wise as others have pointed out, I'm in for 1nt especially at matchpoints.

[neilkaz]

I think I last played 4 card majors before man walked on the moon, so I'm not the authority here But with 3 small trump and a flattish hand, I somewhat prefer 1NT.

[pescetom]

alphred, on 2018-September-13, 02:09, said:

He may have only 4 cards in ♥.
(We open 4-card suits up the line. To open 1♠ we need 5 cards).
Next hand passes.
What is my best answer?

How many fingers is he showing in front of his cards?

Just kidding. 1NT looks better with those spades.

[helene_t]

.

[helene_t]

When choosing between 1NT and 2♥, ask yourself if you hand is bad enough for
1♥-1NT
2♣-2♥
which will typically be 6-8 points with doubleton support (6-9(10) if playing strong notrump).

If yes, bid 1NT.

If no, bid 2♥ immediately.

This hand is just strong enough for an immediate 2♥, especially if playing weak notrump, imho. But it is close.

[dtlq1]

I see no reason or meaningful alternative to 1NT here also, given it could be a 4cards opener. On a 5card opener my bid would be 2H

[nekthen]

Even with 4 card majors partner is likely to be a 5 carder, if not he is 3433 or 4432 or 4423
As mentioned a lot depends on your 1N opening strength
If strong then a raise to 2 is safe as partner will have an 18 count to bid 2N
If weak there is a danger of wrong siding any NT contract
As a weak NT player I would bid 1N, take away a K and I bid 2H, my partner needs a very good hand to remove to NT!

[msjennifer]

alphred, on 2018-September-13, 02:09, said:

I have ♠ Q 4
♥ 8 7 2
♦ K 10 8 7 5
♣ K 10 5

After one Pass my partner opens 1♥.
He may have only 4 cards in ♥.
(We open 4-card suits up the line. To open 1♠ we need 5 cards).
Next hand passes.
What is my best answer?

SIR,to me it appears to be a system similar to GOREN standard system..However in that system a 1H four carder had the possibility of having a 4 card diamond suit.a 3442 hand was then opened 1H which provided a convenient rebid of 2D if partner bid 2C.A suit was considered to be biddable if it was at least Q10xx .With the conditions mentioned by you his hand can be 3433 or4432,4423 or he might have a 5+ heart suit also.Not knowing which, it is certainly dangerous to bid 2H with just three peanuts on the given hand.A bid of 2D is not on for lack of HCP required for such a bid..This leaves us with the simple available bid of 1NT.This bid may protect your Qx holding in a NT contract.While giving this justification I am assuming that you do not play a forcing 1NT bid over a major suit opening bid.

[PhilG007]

alphred, on 2018-September-13, 02:09, said:

I have ♠ Q 4
♥ 8 7 2
♦ K 10 8 7 5
♣ K 10 5

After one Pass my partner opens 1♥.
He may have only 4 cards in ♥.
(We open 4-card suits up the line. To open 1♠ we need 5 cards).
Next hand passes.
What is my best answer?

From the example hand you've given,I'd prefer 1NT I don't like 2D which is forcing on a weak hand.
For all the use the doubleton SQ is,she may as well be a little one.

[rmnka447]

I'd bid 1 NT with this hand.

[steve2005]

I would bid 2♥.
1) your side may have no ♠ stopper
2) if partner has 5♥ partner will know we have fit
3) Opps will find it harder to balanced against 2♥ as won't know if we have 7 or 8+♥. So opps don't know if they have a fit
4) potential for ♠ ruffs.

[PhilG007]

steve2005, on 2018-September-14, 22:43, said:

I would bid 2♥.
1) your side may have no ♠ stopper
2) if partner has 5♥ partner will know we have fit
3) Opps will find it harder to balanced against 2♥ as won't know if we have 7 or 8+♥. So opps don't know if they have a fit
4) potential for ♠ ruffs.

Responding 2♥ on a 9 loser hand with 3 'rag' trumps and a useless doubleton spade is a consummation devoutly not to be wished. You have a limited hand Its vital to relay this to partner as soon as possible

[MrAce]

If you play 2♥ = pd bid NT if you stop ♥ suit!

Unless it means exactly this, I think 2♥ is an awful bid.

[Tramticket]

MrAce, on 2018-September-18, 23:22, said:

If you play 2♥ = pd bid NT if you stop ♥ suit!

Unless it means exactly this, I think 2♥ is an awful bid.

Are you so worried about a heart stop? You have at least seven between you and they won't lead hearts. Also, if partner's values are outside hearts, you have a good chance of the diamond suit playing for 5 tricks.

For us, playing four-card majors and a weak no-trump, 2NT after a 2H raise, would show invitational values (17-18) in a balanced hand with only four hearts.

I would respond 1NT (non-forcing) with this particular hand, but I don't think it is terrible to raise hearts. Holding a heart honour is one factor that I would consider when choosing to raise with three-card support. Other factors that would tend to make a raise more desirable are: having a singleton somewhere; having aces and kings rather than queens and jacks; holding values in long suits. Taken as a whole I prefer 1NT on this hand.

[MrAce]

Tramticket, on 2018-September-19, 04:27, said:

Are you so worried about a heart stop? You have at least seven between you and they won't lead hearts. Also, if partner's values are outside hearts, you have a good chance of the diamond suit playing for 5 tricks.

I think you missed the sarcasm.(or I failed to deliver it)

[Tramticket]

MrAce, on 2018-September-19, 06:49, said:

I think you missed the sarcasm.(or I failed to deliver it)

Oops