[jillybean]

This post is going to have many facets so I will start at the beginning, what is your plan with this hand?
(#23)

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[LBengtsson]

Open 1♥ rebid ♦s, but I guess plans are zapped when the opps. pre-empt in ♠s at some point. Like a military commander I would have to revise the plan at that point. Is that what happened, jillybean?

[akwoo]

I'm opening 1H and planning to jump shift in diamonds, but I realize I might not get to.

[jillybean]

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[pilowsky]

Bears an uncanny similarity to the hand posted on BBO (BBO Vugraph - Australian Summer Festival 2) where Helena Dawson (West) opened 1♥ with:
♠T
♥AQJ984
♦AKJ764
♣-

Now that was a scientific auction.

[apollo1201]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 00:03, said:

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3H is not even a fit, could be a doubleton with no C stopper and no rebiddable S (bad 5-cd or 4-cd suit). You can hog 3NT because it might be the last makeable game when nothing fits, or bid methodically with 4D. End playing you in a lousy 4H or 5D.

I’ll toss a coin. Not feeling enthusiastic today.

Edit - maybe 3NT saves more space and will clarify easier if the H fit is real or not, and also might score better at MPs (scoring method?)

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 00:03, said:

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4D

This showes the 5th diamond, ..., 3D may or may not have already show 4+, 4D does show the 5th.
The main problem with 4D, it takes away all bids that would allow partner to express some SI
interest, but so be it.
My take would be, that 4S would signal some kind of SI, ..., 4NT over should be RKC for hearts,
but ..., maybe just because I have the King of diamonds.

And yes, playing MP, the issue with 4D is bypassing 3NT, maybe the coin flip is better, but my
butter bread always lands on the buttered side anyway.

[DavidKok]

Is it time to start panicking yet? Opposite an experienced partner I would expect 4-5 spades (not 6+), exactly 2 hearts or 3(+) with SI, and not great clubs. By implication partner has diamond support and 6♦ is starting to look attractive. I think 4♣ should show this hand (control bid for diamonds), but 4♦ is also fine.

[paulg]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 00:03, said:

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This is a good problem in a an area of bidding where even regular partnerships do not have strong agreements. Traditionally, as I was taught, 3♦ creates a game force and I think this is still pretty standard, but 3♥ remains nebulous in this scheme due to the lack of space.

It helps to relieve some of the problems if responder can raise diamonds with a real fit but still pass 4♥ as a suggestion to play.

As I play so little matchpoints, I would bid 4♦ now. I expect to have a fit somewhere when partner could not bid 3NT.

I feel anything could be right, possibly not helpful!

[mw64ahw]

These standard bids chew up a lot of space

Assuming a standardish approach South has:
a) 4/5♠
b) 2♥3♦ at best assuming a move to game with 3♥
c) no stopper in ♣ given the reluctance to bid 3NT
d) Points are in the other suits, but could be only AQxx(x)♠
e) 5233 doesn't provide for much hope above 3NT

I'm going to bid 3NT. If South is minimum and 4♦ is forcing you'll struggle in 5♦ and with more than a minimum 3NT is preferable when partner shows up with Q♦ or K♥

My agreements for this sort of hand are
1♥-1♠ (0-4 weak or 5+♠ GI) - 3♦ 14-16 5+♦ 6 modified losers or better with good suits
1♥-1♠-2NT 4+♦ strong allowing space to fine tune shape?

[jillybean]

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South mistook 3♦ to be splinter in support of spades
5♦ keycard response to ask in spades

(No agreement 1♥:2♠)

[DavidKok]

That's an interesting mistake. South, looking at 7 spades and 1 diamond, mistakes a natural diamond call for a splinter raise showing 4 spades and 0-1 diamonds. How convenient.

These are difficult hands to bid, especially without bidding gadgets. I would have rebid 3♠ with the South hand. The 4NT jump makes no sense over either interpretation of 3♦ - splinter hands shouldn't hog captaincy, while the hearts-diamond hand must have more shape to make another strong bid, and therefore has a cheaper call available. I don't know what happened after 5♦.

[jillybean]

DavidKok, on 2023-February-03, 09:20, said:

That's an interesting mistake. South, looking at 7 spades and 1 diamond, mistakes a natural diamond call for a splinter raise showing 4 spades and 0-1 diamonds. How convenient.

These are difficult hands to bid, especially without bidding gadgets. I would have rebid 3♠ with the South hand. The 4NT jump makes no sense over either interpretation of 3♦ - splinter hands shouldn't hog captaincy, while the hearts-diamond hand must have more shape to make another strong bid, and therefore has a cheaper call available. I don't know what happened after 5♦.

the 4nt bid was made by the 3♦ (not a splinter) bidder
North, hearing 5♦ what they think is 1 keycard response to heart keycard ask, signed off in 5♥
South, thinking they were keycard asking in spades, thought 5♥ was a queen ask and bid 6♠

[DavidKok]

I'm saying 4NT is not keycards for hearts on that auction from the perspective of the diamonds bidder. 3♥ doesn't even promise support, but even if it did there's no reason to jump on your own slam auction.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 09:05, said:

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South mistook 3♦ to be splinter in support of spades
5♦ keycard response to ask in spades

(No agreement 1♥:2♠)

3H does not show 3 card support, and even if, you have a 7 carder, show it,
a suit you play for 1-looser.

[jillybean]

Without 1H:2S SJS, this hand seems very difficult. North has red suits, South has a self sufficient spade suit and 3 card heart support.
Won't 1H:1S 3D:3S entice a 3nt response from partner?

[Cyberyeti]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 13:18, said:

Won't 1H:1S 3D:3S entice a 3nt response from partner?

Now you bid 4♥ and show 6+ decent spades and 3 hearts

[jillybean]

Cyberyeti, on 2023-February-03, 14:04, said:

Now you bid 4♥ and show 6+ decent spades and 3 hearts

Forcing?

[smerriman]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 13:18, said:

Without 1H:2S SJS, this hand seems very difficult.

This hand isn't worth a 2♠ bid even if you were.

[Cyberyeti]

jillybean, on 2023-February-03, 14:26, said:

Forcing?

No, but partner will bid on with that whale and a fitting spade card, you've shown about that sort of hand with 6 spades.