[jdonn]

What bridge needs is a way for opener to show a balanced 18-19 at his second bid (I assume thats what you were treating this outstanding 17 as when you didn't open 1NT). Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Some players (Marshall Miles I know for a fact) would bid 3♥, and even more would bid 2♣. I have neverrrrr understood why people try to be so clever when they have a weak doubleton. It wouldn't stop you from opening 1NT or 2NT. And neither opponent overcalled spades, of which partner can still have 4. And even if you are weak there they have to lead them. The notrump rebid describes your strength and hand type quickly and exactly, tells the opponents nothing, and leads to very easy follow up auctions. I'll try to be a genius on the next one.

[Winstonm]

2NT - I try not to outsmart myself.

[cherdano]

jdonn, on Mar 4 2007, 06:07 PM, said:

Some players (Marshall Miles I know for a fact) would bid 3♥,

Even Marshall Miles voted for 2N after 1D-1S with 3253 and some weakish heart doubleton (Tx or Jx) in one of the latest MSCs, with the comment that "sadly partner's don't allow for a 3-card jump raise anymore"...

[inquiry]

Some people don't like 14-16 hcp range for 1NT because they don't want to jump rebid 2NT on 17.

I play 14-16 hcp range, but my 2NT jump rebids show something else (strong support for partners major). I play a variation of COLE here, were 2♣ is artificial and "forcing". IF parnter rebids his major over this, it is a hand that doesn't want me to rebid 2NT with the balanced hand. If he bids 2♦ that can be "false preference".

If parnter has a weak hand, the bidding will be one of these three:

• 1D-1H-2C-Pass (very unlikely, long clubs very weak hand).
  
• 1D-1H-2C-2D-2H-P where 2D can be a false preference. 2H by opener shows (3 card support 17-19). (all strong hands with 4 card support go through 2NT)
  
• 1D-1H-2C-2H = wants to play 2H opposite 17-19 balanced

Not playing this weak method, I would rebid 2♣ with this hand. Not because I only have 17 points, but because when i next support hearts, it will point at spade weakness. So while 2♣ is not ideal it will make the subsequent auction easier (assume there is a subsequent auction).

[pbleighton]

When I opened 1D, I said to myself that the hand was an 18 count.

Why should I change my mind now? 2NT.

Peter

[pclayton]

With a random expert I'll bid 2N. With one of my regular pards I'll try 2♣, since he will very rarely leave me there. With the other 2, I have been left just too often in 2♣.

If you don't think pard will pass 2♣ except for with a very weak hand, isn't it a better call?

[the hog]

2NT. That is why I opened 1D isn't it? Why change my mind now?
Whoah sorry peter, I posted this before I read your reply. Great minds....

[kenrexford]

The rebid of 2NT after a minor opening is a tad different from a straight 1NT, because per force you opened a minor.

In other words, when you open 1NT, you might have five of either major, and possibly six of either minor. When you open 1♦ and then rebid 2NT, partner knows that your heart contribution is less than it might be after 1NT, that your spades are not five long, and that your systemic default was to 1♦ instead of 1♣, with whatever nuances that may carry. You also have some nuance from opposition passing.

On the other side of this coin, the 1♦...2NT auction isolates more for the opponents, which suggests greater cause for alarm when holding worthless doubletons.

I'm not sure how all of this affects anything, exactly. My inclination tends toward some form of 2♣ call, whether natural with courtesy corrections or conventional if agreed. But, the follow-up will sound like I am bidding around my stiff, when I lack a stiff. This leans me back toward 2NT.

BTW, I agree with the upgrade.

I think I end up at 2NT most often, unless I have some neat gadget.

[HeartA]

Jlall, on Mar 4 2007, 07:01 PM, said:

xx AQx AQT9x KQx imps.

You open 1D (upgrading your hand) and partner bids 1H. What is your rebid?

Since I have upgraded my hand by opening 1D, what else can I bid except 2NT?

[the hog]

And if pd bids 4C?

[the hog]

Yes it is certainly good in one respect, in that with my hand I am interested in a slam, but the problem will be in convincing pd that H is the trump suit rather than C. I am far too good for a 4H bid now which pd will almost certainly take as terminal.

[helene_t]

2♣ followed by 2♥ would imply a singleton spades. Besides, am I not a little too strong for that if this a really an 18-count? Just asking, maybe 2♥ shows 16-18, in that case it's fine. Otherwise I'd have to bid 3♥, I suppose.

Ben's method sounds cool but if I have a natural 2NT on my CC it's because I use it.

[whereagles]

Right-siding is a very tertiary thing. Shape and strength should come first. Unless you have very clear indications that the lead might make a difference, there's no reason to deviate from the technical bid of 2NT.

I don't think the spade doubleton is strong enough a reason, so 2NT.

[inquiry]

helene_t, on Mar 5 2007, 05:56 AM, said:

Ben's method sounds cool but if I have a natural 2NT on my CC it's because I use it.

I play a really warped version of the COLE convention. To read about standard cole, see COLE CONVENTION. Cole allows opener to minimum raise with three card support (however for me, I simply raise with weak hand and three card support).

And allows responder to either show the five card major by ignoring puppet or relay back to openers minor to show only four card major.

Cole forces opener to jump in other minor to show 5/5 hand and weak (I play that jump the same way)

Cole bidder's 2NT rebid shows unblanced hand and the strong nt range. For me, the NT rebid shows the 17-19 pt range protected by some bail out bids by responder before the 2NT rebid.

Cole uses the fourth suit by opener to show some funky hands (most commonly strong four card support for responders first suit). I use it to resolve some strong one suiters from two suiters, as I will never have more than 3 card support for the use of this new forcing minor by opener (NMFO). Also, as many here know, I play MisIry, so my "strong" two suiter with both minors that is opened 1♦ is limited by failure to open with a misiry bid. This reflects on my cole-like 2♣ rebid. I can not have four card support, I can not have a HUGE minor two suiter. Most likely, I have a balanced 17-19 with or without 3 card support, or I have a modestly strong two suiter, or I have a strong diamond one suiter. This is why I said 2♣ was "forcing" in quotes. Partner usually bids, but knowing the hand types I could hold, pass remains an option with a remarkably weak hand and clubs (bearing in mind I might also have clubs and strongish hand).

Anyway, take a look at the normal COLE auction. It is not a horrible convention, it is just so few people use it.

[Fluffy]

whereagles, on Mar 5 2007, 01:34 PM, said:

Right-siding is a very tertiary thing.

On last tourney after a competitive auction where Dad opened 1NT, and RHO showed Diamonds, I was declaring in 4 spades.

When LHO was leading dad negated with his head and said: -We need to play some sort of transfer on this sequence. While he put ♦Kx on dummy.

LHO led ♦A and I ruffed, and I asked: sorry, what did you say?

[whereagles]

Dad had Kx? doh! that's an obivous 3NT bid