[movingon]

Partner opens 1 heart.
What do you bid with this holding?

AK10xxxx
109xx
J
x

[Fluffy]

1 spade, my plan is to play 4 spades if partner has a weak hand wih 2 or more, specially one that rebids 1NT if opps are kind enough to pass. I also want to investigate 6♥ if he is strong.

[lycier]

1♠ first.

[Phil]

I have a neat gadget that shows a GF raise with at least four trump.

[Lord Molyb]

 Phil, on 2013-January-21, 12:23, said:

I have a neat gadget that shows a GF raise with at least four trump.

Cool, what's it called?

[TWO4BRIDGE]

 Lord Molyb, on 2013-January-21, 13:30, said:

Cool, what's it called?

Probably a 4-level splinter .

[Phil]

 TWO4BRIDGE, on 2013-January-21, 13:56, said:

Probably a 4-level splinter .

Actually no.

[mikeh]

I wouldn't use J2N or its equivalent since opener's rebid may well hinder rather than inform the subsequent auction. We have the playing strength to force but not the sort of hand partner will expect and even in a captaincy-assuming auction such as J2N, partner is entitled, with a good hand, to move beyond a sign-off.

Also, if our J2N is primarily aimed at obtaining distributional information (the basic fear is a 3♠ response saying nothing about strength but only spade shortness), we are stuck. Surely cuebidding our stiff after a 3♠ response is problematic, yet how can we give up on slam? And if we sign off, partner will think we are minimum with spade wastage, such as KQxx.

I vote for 1♠ because I can subsequently create a gf in hearts (if appropriate) while probably enjoying at least two more descriptive bids by partner that will assist with defining shape and strength.

[gszes]

 movingon, on 2013-January-21, 10:41, said:

Partner opens 1 heart.
What do you bid with this holding?

AK10xxxx
109xx
J
x

It matters nothing to me if p is weak or strong, slam is great opposite as little as

x AKxxxx Axx xxx or x AJxxx Axxx Axx and has no play opposite
x QJxxxx AKQ AKQ

I think this is the time to go straight to 4n taking the risk the 5 level isnt safe-If p cannot show
at least 3 key cards stop at the 5 level. Depending on vulnerability (not shown), this method
could also make it very difficult for the opps to find a great minor suit sacrifice.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

 gszes, on 2013-January-21, 14:44, said:

I think this is the time to go straight to 4n taking the risk the 5 level isnt safe-If p cannot show at least 3 key cards stop at the 5 level.

What happens if pard shows 2 + ♥ Q = 5S ??

[Phil]

 mikeh, on 2013-January-21, 14:29, said:

I wouldn't use J2N or its equivalent since opener's rebid may well hinder rather than inform the subsequent auction. We have the playing strength to force but not the sort of hand partner will expect and even in a captaincy-assuming auction such as J2N, partner is entitled, with a good hand, to move beyond a sign-off.

Also, if our J2N is primarily aimed at obtaining distributional information (the basic fear is a 3♠ response saying nothing about strength but only spade shortness), we are stuck. Surely cuebidding our stiff after a 3♠ response is problematic, yet how can we give up on slam? And if we sign off, partner will think we are minimum with spade wastage, such as KQxx.

I vote for 1♠ because I can subsequently create a gf in hearts (if appropriate) while probably enjoying at least two more descriptive bids by partner that will assist with defining shape and strength.

If partner rebids 1N after 1♠ (negligible when we have seven spades), I suppose we'd bid 4♥ and give up reaching slam across from xx KQJxx Axx Axx. If partner rebids 2♣, we can try 2♦ and raise hearts. Are we really in any better shape?

One awful continuation is 2♦. Presumably we will bid 3♣ and we might not be able to set trump before the four level.

If partner rebids 2♥, I suppose I'd just close my eyes and bid RKC.

I don't see how any rebid after Jacoby is that terrible, even though a sensible Jacoby structure would be useful here. I'll give up on slam if partner rebids 4♥. Over 3♥ or 3♠, I'll try 3♠ / 3N and we'll get in a few cue bids. Over 4m (seems unlikely when we have ♦x +♣x).

[mikeh]

 gszes, on 2013-January-21, 14:44, said:

It matters nothing to me if p is weak or strong, slam is great opposite as little as

x AKxxxx Axx xxx or x AJxxx Axxx Axx and has no play opposite
x QJxxxx AKQ AKQ

I think this is the time to go straight to 4n taking the risk the 5 level isnt safe-If p cannot show
at least 3 key cards stop at the 5 level. Depending on vulnerability (not shown), this method
could also make it very difficult for the opps to find a great minor suit sacrifice.

x Jxxxx AKQx AKx

Let's hope no-one holds AKQ of trump.

Never use blackwood when a response, that is consistent with the auction to date, may get you too high.

Sometimes, especially with unsophisticated methods, keycard is the least bad option but what is the hurry here?

A minor side note: some people play that an immediate 4N is old-fashioned blackwood, and if you want to use keycard, you make a forcing raise first. For example, you pick up AKQJ10xxx x KQ KQ.

Yes, highly unlikely, but the concept has a place in bidding theory so don't sweat the hand specifics..this is just illustrative of the idea. You want to be in grand opposite 3 Aces, but it would be foolish to bid grand opposite 3 keycards in hearts

[han]

 Phil, on 2013-January-21, 15:00, said:

If partner rebids 1N after 1♠ (negligible when we have seven spades), I suppose we'd bid 4♥ and give up reaching slam across from xx KQJxx Axx Axx. If partner rebids 2♣, we can try 2♦ and raise hearts. Are we really in any better shape?

Now I don't know if this is sarcasm or serious. Help me Helene!

[gwnn]

Since kenrexford is not here: 2♣.

[Zelandakh]

Playing natural I would respond 1♠. Playing my preferred methods I would make an exception to the rule of not relaying with 4 card support and respond 1♠ (artificial, invite or better) since I do not think any of the systemic raises will allow for a better decision to be made. Hopefully the auction does not come back to me at 5♦ - what is the vulnerability?

[helene_t]

 han, on 2013-January-21, 15:40, said:

Now I don't know if this is sarcasm or serious. Help me Helene!

This time he is dead serious.

[gnasher]

Helene, can you apply your humour-detection skills to Gwnn's post? I want to upvote it, but not if he meant it.

[helene_t]

it is usually a good idea to upvote gwnn . this time he was joking.

[rhm]

1♠
In a natural system totally obvious.

If partner rebids one notrump, I use checkback or XYZ whatever I have available and if he denies 3 cards in spades I will bid 4♥ next and otherwise 4♠.
If partner rebids a minor I will follow up with a jump to 4♥. This should show this type of hand.
Fourth suit auctions should show more in high cards and less direction.
If partner rebids in hearts I will follow with a splinter of 4♣
If partner bids two notrump, checkback followed by 3♥ looks fine or if he admits to 3 spades, 4♠.
Bidding above game is too risky, because even 3 key-cards does not guarantee slam.
Encourage partner but not too much and leave it to him.

Rainer Herrmann

[movingon]

This hand was sent to me and I had chosen the 4nt response--find out right away if partner has 3 keycards.
The partner's hand was sent to me this morning:

The other hand was: xx, AKxxx, AQx, xxx Spades split 2/2 so makes 7 without a club lead and 6 with a club lead.