[Lord Molyb]

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Random deal on BBO. East deals, all vulnerable. If possible, south bids 1♠, and if south bids 1♠, north bids 3♠.

[Cyberyeti]

As I see it, the auction is going to go:

1♦-(1♠)-X or 1N or 2♥-(3♠)-4♣-4♦ and then the big hand is going to be on a complete guess, my bet is that for lack of anything else, once W shows no aces or fails to cue, you'll play 5♦. I don't see you being able to stop in 3N which may be the best spot at pairs.

Slam is not good due to lack of dummy entries, basically you're on the heart finesse which I'd suggest is marginally odds against.

[P_Marlowe]

1D - (1S) - X - (3S)
4S (1) - (Pass) - 5D (2) - all pass

(1) what else, this should show shortage, ..., I wish, I am 100% convinced, that
it is NOT agreeing hearts, but showing a self sufficent suit.
(2) what else

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Will cross check (1) with my regular partner

[Cyberyeti]

P_Marlowe, on 2014-February-12, 09:45, said:

1D - (1S) - X - (3S)
4S (1) - (Pass) - 5D (2) - all pass

(1) what else, this should show shortage, ..., I wish, I am 100% convinced, that
it is NOT agreeing hearts, but showing a self sufficent suit.
(2) what else

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Will cross check (1) with my regular partner

Hmm, what is partner supposed to do over 4♠ with a hand like xxx, Kxxx, x, KQxxx, I just think the hand is too good to commit to diamonds at this point, it gets vast if partner has a club fit which is why I prefer 4♣.

How do you agree hearts in a forcing fashion ? 4♠ would show hearts for us.

[Zelandakh]

Nice hand in that 3♠X, 3NT, 4♥, 5♦ and 6♦ all seem like possible end contracts in a larger field.

I have:
1♦ - (1♠) - X - (3♠);
4♦ - 5♦

and think 4♠ over 3♠ would generally show hearts (although 3♠ followed by 6♦ sounds like a grand try with a spade control) because we have 4♦ available with a big one-suiter.

In my system East would open a strong club and West would show 4+ spades with a pass of the overcall. Perhaps that slows North down some although 5♦ is still the most likely spot.

The best chance of reaching the slam would seem to be East opening something like a strong 2♦ and West then taking a shot. On BBO I would actually expect more to reach it, mostly through reckless bidding with the East hand (1♦ - (1♠) - X - (3♠); 6♦ anyone?).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

having crosschecked with my regular partner, at least we are reasonably in sync,
although he phrased it better, than I would have:

4S being the only forcing bid available, wont promise heart support,
the bid will quite often be based on heart support, but the heart support
is not mandatory, so responder is well adviced if he does not by pass 5D / 6D,
unless he wants to play diamond at next level.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Zelandakh]

P_Marlowe, on 2014-February-14, 04:18, said:

4S being the only forcing bid available,

Neither of you thinks 1♦ - (1♠) - X - (3♠); 4m is forcing?

I foresee this putting a lot of pressure on your double and cue.

[P_Marlowe]

Zelandakh, on 2014-February-14, 04:32, said:

Neither of you thinks 1♦ - (1♠) - X - (3♠); 4m is forcing?

I foresee this putting a lot of pressure on your double and cue.

No, we dont think this to be forcing.