[lifemonster]

N the dealer

---

No, I'm not interested in home-made exotic weapons. That's why I put it in the "sayc and 2/1" section.

[Winstonm]

Black 2-suiters are the hardest to bid, IMO. If playing 2/1, I don't know how we will get past 2H on this auction: 1H-1S-2H.

With SAYC there is a chance, if your agreement is to respond with these 5-5 black invitational hands with 2C first. Without this agreement, it's impossible virtually - 2S creates a game force, which you don't have, and 3 clubs overstates the length of your clubs and there is no guarantee of either a fit or that clubs is better than hearts.

Really don't see how a 2H contract can be avoided, and unless you are up against a really esoteric pair at the other table, this hand will probably be decided on the opening lead and the play.

WinstonM

[awm]

I'm not sure I like the 2♥ rebid after 1♥-1♠. This hand is too likely to produce game opposite a hand that will pass 2♥; for example:

AKxx
Jx
xxx
xxxx

Virtually cold for 3NT, and 4♥ is not bad. It's easy to construct worse hands where game has play. So I'd rebid 2♣, which has the advantage of showing partner 9 cards from my hand instead of 6. This bid is rarely passed, and if partner does pass he probably has singleton heart and 4+♣, in which case it might be the best spot. Slam in clubs is also not out of the question on this hand, and it will be easier to find after a 2♣ rebid than a 2♥ call.

So I'd recommend:

1♥ - 1♠
2♣ - 3♣

At this point there are a lot of ways the auction can continue, but you're pretty much guaranteed to reach game at least.

[FrancesHinden]

How about

1H - 1S
2C - 5C
6C

2C because opener is too good for 2H.
5C = huge clubs, poor hand, unsuitable for play in non-clubs. Pretty good description?

I can come up with some long & fancy auction to the same spot if you like, but a nice piece of quantitative bidding always makes me feel good!

[inquiry]

Since you didn't specify dealer, I will make it south...

1♣ (1)   1♥ (2)
1♠ (3)   2♦ (4)
3♣ (5)   4NT (6)
5♠ (7)   6♣

1 = easy ZAR opening bid, 9 hcp, 3 control pts, 14 distributional = 26 (25 need with ♠
2. = jump to 2♥ would be weak
3. = this is a four card spade suit for me.. explain 1♣ choice
4. = xyz. game force (i don't consider xyz exotic, but call in nmf if you like)
5, = what else? That five card spade suit is not rebiddable
6. = blackwood, this is going to be easy
7. = two plus club queen
8. = off a key card.

Now if north opens....

1♥(1)   1♠ (2)
2♣(3)   2♦ (4)
3♥(5)   4♣ (6)
4♦(7)   5]cl] (8)
6♣ (9)

1= 1♥, what else?
2= not good enough for 2/1 2♣ now playing sayc, maybe.
3 = I respond to 1H-1S as if the bidding went 1H-1NT, this hand is too good for 2♥ rebid, and 3♥ while useful, partner is not expected to pass 3♣ here which might be a three card suit.
4 = this hand is now full quasi game force values with a known club fit, so 4th suit forcing
5 = 3♥ shows playing stregnth and real good heart suit (too good for 2♥ initially)
6 = club now game force, a jump to 5♣ would be weaker, or advanced cue-bid
7 = cue-bid
8 = nothing esle to show, must be excellent clubs, because partner only promised three and a NICE heart suit.
9 = slam must be makable, you have no top spade, and good clubs (remember, no leap to 5♣, but went the slow route.

It is, obviously, harder to bid the slam if north opens than south. But the "trick" is to respond to 1♠ as if your partner bid 1NT forcing.. and over 1NT forcing, I would rebid 2♣... now you have found clubs even when partner jumps in hearts later.

[scoob]

lifemonster said:

N the dealer

[Fluffy]

I would most likelly play 2♥, but can see 2 auctions that save me from that:

playing 2/1:

1♥-1♠
2♣-3♣......


Playing any 5 card major:


1♥-2♣
3♣....

[inquiry]

scoob, on Jun 6 2005, 03:07 PM, said:

lifemonster said:

N the dealer

got to learn to include this in the hand setup.. who has time to read an entire post? :-)

[PriorKnowledge]

Possible auction: Dealer = x AKQxxx Ax xxxx Resp = xxxxx x xx AKQxx
1H 1Sor1N
2C 4C
4D 5C
6C

1S or 1N = Whichever shows 5s
2C = Too good for 2H
4C = gameforce club raise
4D = kickback (or redwood) for clubs
5C = 2+Q

[Winstonm]

Although there are lovely auctions posted, and they can certainly be best, for me this hand although a 5-loser is a spot card away from 2C. The 10 of hearts would sway me, as this card makes a substantial difference in the success of 3N and to a lesser degree even 4H. Some lines are extremely fine indeed.

WinstonM

[MickyB]

I dislike 2♣ on this hand for a different reason - those spades may not be pretty, but you still want to be in a 5-3 fit if there is one IMO, you are 5-5 after all. It's a bit different when you suppress an xxxx suit, because then you aren't planning on bidding it at all and partner won't consider his singleton to be bad news.

[Winstonm]

Quote

I dislike 2♣ on this hand for a different reason

To clarify if this is concerning my previous post, I am speaking of the 10 of hearts in opener's hand justifying a 2C rebid: x, AKQ10xx, Ax, xxxx.

WinstonM

[MickyB]

Ah, sorry, that will teach me for not counting losers

[lifemonster]

FrancesHinden, on Jun 6 2005, 06:44 PM, said:

How about

1H - 1S
2C - 5C
6C

2C because opener is too good for 2H.
5C = huge clubs, poor hand, unsuitable for play in non-clubs. Pretty good description?

I can come up with some long & fancy auction to the same spot if you like, but a nice piece of quantitative bidding always makes me feel good!

The problem is, N probably has only THREE clubs for his 2C bid, and plans to show his real intention, eg.some strong 3 piece spade support, or 2 and half heart rebid,etc.

As long as opener's 2nd choice is 2C rather than 2H, there is always room for S to show strong clubs.

Possibly
1H 1S
2C 3C
4H(strong suit, descriptive 6-4)

You can define 5C by S is to play and 4NT is some kind of last train(strong trump?) since logically it cannot be Blackwood.

[mike777]

1h=1s
2h=3c
4d....kickback, rkc for clubs...wtp?

[Fluffy]

mike777, on Jun 6 2005, 10:33 PM, said:

1h=1s
2h=3c
4d....kickback,rkc for clubs...wtp?

Lol obvious, how could I miss it

[Fluffy]

Jlall, on Jun 6 2005, 09:31 PM, said:

That being said I would bid 2C...rofl. I am a BIG believer in always bidding the side 4 card suit regardless of suit quality. It makes it much easier for partner to evaluate. This is certainly not popular with AKQxxx and xxxx and call me a sceptic but I think some of the 2C bidders may be influenced by seeing all hands. Anyways...

I am a bif believer in bidding the 4 card suit also regardless of quality, ,but mate... I hate a limit, AKQxxx vs xxxx, sorry but that is a 1 suiter, not a 2 suiter.

[luke warm]

wow, another example of why i like one bids showing 2 suits.. but playing 2/1 i honestly doubt i'd bid the clubs

[HeartA]

It is always (well, almost) good to introduce a second 4-card suit before rebidding 6-carder.