[Winstonm]

Playing in imp teams, no one is vulnerable and you pick up this hand: You are playing SAYC and open 1C.

3H is invitational.

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What do you do, bid on or pass?
After you make a choice, look at the spoiler:

Spoiler

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The supportive power of aces makes this hand above average and makes the game worthwhile to bid.

[nige1]

Winstonm 'Playing in imp teams, no one is vulnerable and you pick up this hand: You are playing SAYC and open 1C.
What do you do, bid on or pass?
+++++++++++++++++++
4♥ seems reasonable

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[mycroft]

1♠ would not be my bid with most partners, they would expect something more unbalanced. Having said that, A4 given "unbalanced" is massive support to a bid-and-rebid heart suit. After ...1NT-3♥ (still INV), I'm very happy with it, because I'm limited (one of the reasons I don't bid 1♠ with that hand). SAYC probably requires a 1♠ bid.

Spoiler

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is slightly less good (but still E♠Q or W♦AK or a spade OL. A club lead means it either makes or -2.)

[johnu]

mycroft, on 2021-September-07, 13:45, said:

1♠ would not be my bid with most partners, they would expect something more unbalanced.

Some pairs deny 4 spades if opener bypasses 1♠. And some pairs promise an unbalanced hand if opener rebids 1♠. It depends on partnership agreement.

And then there are those who don't have any agreement.

[Winstonm]

mycroft, on 2021-September-07, 13:45, said:

1♠ would not be my bid with most partners, they would expect something more unbalanced. Having said that, A4 given "unbalanced" is massive support to a bid-and-rebid heart suit. After ...1NT-3♥ (still INV), I'm very happy with it, because I'm limited (one of the reasons I don't bid 1♠ with that hand). SAYC probably requires a 1♠ bid.

Spoiler

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is slightly less good (but still E♠Q or W♦AK or a spade OL. A club lead means it either makes or -2.)

AJxx, 10x, Axx, Axxx 😏

[Cyberyeti]

This sort of board, I seem to always be in 4♥, the spades and clubs don't comply but the diamonds are 4-4 so team mates are defending 3N.

[AL78]

Assuming 3♥ is invitational, I pass, an 8 loser hand opposite an invite is not game. Game makes because 3♥ is an underbid holding honor cards in both partner's suits, a one loser heart suit, and a good chance of no diamond wastage, I'd go through FSF before bidding 3♥.

[Winstonm]

AL78, on 2021-September-08, 12:49, said:

Assuming 3♥ is invitational, I pass, an 8 loser hand opposite an invite is not game. Game makes because 3♥ is an underbid holding honor cards in both partner's suits, a one loser heart suit, and a good chance of no diamond wastage, I'd go through FSF before bidding 3♥.

Notice where this is posted - the point of this exercise is to demonstrate the power of aces to improve other face cards in the same suit.

[Douglas43]

I'd bid 4♥ playing partner for seven hearts and a bit of luck for the tenth trick. Now I'll look at the spoiler and wipe the egg off my face...

[mw64ahw]

Ax♥ opposite an invitational 6+♥ suit which will revalue upwards with support means I bid 4♥. In addition the 6.5 modified loosing trick count adds comfort to the 4♥ bid: 19-6.5-8.5=4 level