[Winstonm]

Trying to find the best game - if there is one - South tried 3H and got 3N from partner.

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Was 3H right? What now for South?

Spoiler

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[LBengtsson]

I looked at spoiler. difficult hand to bid. I do not like 3♦. prefer pass. all depend what partners 2♦ bid shows?

[Winstonm]

LBengtsson, on 2021-October-29, 14:27, said:

I looked at spoiler. difficult hand to bid. I do not like 3♦. prefer pass. all depend what partners 2♦ bid shows?

Forcing with at least 5 diamonds. Not a negative free bid.

[nige1]

Winstonm 'Was 3H right? What now for South? Trying to find the best game - if there is one - South tried 3H and got 3N from partner.'
+++++++++++++++++++
Over North's 2♦, I rank
1, 3♥ = Notrump probe.
2. Pass = NAT but, arguably, anti-systemic.

Over North's 3N, Pass is the only sensible option.
A fine contract opposite many 8 counts e.g.
♠ A x x x ♥ A x ♦ x x x ♣ x x x x

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[apollo1201]

I don’t think I’d have bid 3H but 3S, although having partner bid 4H thinking I am 2-suited (ok, some might have Xed and now deny 4-cd H, but not usually me) and play it in 43 might actually work.

As regards partner’s « free » bid of 3D, it is necessary to win the partscore if responder stretched a little and wont dare balance, or if overcalller bids some number of S after hearing his partner fit.

Partner’s situation is uneasy over 3H. With Axxx facing a likely sg, they know we have to run 9 tricks on the lead. So solid D and a side A are required. Or winning finesses…Bidding 3S « can you cooperate? » won’t help and likely buries 3NT for ever. 3NT has the merit of it won’t be laydown but should « often enough » make (and when it doesn’t, were we making sth?). Maybe a sim (but it is so dependent on the parameters you choose) could be useful.

Now, over 3NT, pass is clear. We have 6D and partner could even be stopping S twice.

A bit of bad luck on this one. On the reflection, 3H is the most helpful bid of the sequence.

[mcphee]

3H was a good bid which should have allowed them to reach 5D, 3N required partner to have an ace H along with 6 running D. We know partner has a stiff S 5D must be as good or better than 3N.

[Winstonm]

Thinking a bit more it seems 3S by north over 3H could be the winning bid.

[Gilithin]

I like 3♥. I am not keen on 3♦ (->Pass) or 3NT (->3♠).