[pescetom]

MP

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You are playing 2/1 GF with 15-17 1NT, 1♣ is 2+ cards and 1♦ 4+ cards.
Partner's 2♣ response is a GF which denies a 4 card major but is nebulous about clubs.
Your call now over 2♥ natural by a passed hand?

[TMorris]

I will pass and no doubt find out more from partners response. If we play nt it might well be better from partner's hand.

[jillybean]

What would 1♦ have been?

So partner has 3 spades and a bunch of diamonds and clubs
2nt, I have the stoppers and don't need to torture partner. If we belong in a minor slam, my partner has room over 2nt

[mike777]

pass

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2026-May-19, 14:58, said:

What would 1♦ have been?

By Responder?
Undiscussed with this non-regular partner who does not play XYZ either.
I imagined that he would bypass 4 card diamonds in a balanced hand or unbalanced with clubs fit.

[akwoo]

I could argue that 3N should show this hand - (semi)balanced, heart stopper, minimum for slam, though I'd prefer a second heart stopper (but at least I can hold up 2 or 3 times).

Would you expect partner to understand it that way?

[steve2005]

double, show you have hearts

[pescetom]

 akwoo, on 2026-May-19, 15:34, said:

I could argue that 3N should show this hand - (semi)balanced, heart stopper, minimum for slam, though I'd prefer a second heart stopper (but at least I can hold up 2 or 3 times).

Would you expect partner to understand it that way?

You'll find that out later
But for now I passed, seemed to me the most descriptive call as well as the most economical.
Partner is still there and is going to give some direction.

[jillybean]

steve2005, on 2026-May-19, 16:28, said:

double, show you have hearts

would it?

mike777, on 2026-May-19, 15:12, said:

pass

I didn't notice the 11 count, I will change my bid to pass

[akwoo]

pescetom, on 2026-May-19, 16:31, said:

You'll find that out later
But for now I passed, seemed to me the most descriptive call as well as the most economical.
Partner is still there and is going to give some direction.

My worry about pass is that partner might be assuming some sort of fast arrival and expect pass shows a better hand.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

The first q would be, if X is penalty or T/O.
Yes p denied a card major, but T/O may still be sensible.
If you play penalty, than p may be forced to do something stupid,
if you dont double, assuming you dont have hearts, obv. the suit
is ragged, but than, what do you expect.

Otherwise Pass, espesially, if you dont have an idea, how p would
take X.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pescetom]

 akwoo, on 2026-May-19, 21:17, said:

My worry about pass is that partner might be assuming some sort of fast arrival and expect pass shows a better hand.

I do agree that pass does not mean we hold an underwhelming 11 HCP, although with extras we should have another call here.
The only fast arrival I can think of here is 3NT and even then it could be based on many hands after that odd hearts bid, so it's not necessarily description of an optimistic minimum.
In general it's not my style to mastermind and as Opener I try to describe my hand: and Partner does know me, we just don't play together often and he has less agreements.

[pescetom]

 P_Marlowe, on 2026-May-20, 01:00, said:

The first q would be, if X is penalty or T/O.
Yes p denied a card major, but T/O may still be sensible.
If you play penalty, than p may be forced to do something stupid,
if you dont double, assuming you dont have hearts, obv. the suit
is ragged, but than, what do you expect.

Otherwise Pass, espesially, if you dont have an idea, how p would
take X.

I agree, X is the fly in the ointment of this choice. I normally agree it as takeout but even with a regular partner I wouldn't be certain what it is saying in this situation where partner denied a 4 card major, opp affirmed hearts and we have an economical bid of spades available. It certainly doesn't suggest these hearts.

[mikeh]

These problems cannot be answered beyond expressing generalities. All practiced partnerships know how they deal with this situation. While the 2H bid by a passed hand is low frequency, sometimes we were dealer and the 2H bid is made by an unpassed hand so the situation is hardly unusual. The correct answer is whatever the partnership has agreed. If there is no agreement then you are both guessing and there is no logical way to know what partner will guess you guessed, absent some prior experience or discussion. In short, this kind of problem highlights the need for discussion but is otherwise of zero interest if one is trying to understand what to do


Now, if what you’re seeking are the best agreements to have, that’s a different and more interesting topic. However, since you are playing a highly unusual (and, imo, weird) agreement as to 2C, any advice on actions here are unlikely to be relevant more normal auctions where partner has provided some, even if incomplete, useful info on shape

Having said that, given that you have little info about partner’s shape, I’d suggest that pass is the default action, double strongly suggests defending (here, your heart spots don’t justify that) and any bid conveys positive information. Hence an easy pass

[pescetom]

 mikeh, on 2026-May-20, 03:04, said:

Having said that, given that you have little info about partner’s shape, I’d suggest that pass is the default action, double strongly suggests defending (here, your heart spots don’t justify that) and any bid conveys positive information. Hence an easy pass

Makes sense thanks, and indeed this was an easy choice for me. Will progress the auction asap.

[pescetom]

MP

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You opened and then chose pass.
Your bid now?

[mike777]

3NT

[jillybean]

3nt , have we missed a ♣ slam?

I'll take my 3nt back and bid 4♣

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-May-20, 10:26, said:

3nt , have we missed a ♣ slam?

I'll take my 3nt back and bid 4♣

So 3D invites club slam? Is that an alert?