[pclayton]

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IMPs, all vul. RHO opens 1♦; whats your call and strategy?

[whereagles]

Is there a strategy with this hand?

The "book" bid is a michaels 2NT, but there's a case for simply shooting 6H.

[flytoox]

start with 2N, then rebid H, hope pd can understand me. This might not work though.

[Rebound]

whereagles, on Jan 18 2005, 11:47 AM, said:

Is there a strategy with this hand?

The "book" bid is a michaels 2NT, but there's a case for simply shooting 6H.

Glad I'm, not the only one thinking of just cracking out 6♥. The alternative, to me, would be 1♥ reasoning that if partner is willing to pass it, I may have probs making anything. After 1♥, I would jump in clubs next. Chances are tho, if partner can take any action at all, Im prolly gonna bid 6♥ anyway, so I think I'll just do it now and get it over with.

[Free]

Start with 2NT, partner will probably bid 3♣, then I'm planning to bid 4♥ showing a monster hand with huge slam ambition and longer ♥. Partner will do the rest.

[hrothgar]

2NT seems dubious...

The difference in length/texture between clubs and and Hearts worries me a lot.
I see two viable choices:

1. Double, planning to show Hearts after Spades

2. 1♥ This isn't going to get passed out, and you'll (hopefully) be in a good position to to show your hand later in the auction.

I prefer double. My Spade shortage makes it very unlikely that partner will convert for penalties.

[junyi_zhu]

pclayton, on Jan 18 2005, 03:40 PM, said:

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IMPs, all vul. RHO opens 1♦; whats your call and strategy?

1H, probably the best bid here. All other bids have some big flaws:
double: you don't want to hear partner passes and you don't want to see partner bid 4S with 6 spades and some value, it's just too hard to process over 4S, althought there might be some method.
2NT: huge disparity in these two suits and no good way to show it the next round.

1H may get passed out once a blue moon, but it's just very unlikely.

[pclayton]

OK, here's what I did:


RHO.....Me.....LHO.....Pard
1♦.....2N.....Pass.....3♣
3♦.....4♦.....Pass.....5♣
Pass.....5♥.....Pass.....?

Pard bid 6♣ on: Qxx, xx, Jxxx, xxxx. Slam needs 2-2 trump (or stiff K) with the K of hearts onside (where it rates to be). 6♣ is slightly better than 6♥. Certainly not a great contract, but not too terrible. Maybe he read me for a 6-6 instead of a 7-5. I still think I bid it reasonably.

I don't like a double on two-suiters - you can never find out from pard what you need to know. Plus, if pard passes, this rates to be an absolute disaster.

Strangely enough, even 5♥ is in jeopardy. Clubs were 3-1 with the King offside, so you'll never reach the weak hand in time for the hook.

[pclayton]

Jlall, on Jan 18 2005, 01:03 PM, said:

interesting hand. My first instinct was 1H. After more thought I have decided on 2N.

My plan is to jump to 5H next (hopefully it wont be back to me at 4S in which case ill have to jump to 6). Pard will certainly appreciate round kings then, or a stiff heart and 4 clubs even.

You know, I considered that too. My only concern about the quicker jump to 5♥ is that it seems to ask for a ♦ control. Wouldn't you bid it that way with: void, AKQxxx, xx, AKQxx?

By cueing the ♦'s first, I think the subsequent 5♥ looks for minor suit controls. Anyway, thats what I figured.

Believe me, my pard on this one isn't the sharpest tool in the shed , so these subtle difference were not picked up at the table I'm sure.

[han]

I would also bid 2NT followed by some high number of hearts. Usually I don't like to show a 2-suiter when the higher rankng suit is so much better. Here however, there doesn't seem to be a problem, as I can bid hearts at almost ay level.

I would not force to slam if partner doesn't contribute in any way.

1H seems reasonable, better hope the auction doesn't explode (oops bidding some high number of diamonds or spades).

Double seems crazy!

[whereagles]

Pard shouldn't play you for a 66. That's what 3NT is for (instead of 4D).

[Chamaco]

Unusual 2NT then jump to 6 of pard's suit (probably clubs).