[smerriman]

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I temporarily considered opening 2NT before deciding on 1♣, planning to reverse into diamonds - only to suddenly find that was no longer possible. What now - or would you have opened something else?

Playing 2/1 or SAYC, if the answer differs.

[LBengtsson]

3♥. 2NT is forcing in my system but 3♥ shows ♦ fit good.

[helene_t]

Playing SAYC you probably have to bid either 3♦ or 4♦.

Playing 2/1 might be different if it implies playing Walsh, i.e. responder will not have a 4-card major unless they have GF strength. In that case it is reasonably safe to bid 2♥, although it may be impossible to show the degree of the diamond fit later.

You could also fake a splinter in one of the majors.

Anyway, this is a hole in the system. I know one pair from the Lancaster club that play inverted minors in this situation, i.e. 2♦ would be forcing.

[msjennifer]

As the club suit is not good enough Both 3D and 4D are unsatisfactory as neither will convey the concentrated of strength in D and H suits and XX in S.My eccentric partner suggested a bid of ONE HEART and wait for partners response.As Helen suggested a fake splinter in one of the majors is a possibility but the bidding will become uncontrolled after that.A very complex situation indeed!

[msjennifer]

Pardon my typing errors of spelling and construction in my post as the new method of editing is a bit awry.

[nige1]

 smerriman, on 2017-December-18, 21:48, said:

I temporarily considered opening 2NT before deciding on 1♣, planning to reverse into diamonds - only to suddenly find that was no longer possible. What now - or would you have opened something else?
Playing 2/1 or SAYC, if the answer differs.

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I rank

• 2♥ = "NAT". FG. Technical reverse. Might have ♦ fit. With 4♥, responder raises to 3♥ only.
• 1♥ = "NAT". A danger is that this might be the final contract when partner has scraped up a response. e.g. ♠ x x x ♥ x x x ♦ x x x x x x ♣ A
• 3♦ = NAT. NF. Underbid.
• 2N = BAL 18-19, But when partner passes or raises to 3N?
• 4♦ = NAT. Committal.
• 3♠ = SPL. Zia might approve.
• 3♥ = SPL. Ditto.

[Tramticket]

With my favourite partner, I will bid:
(1) 2NT (we play that as forcing to game 19-20)
or (2) 1♥ (she will never pass a change of suit at the one level.

Without these, it gets tricky. But I probably still bid 1♥.

[sfi]

2NT for me. If partner doesn't go looking for a slam, I doubt we have one. If partner does, I'll have time to show good diamond support.

[steve2005]

 sfi, on 2017-December-19, 02:49, said:

2NT for me. If partner doesn't go looking for a slam, I doubt we have one. If partner does, I'll have time to show good diamond support.

Partners best suit is a poor ♦ suit. Unless they have a big hand expect to be in 2N/3N with no ♠ stopper when 5♦ makes.

[nekthen]

3♦ seems right in terms of value. You need to agree whether partner's 3M is showing a stopper or asking.
I play transfers, so the problem does not arise. Whatever p bids, I can bid 2♦

[ggwhiz]

 msjennifer, on 2017-December-19, 00:58, said:

My eccentric partner suggested a bid of ONE HEART

I like it.

With no good options on my card (and my partner denies a 4-card major) this should do the trick to right side notrump should partner bid it and I don't have slam aspirations until further notice.

If partner can not bid notrump over this we belong in diamonds period losing 2 spades for sure and a 4♦ bid if appropriate next should draw attention to their club holding.

[PhilG007]

 smerriman, on 2017-December-18, 21:48, said:

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I temporarily considered opening 2NT before deciding on 1♣, planning to reverse into diamonds - only to suddenly find that was no longer possible. What now - or would you have opened something else?

Playing 2/1 or SAYC, if the answer differs.

I would rebid 3 diamonds. The low spade doubleton inhibits me from bidding no trumps. Partner has,so far
only indicated 6 hcps. Combined total suggests a game contract is feasible but not guaranteed.
It's a common misconception that 25-26 pts should produce a game. This is not so. I could produce many
hands with this total and no game contract is possible. 3 diamonds is quite sufficent as a rebid on the
example hand. It is a game invite,not a demand. Partner is free to pass if minimum.

[Jinksy]

2N is probably right (neither opp has overcalled spades, so they're probably not running 5 against you), but I like the idea of 3N, nominally showing a good club suit and a semibalanced hand. It'll stop us from missing game when P bid on Kxxx xxx Jxxxxx -, KQx xxx Txxxx xx etc, and if P goes hunting for a club slam I'll eventually pull him back to diamonds and hope he gets the joke.

[kenberg]

I was going to say about what Phil said but then I saw that he said it. I could have a bit less and still be bidding 3D, but I don't see that game is all that certain so 3D is enough. Partner will know I have four diamonds and a good hand. Since I open 1D with 4-4 in the minors, he can infer I have five clubs. Of course he won't know that I have AK in hearts and xx in spades, but if he has something extra we may well find the right spot. If he has Axx in spades along with some club values, not including the A, it could well be that 5D is the right spot even with his spade A. Playing in NT I would not have 9 running tricks after the spade lead.

Anyway, I bid 3D. Not perfect, but I think not bad. It's not the time to get cute with faked heart bids or faked splinters.

[rmnka447]

3 ♦ a bit of an underbid, but it keeps 3 NT which may be the best contract to play.

This is a hand that's more problematic for 2/1.

If you play Walsh (fairly normal in 2/1 minor suit opening auctions), you bypass ♦ to bid a 4-card major unless you have a hand with just ♦ or a hand with longer ♦ than your 4-card major that is reversible as responder or close to it. In that case, partner is sure to take another call if the latter, but may not if just an absolute minimum ♦ hand. So where you may lose is where partner decides to pass, but you can make game. Sorry, but bidding systems aren't perfect.

I wouldn't ever bid just 1 ♥ with this hand. If I were to bid ♥, it would be 2 ♥ because partner would have to anticipate a possible "hasty" ♥ bid when that bid is made. With a 1 ♥ bid, I think it would be just about impossible to ever convince partner I don't have 4 ♥ in further bidding.

[MrAce]

Rebid 2 NT (I would have opened 2 NT)

Take advantage of "aggressive overcalls" made by %99 of your opponents and never be scared of suit that they did not bid when they both can at 1 level
No need to mention, 2 NT rebid does not promise stoppers in all suits.
I said this before and I am repeating, xx vs xxx is good enough for me to play 3 NT.

[PhilG007]

 Jinksy, on 2017-December-19, 09:57, said:

2N is probably right (neither opp has overcalled spades, so they're probably not running 5 against you), but I like the idea of 3N, nominally showing a good club suit and a semibalanced hand. It'll stop us from missing game when P bid on Kxxx xxx Jxxxxx -, KQx xxx Txxxx xx etc, and if P goes hunting for a club slam I'll eventually pull him back to diamonds and hope he gets the joke.

2NT rebid on the South hand would show a spade stop which as can be seen is a total untruth. Just because the enemy haven't bid
spades doesn't mean they don't hold them and if they lead them, you're down before you even get started(!)
Partner MIGHT just hold a spade stopper for his bid but I've learned through bitter experience
not to put cards in partner's hand(!)

[MrAce]

 PhilG007, on 2017-December-19, 17:39, said:

2NT rebid on the South hand would show a spade stop which as can be seen is a total untruth.....more BS..

BS

[iandayre]

1H, 2NT and 3D are not forcing, and this hand is worth a force. 2H.

[sfi]

 iandayre, on 2017-December-19, 19:36, said:

1H, 2NT and 3D are not forcing, and this hand is worth a force. 2H.

I'm sympathetic to your desire to force, but how do you plan to continue the auction when partner raises your hearts?