[dickiegera]

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Does 2NT show 18-19 pts [I belive it should] or is it less # pts?


Thank you

[apollo1201]

Same as unobstructed but with (more) serious stuff in C.

With less you pass, or rebid D, or you should have opened 1NT.

X can be the 18-19 w/o stopper or a non-min hand with a 3-cd H suit.

Think we got all covered😉

[akwoo]

I think most people these days play that X shows 3 hearts and any other non-heart call (including pass) denies 3 hearts.

Without 3 hearts, pass shows 12-14, usually balanced, 2N shows 18-19, usually balanced (but what else do you do with 3154?), always with a stopper.

The hands without a bid are:

1) Those with 4 spades, 5 diamonds, less than 3 hearts and 15-16; with 17 you can bid 2♠ - you might be forced to rebid 2♦ despite only 5 diamonds here.

2) Those with 18 balanced, not 3 hearts, and no stopper - probably a stretch to 3♣ is best.

[pescetom]

 akwoo, on 2019-November-26, 00:59, said:

I think most people these days play that X shows 3 hearts and any other non-heart call (including pass) denies 3 hearts.

Are you talking about US or elsewhere? It would be an unusual agreement in this part of Europe for instance - more likely 18-19 without stopper.

[msjennifer]

Sir normally 18/19 with a stopper.

[helene_t]

Yes, 18-19 with a stopper and 2-3 hearts (2 if you play support doubles).

There are other situations in which 2NT could be good/bad (Lebensohl), but this one can only be natural unless you have seriously weird agreements (2NT showing a good hearts raise would not be crazy but I don't think I know anyone who plays that).

[apollo1201]

 akwoo, on 2019-November-26, 00:59, said:

2) Those with 18 balanced, not 3 hearts, and no stopper - probably a stretch to 3♣ is best.

The cue-bid is a very strong fitted hand. Other fitted hands can bid:

2H - 12-14 usually balanced
3H - unbalanced, slightly less than unobstructed (or lower range)
4H - might have only bid 3 unobstructed (upper range)
4C - splinter

[smerriman]

 apollo1201, on 2019-November-26, 16:41, said:

The cue-bid is a very strong fitted hand.

A cue-bid definitely doesn't promise a fit in hearts here.

[helene_t]

I don't think the cuebid should show a fitted hand. You are already limited by not having opened 2♣ so 4♥ will do in most cases, and many of the remaining ones can splinter. 4♦ should probably also show a fit.

The cuebid is needed for hands like
AKx
Ax
AKQxxxx
x
(or a bit weaker), primarily asking for a stop.

[ahydra]

I would expect the cuebid here to show 18-19 BAL(ish) with no stop or a big hand with a heart fit, perhaps unsuitable for a splinter. For example AKx Kxx AKJx xxx or A KQJx AKQxx xxx. Either way it is GF.

2NT is 18-19 BAL(ish) with a stop.

If playing weak NT then 2NT becomes 15-17 (15-19 if partner made a 2/1). The cue however still shows the upper range and is GF.

ahydra

[miamijd]

 akwoo, on 2019-November-26, 00:59, said:

I think most people these days play that X shows 3 hearts and any other non-heart call (including pass) denies 3 hearts.

Without 3 hearts, pass shows 12-14, usually balanced, 2N shows 18-19, usually balanced (but what else do you do with 3154?), always with a stopper.

The hands without a bid are:

1) Those with 4 spades, 5 diamonds, less than 3 hearts and 15-16; with 17 you can bid 2♠ - you might be forced to rebid 2♦ despite only 5 diamonds here.

2) Those with 18 balanced, not 3 hearts, and no stopper - probably a stretch to 3♣ is best.

On your two hands without a bid, on (1) you can pass. Partner won't let the bidding die with 9+ unless he has a pile of clubs, and in that case, you may well be better off defending 2C then playing a very thin NT game with no source of tricks. Bidding 2D is actually more likely to slow down the bidding than passing. Partner will pass 2D with a misfitting 9 or 10, and now you are not likely to be in a good spot at all.

On (2), I don't think bidding 3C is much of a stretch. What else can you do?