[mike777]

MP, both Vul
Opponents silent
XYZ

1C-1H
1S-2C!
2D!-?

Your bid
Your hand is:

Void...KQ8632...K86....QJT6

[jillybean]

I didn't bid 2♣
my auction would be
1C 1H
1S 2D

[Huibertus]

This hand is way too strong for 2♣. I'm bidding 2♦ 4th suit force, if partner then bids 2Nt or 3NT we'll play 3NT, if partner supports ♥ we'll play 4♥, otherwise I'll support ♣ in a game forcing situation.

[mikeh]

It would be helpful to know whether opener’s 1S promised an unbalanced hand. Many but not all experts and quite a few non experts play the 1S box d as promising at least 4=5 in the blacks. Why is this important? Because we’d have this information at the table. Presenting play or bidding problems without relevant information is never a good idea.

Ok, I’ll assume that partner might have a balanced hand, despite my strong view that it’s far…far…better for 1S to promise an unbalanced hand.

The fact that he might have a balanced hand doesn’t mean that he does, and the playing strength of this hand is largely dependent on finding at least two hearts opposite (a stiff ace would be better than xx but that’s a narrow target).

I don’t understand a 2D game force bid. Are you people looking at the same hand?

No aces.

Poor suit texture in hearts.

If partner has short hearts, how are we planning to make 10 tricks with hearts as trump? The only way that’s happening is if partner has extra values, and doesn’t an invitational sequence ask him whether he has such values? Or a heart fit?

Meanwhile, if he lacks a fit and also lacks extra values, pleas explain how you expect to take 9 tricks in 3N or 11 in 5C?

Why mastermind?

KQxx x Axx Kxxxx. Would anyone who chooses 2D pass that hand as dealer? Have fun in whatever game contract you reach.

An invitational sequence asks partner to look at his hand knowing that we likely have 6 hearts (assuming we bid 2H after our 2C bid). He’ll upgrade a heart fit. He’ll upgrade aces and kings. Iow he’ll be well positioned to make an informed contribution to the auction, whereas a game force removes any possibility of avoiding games that will often…not just nice in a while…be utterly silly.

Me? I guess I’m in a minority here. I like to bid collaboratively with my partners. I’m not claiming I never reach bad games but I do claim that I try to avoid them. Bidding 2D is in essence saying to partner…I don’t care about your judgement nor do I care about your hand…I’m in charge here. We’re going to game no matter what you hold.

So, in answer to the OP I bid 2H after my 2C call. If partner bids 2N, I’ll bid 3C to further describe my hand. If he bids 3C over 2H, I’ll have to guess between 4C and 5C.

[DavidKok]

I play:
1♣-2♥: 4-8, 6(+)♥.
1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♥: 9-11, 6(+)♥
I don't play XYZ on this start, but if I did that would imply that:
1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♣*; 2♦*-2♥: (9)10-11, exactly 5♥.

[jillybean]

mikeh, on 2025-September-04, 09:00, said:

I don’t understand a 2D game force bid. Are you people looking at the same hand?

No aces.

Poor suit texture in hearts.

11hcp, 6 card heart suit, QJTx in partners suit.

I have to admit, I am masterminding. I'm too used to propping up timid partners.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of your hands from the Victoria Sectional, have fun.

[WasWinM]

void in spades is a red flag. 2H is plenty high enough for me.

[awm]

Hmm I would force to game on - KQxxxx Kxx QJTx and don’t think it’s particularly “masterminding.” Opposite Mike’s example of KQxx x Axx Kxxxx I should have decent play in 5♣ (seems like clubs 2-2 make it almost cold, or with clubs 3-1 and the heart ace onside I could make, easily worth bidding even at match points I think).

If a weak notrump is still possible, of course I want to be in game opposite say Kxxx Ax Qxx Axxx for example. Of course you can construct some hand for partner where game doesn’t make but I think it’s odds-on even opposite a lot of minimums.

[akwoo]

I think I'm bidding 2♣, but after 2♦ I'm bidding 3♥, showing a 6 card invite. The downside is losing the clubs, but it's MPs.

Bonus if I'm playing that an immediate 2N (after 1♠) shows either desire to play in 3♣ or a pure distributional invite, so that 2♦ followed by 3♥ shows a less pure 6 card invite.

(Note I've only played XYZ over a 1N rebid, and after 1D-1H-1S in a Precision context - there may be a need to cater to the possibility of opener being stronger that I don't know about.)