[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-June-08, 09:44, said:

2♣ is ill advised but not an underbid, partner will never pass.

Why not? If I ever did bid 2C, which I would not with this hand, I’d sure be expecting partner to pass with any ‘normal’ takeout double. I’d have something along the lines of 6+ clubs, and often 2=3=2=6 where I have no fit for either of partner’s announced suits. It is both not the least bit forcing….what would you do with xx xxx xx KQJxxx?

[mikeh]

WasWinM, on 2026-June-08, 10:01, said:

Does no one play this first double as a weakish two suiter in the unbids, spades and diamonds?

Depends on weakish. KQxx xx AJxxx xx is absolutely a double but, at imps, I’d not expect less than something like this. Doubler is unpassed and could easily hold a strong hand…we bid as if he has a minimum but he may be about to show strength. It’s unplayable to restrict double to ‘weakish’ hands.

[mike777]

WasWinM, on 2026-June-08, 10:01, said:

Does no one play this first double as a weakish two suiter in the unbids, spades and diamonds?

I like 1NT for that hand type
"Sandwich 1NT"

[mikeh]

Ok, I’ve made some comments on other posts but what do I think I’d do?

Any long-time reader of The MasterSolvers Club in the now-deceased and lamented Bridge World would know that, in MSC problems, a cuebid often gets lots of votes, even though, as the moderators point out, a cuebid merely gets us by this round…next round may be even worse!

But I think as follows:

I have an amazing hand. Opener didn’t psyche…not only do few players psyche anymore but also the redouble would be extremely foolish if he had.

Partner has some values…a blah 8 count, even with 5=5 in the pointed suits, should not double. If the suits have texture, 2N would be ok. Almost all good players use 1N as natural and strong by an unpassed hand.

Thus LHO has responded with dreck. That’s not surprising…he is looking at long hearts and short clubs.

Ok, so much for working out what’s likely going on. Does that tell us what to do? Not yet…but if we cuebid partner may, but probably won’t help us. I expect he’ll bid 2S. He probably has a minimum opening hand or slightly worse and 2S seems normal on most layouts

Now we bid 3C. Contrary to whatever a direct 2C or 3C means, this cue then clubs is both natural and strong.

Now, we may get to game or even an unlikely slam but it’s also possible we get to 3C. Picture KQxx xx AJxxx xx.

Bidding game by ourselves with no fit for partner, a source of tricks that needs help…why can’t opener hold KQJx….and only one heart stopper makes 3N an incredible gamble. It’s the kind of call that stops partners from doubling 1H. I expect to shut out responder’s hearts but only at the cost of ducking two rounds and then I need 8 more tricks.

[mikeh]

mike777, on 2026-June-08, 11:31, said:

I like 1NT for that hand type
"Sandwich 1NT"

When opps routinely open 11 counts and routinely respond on 4 counts, you’ll be robbed blind. Heck, I remember years ago my partner opened, we took 4 calls to get to 1N, at favourable, and the opps had 25 hcp and 10 winners in notrump. That got them talking, lol.

[P_Marlowe]

mikeh, on 2026-June-08, 11:43, said:

<snip>

Any long-time reader of The MasterSolvers Club in the now-deceased and lamented Bridge World would know that, in MSC problems, a cuebid often gets lots of votes, even though, as the moderators point out, a cuebid merely gets us by this round…next round may be even worse!

But I think as follows:

I have an amazing hand. Opener didn’t psyche…not only do few players psyche anymore but also the redouble would be extremely foolish if he had.

<snip>

Now we bid 3C. Contrary to whatever a direct 2C or 3C means, this cue then clubs is both natural and strong.

<snip>

Just to make it clear, you are using 2H as cue?
Given that they have shown 7 hearts, it is certainly not natural and forcing.

[jillybean]

edited

mikeh, on 2026-June-08, 11:26, said:

Why not? If I ever did bid 2C, which I would not with this hand, I’d sure be expecting partner to pass with any ‘normal’ takeout double. I’d have something along the lines of 6+ clubs, and often 2=3=2=6 where I have no fit for either of partner’s announced suits. It is both not the least bit forcing….what would you do with xx xxx xx KQJxxx?

To be honest, if I had made the t/o x and pard bid 2♣, I would think they were showing equal preference for the unbids suits.
With xx xxx xx KQJxxx, I'm in trouble. 1nt or 3♣


in the match, I bid 3♣. I acknowledge there are others options but I'm happy with my decision.
Unfortunately, the auction didn't end there c'est la vie