[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     Pass  Pass  1♥
 1♠    2♥    Pass  4♥
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

[mike777]

sceptic, on Jan 2 2008, 04:11 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     Pass  Pass  1♥
 1♠    2♥    Pass  4♥
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

I open 2clubs...yes I know this is forbidden here, so shoot me.

Long major, 3 loser hand.

[kenrexford]

Not that way.

One option is to open 2♣. I personally would not feel bad with that option.

However, suppose the 1♥ start. Fine. Partner makes a raise, with an expectation of 2-3 cover cards. You have a void in the opponents suit and three losers. 6♥ might work as a reasonable call. That might be the practical call as well.

However, a scientific auction is possible. As you do not need all three covers, the "best" approach might be to bid around the void. 3♦, planning to bid 4♣ if partner declines the game invite (you expect that he will). A slam try opposite a known game-rejector is a BIG bid. Partner will not like his spade Ace, but his club K10 is nice and well-positioned.

If partner does something chicken like 5♥ or 4♠ or some nonsense like that, then 6♥ probably should not make. The problem is that 4♠ or 5♥, whatever your style is, should suggest a hesitant holding, like the spade Ace and club Queen, which is a death sentence. With a good partner, A-K is enough for him to just bid the slam, so you'd reject the bump.

[awm]

1♥ is okay. I think 2♣ is okay too. You do make game opposite some hands that would pass 1♥, but opponents seem to have spades and will usually bid for you anyway (preventing the passout).

Anyways, after partner's 2♥ raise I like a 3♠ splinter. This lets partner know that slam might be on if he has the right hand. For example, take partner's actual hand and give him the ♣A instead of the ♠A. Anyways the contract is fine; slam is on a club finesse which isn't something you really have to bid.

[jdonn]

Clearly too good for 4♥. Consider that you have a grand slam (in diamonds) opposite, say, xxx xxx xxxxx Ax.

[ArtK78]

I would open the big hand with 2♣, as it has game in hand (more or less).

After opening 1♥, the subsequent 4♥ bid is a huge underbid. The hand could be cold for a grand! Suppose partner holds:

xxxx
xxxx
Jxx
AK

This hand is certainly within everyone's definition of a 2♥ call.

It is not unlikely that a small slam is cold on the bidding. Partner could easily hold 2 aces or the KQJ of clubs (or the KQx of clubs - the Ace rates to be onside). If partner holds 4 hearts, a small slam is likely to be cold.

In any event, you can certainly cue bid 3♦ over 2♥. Partner will take it as a game try initially, but not when you bid 3♠ over 3♥ or 4♦ over any other call.

[whereagles]

mike777, on Jan 2 2008, 09:16 PM, said:

I open 2clubs...yes I know this is forbidden here, so shoot me.

bang!

die, ye infidel..

[P_Marlowe]

The bidding was fine.

An minor improvement may be to
bid 3S after the 2H raise.
You may find a slam from time to
time, of course at another vulnerability
you may also help them to find a cheap
sacrifice.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Having read the comments, I tend
to agree, that you should open 2C,
afterall your hand will make 10 tricks
quite often, and partner will pass with
4 diamonds and 2hearts and 0 HCP, so
the hand should force to game, but opening
1H allows to find diamonds, a small gambit
given that you are short in spades ( and they
are red, i.e. they wont hurt you to much).

[Fluffy]

Don't open 2♣ when you have spade void, you won't like it when opponents bid 4♠, and chances of 1♥ being passed out are null.

I think 4♥ was an underbid, good alternativs are:

-3♣ asks about ♣ honnors, if partner raises to game you are happy.
-3♠ shows spade shortness, partner will show club control if he has no spade wastage, better than 3♣.
-4♠ shows spade void, partner will ignore the spade ace, not very good on the actual hand but maybe a good idea on the long run.

[Fluffy]

Also you can bid 4♦ so partner doesn't double 4♠ when he knows you ahve double fit.

[Apollo81]

Perfect for a 3♠ bid after the single raise.

[lexlogan]

Fluffy, on Jan 3 2008, 12:01 PM, said:

Don't open 2♣ when you have spade void, you won't like it when opponents bid 4♠, and chances of 1♥ being passed out are null.

I think 4♥ was an underbid, good alternativs are:

-3♣ asks about ♣ honnors, if partner raises to game you are happy.
-3♠ shows spade shortness, partner will show club control if he has no spade wastage, better than 3♣.
-4♠ shows spade void, partner will ignore the spade ace, not very good on the actual hand but maybe a good idea on the long run.

Why will I like it any better if I open 1♥ and they bid 4♠ ?

[jdonn]

lexlogan, on Jan 3 2008, 05:18 PM, said:

Fluffy, on Jan 3 2008, 12:01 PM, said:

Don't open 2♣ when you have spade void, you won't like it when opponents bid 4♠, and chances of 1♥ being passed out are null.

I think 4♥ was an underbid, good alternativs are:

-3♣ asks about ♣ honnors, if partner raises to game you are happy.
-3♠ shows spade shortness, partner will show club control if he has no spade wastage, better than 3♣.
-4♠ shows spade void, partner will ignore the spade ace, not very good on the actual hand but maybe a good idea on the long run.

Why will I like it any better if I open 1♥ and they bid 4♠ ?

Yes, quite a lot.

[lilboyman]

A lot of people would bid 3 Hearts with the North hand showing 6-9 and 4 trumps.

With the South cards some slam exploration is warranted and my call would be to cue-bid 2 Spades and partner would bid 3 Hearts denying first round control of Clubs or Diamonds. At this point you can cue 3 Spades and partner will bid 4 Clubs to show a second round control. A further 4 Spade cue would allow partner to show a Club Queen but the 5 Heart sign-off may be one trick more than you can make.

On the actual auction why should 4 Hearts be a bad contract at IMPs. The Club Ace may be on side but that is not a given as many players would offer a 1 Spade overcall with a good suit without the Club Ace. Diamond are not odds on to break and the Jack will not neccessarily fall. So, I am not sure I would risk a sure game for a marginal slam at IMPs but then I am pretty conservative.

[lexlogan]

jdonn, on Jan 3 2008, 11:01 PM, said:

lexlogan, on Jan 3 2008, 05:18 PM, said:

Fluffy, on Jan 3 2008, 12:01 PM, said:

Don't open 2♣ when you have spade void, you won't like it when opponents bid 4♠, and chances of 1♥ being passed out are null.

I think 4♥ was an underbid, good alternativs are:

-3♣ asks about ♣ honnors, if partner raises to game you are happy.
-3♠ shows spade shortness, partner will show club control if he has no spade wastage, better than 3♣.
-4♠ shows spade void, partner will ignore the spade ace, not very good on the actual hand but maybe a good idea on the long run.

Why will I like it any better if I open 1♥ and they bid 4♠ ?

Yes, quite a lot.

I'm not going to be a bit happy with 1H-(4S)-pass -5D or 5H. Neither of those bids conveys the power of this hand, and bidding 5D can easily land us in the wrong red suit -- do I really need partner's opinion about what suit to play in when I have a major suit playable for no losers opposite a void? Or is there some other rebid over 4S I'm missing? Wouldn't you open 1H and rebid 5D (over their 4S) with
-- AQJxxx AQJxxx x ?

Of course I'm not thrilled with 2C-(4S)-5H, but I'd call it a much better description. I have 4.5 quick tricks, 9+ playing tricks, and almost every control and trump card needed for slam (partner needs to control clubs.) Partner may not read me for that much if I start with 2C, but he sure better not if I don't!

[cherdano]

I would open 2♣ because of the solid suit. If we get preempted I can live with having to bid hearts. I definitely prefer 2♣ (3♠) P (P) 4♥ over 1♥ (3♠) P (P) ?. I won't like it when it comes back at 4♠, but on other auctions I assume to be better placed after a 2♣ opening.