StevenG, on 2011-November-20, 08:40, said:
West bid 4♥ rather than 3NT. I suggest that renders meaningless any inferences from his lack of alert.
I think West's 4
♥ bid doesn't mean much. It is the correct bid regardless of the meaning of 3
♠.
-If it asks for a stop, you deny a stop and suggest to play game in the 5-2 fit.
-If it shows a fifth spade (and hence a sixth heart), you are placing the contract.
I actually think that quite a few would have bid 4
♣ if 3
♠ asked for a stop. Therefore, the 4
♥ bid is a slight indication that West -at that time- thought that 3
♠ was natural.
So, we have:
- The actual East hand, indicating that 3
♠ is natural.
- The lack of alert, indicating that 3
♠ is natural.
- The 4
♥ bid, slightly indicating that 3
♠ is natural.
(I didn't mention the fact that most players in The Netherlands will play 3
♠ as natural.)
Rik
I want my opponents to leave my table with a smile on their face and without matchpoints on their score card - in that order.
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