[jillybean]

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What now?

[kuhchung]

Jump shift to 3D, then bid hearts as cheaply as possible next round.

[mike777]

If forced to open 1h then i guess i force 3d but really prefer to open 2c and live with those issues.

I do have:
7h
lots of controls
only 3d.
I can rebid a natural 2h over 2d
3loser hand hard to show if I start with one heart. As it is pard will play me for a 4 loser hand with a 2c opener and long h.

[phil_20686]

I am pretty conservative with 2C openers, but this looks like one to me.

After 2c-2d-3h we are extremely well placed.

Opening 1H is really only an option if you have an artifical GF available. Failing that, many people play 3N now as a hand with hearts too good for 3H, so I would do that.

Finally, if you had spades instead of hearts I would probably open 1S, as I would be delighted if partner bids 1N and I can auto splinter.

[rmnka447]

You have a 3 loser hand, so this hand is worth opening 2 ♣ strong. If partner has as little as either the ♠ K or ♦ J and a stiff ♥, you are odds on to make 4 ♥.

The problem with opening hands like this 1 ♥ is that you'll never be able to fully describe your hand or convince partner you have as much as you have.

That being said, in the auction you did have, you should rebid 3 ♦ to show virtually game going values and force partner to make another call. You'll rebid hearts next.

[chasetb]

I would say since this was opened 1♥, that you rebid 3♦. If I think partner would take 3NT as showing a hand like this (much like 1m - 1M; 3NT showing a long running minor with some side values), then I bid that instead. Then, I would talk to partner about possibly playing Gazzilli or Bart if this hand can't open 2♣. I suggest playing one of those 2 anyways, but that's beside the point that you must force to game once partner responds.

[Cyberyeti]

I play a system that can handle opening a hand like this 1♥ (GF unbalanced 2N rebid, semi forced 3♣ relay show as one suiter with hearts), but in the absence of this open 2♣ exactly because of this rebid problem.

[helene_t]

2♣ for me. But having opened 1♥, what is wrong with a 4♥ rebid?

[gwnn]

helene_t, on 2012-April-12, 02:47, said:

2♣ for me. But having opened 1♥, what is wrong with a 4♥ rebid?

There are two ways of playing 4♥: either a 4♥ opener with an extra king or a 2♣ opener with a missing king. Most people play it the first way.

[ahydra]

I have to agree with those who say "open 2C". Seems you got yourself stuck a bit by opening 1H.

That said, what would 3NT show? Some people (myself included) use that as a solid suit and a strong hand, which isn't a bad description (perhaps a slight underbid) of the one you've got here. Or if you play 4H the "old-fashioned way" (18 or so HCPs with 6+ hearts), that works too.

I don't like 3D with only a 3c suit, particularly if partner has every right to expect 4. If he has KQJxx Jx Axxx xx then he's going to get very excited... and then very angry when 6D goes one off :/

ahydra

[jillybean]

helene_t, on 2012-April-12, 02:47, said:

2♣ for me. But having opened 1♥, what is wrong with a 4♥ rebid?

That's what I thought

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I didn't like a 3♦SJS w/3 cards, 3N would not show this hand. I did consider 2♣ and should have stuck with that.

[wyman]

You have to be willing to bid 3♦ with this, else you need to agree to open a wide 2♣. This is not a 2♣ opener for me, but I understand that this is a style choice.

Another style question is, as gwnn points out, what 1H-4H means. But I definitely think it's far more prevalent to see this showing a hand slightly too good to preempt 4H than a hand showing the world's fair. And I think that this is more consistent with prevailing principles about bidding cheaply with good hands (e.g., fast arrival).