[mike777]

vul imps

AQx...Axx...AQxxxx...x

p=p=1d=p
1h=p=?

[ArtK78]

This is another variation of the Bridge World "hand of death."

My regular partner and I have a method for handling this. First of all, we use "continuous no-trump ranges." When vulnerable, or if partner is a nonvul passed hand, 1NT is a good 14-17, 2NT is 18-20, and bigger NT hands are opened 2♣. With a minimum opening bid up to a reasonable 14 count, we open one of a suit and rebid 1NT. In first and second seat nonvul, we play a 10-13 1NT opening. So, one of a suit followed by a 1NT rebid shows 14-17, and an opening 2NT bid shows 18-20. There is no gap between a 1NT opening (or rebid, if opener is in 1st or 2nd seat nonvul) and a 2NT opening. Hence the term "continuous no-trump ranges."

Now, what does this have to do with the hand in the OP? This approach frees up the 2NT rebid for hands with about 15 -18 HCP, 6 cards in the suit opened and 3 card support for responder's suit. So, after opening 1♦ and hearing a 1♥ response, opener bids 2NT to show this hand.

[mike777]

ArtK78, on 2015-January-02, 14:28, said:

This is another variation of the Bridge World "hand of death."

My regular partner and I have a method for handling this. First of all, we use "continuous no-trump ranges." When vulnerable, or if partner is a nonvul passed hand, 1NT is a good 14-17, 2NT is 18-20, and bigger NT hands are opened 2♣. With a minimum opening bid up to a reasonable 14 count, we open one of a suit and rebid 1NT. In first and second seat nonvul, we play a 10-13 1NT opening. So, one of a suit followed by a 1NT rebid shows 14-17, and an opening 2NT bid shows 18-20. There is no gap between a 1NT opening (or rebid, if opener is in 1st or 2nd seat nonvul) and a 2NT opening. Hence the term "continuous no-trump ranges."

Now, what does this have to do with the hand in the OP? This approach frees up the 2NT rebid for hands with about 15 -18 HCP, 6 cards in the suit opened and 3 card support for responder's suit. So, after opening 1♦ and hearing a 1♥ response, opener bids 2NT to show this hand.

Thanks Art. I know I posted this in the natural bidding section on purpose but someone just sent me this on transfer rebids which I don't recall hearing before but I found to be an interesting idea:

"It works even better to play that 1D opening shows an unbalanced hand so you can play transfer rebids: 1D-1H-2C= 6+ D, then bid 2H to show 3-6 with some extras (1D-1H-2D is a 3-card raise with a minimum and 5+ D).



Of course opening 1C with all balanced hands (except with 3-3-5-2 can open 1D) creates its own headaches in competitive auctions."

[mike777]

ArtK78, on 2015-January-02, 14:28, said:

This is another variation of the Bridge World "hand of death."

My regular partner and I have a method for handling this. First of all, we use "continuous no-trump ranges." When vulnerable, or if partner is a nonvul passed hand, 1NT is a good 14-17, 2NT is 18-20, and bigger NT hands are opened 2♣. With a minimum opening bid up to a reasonable 14 count, we open one of a suit and rebid 1NT. In first and second seat nonvul, we play a 10-13 1NT opening. So, one of a suit followed by a 1NT rebid shows 14-17, and an opening 2NT bid shows 18-20. There is no gap between a 1NT opening (or rebid, if opener is in 1st or 2nd seat nonvul) and a 2NT opening. Hence the term "continuous no-trump ranges."

Now, what does this have to do with the hand in the OP? This approach frees up the 2NT rebid for hands with about 15 -18 HCP, 6 cards in the suit opened and 3 card support for responder's suit. So, after opening 1♦ and hearing a 1♥ response, opener bids 2NT to show this hand.

Again straying from natural bidding playing Mexican 2d(17-19) bal. offshape ok...then:
3=1=6=3 can rebid 2nt and rebid 3d with 3 card major suit support, ex 1=3=6=3

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

absent add. agreements - 3D.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[whereagles]

hand of death?? lol, it's a textbook 3♦

[ArtK78]

whereagles, on 2015-January-02, 16:33, said:

hand of death?? lol, it's a textbook 3♦

Of course it is. And responder; with 5 reasonable hearts, a singleton diamond, and a 7 count, passes. So you go down in 3♦ instead of making a heart game.

This type of hand appears over and over again in Master Solvers Club.

[whereagles]

So what? This isn't rocket science.

If you wanna try a "Fix", you'll break other stuff:

1♦ 1♥
??

2♦? this risks an even easier pass out.
3♥? this works well if pard has 5 hearts, but may be a disaster if he has 4 weakish ones.
2♠? can work, but pard may have a 4-4 majors, after which there's no telling what can happen.
2NT? way too off shape.

Really, 3♦, while not ideal in some scenarios, seems to be the percentage bid. There's a reason for it being textbook.

[Jinksy]

What's your disagreement? 3♦ is obviously the rebid of kings in lieu of a treatment to deal with this shape/strength, and as Art says, it's very easy to construct hands where it goes badly.

[FrancesHinden]

As others have said, this is the traditional BW 'hand of death'. You aren't strong enough to force to game, so absent special methods you bid 3D.
There are plenty of special methods, we use a 2S rebid as multi-way including 3-6 in the reds invitational as one of the options.

[PhantomSac]

I have always liked 1s with this hand type

[mike777]

thanks all

For what it’s worth, partner’s hand was:



Txxx

KJxx

xx

Kxx