[mtvesuvius]

Scoring: IMP

N   -   S
Pass - 1♥
1NT - 3♣*
3NT - 4♥
5♣ - Pass

*5-5+ in ♥ and ♣. (Because we are playing precision)

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Who is to blame for not reaching 6♣ here?

[JLOL]

Well 3N is an absolutely horrible bid. North should not want to play 3N with those round suits, and no diamond stopper.

If north bids 3S over 3C south can probably drive it. If north bids 4C then 4D 4S will get you there.

[skjaeran]

I prefer 3♠ over 3♣. Partner is still able to rebid 3NT on some hands, when that's the right spot. After 3♠, reaching 6♣ should be easy.

[bill1157]

Can South open 1♣ because he has such a shapely hand?

Bill

[hotShot]

You should not conceal a 6 card major to bid a 5 card minor.

[helene_t]

bill1157, on Mar 29 2009, 12:57 PM, said:

Can South open 1♣ because he has such a shapely hand?

Bill

The advice in the Berkowitz/Manley book is only to upgrade 15-count one-suiters. Two-suiters may become impossible to show after a 1♣ opening if opps interfere.

Of course this is a case for not opening 1♣ with 2-suiters at all. But with 16 points at least you have a slightly higher safety level and/or more defense than with 15.

This hand has more playing strength than a random 16-count 5-5, but OTOH the extra shape makes it more likely that opps will interfere.

Then again, it is difficult to express this playing strength without having opened 1♣.

[bill1157]

no one is to blame, just nobody took an agressive view of the hand.

Bill

[oldman5757]

N is to blame. S's bidding is textbook Precision showing a strong, shapely 14-15 (maybe even a bad 16), and I agree with others that N has an easy 3♠ call, which is probably the best way to reach slam. I wouldn't even bid 3NT at MPs.

I also agree that it's not a good idea to upgrade two suiters in order to open 1♣ unless you've really got some sophisticated tools to handle the auction thereafter. In fact, you could give S the ♠ J and the ♥ J and I'd bid it exactly as shown, altho others might choose to open 1♣.

[hanp]

3NT is idiotic.

[Phil]

Echo the disgust for 3N.

3N falls into a special class of bids. It simply isn't a bad bid. It shows total disdain for your judgment and is a partnership wrecker.

3♠ is totally clear. Pard has denied four spades, so this initially focuses on the diamond problem (and may have bigger things in mind), but also lets the South hand re-evaluate.