[frouu]

Scoring: IMP

1♦ - (2♥) - 3 NT - all pass

---

3nt made 7.
How would you bid this?
Or is it normal result?

[the hog]

South has 7 controls and 4 card D support. No I don't think it is a normal result. Terrible 3NT bid by South.

[Wackojack]

For a B/I this looks like a tough hand to bid. I don't think that South made a terrible bid, more like he did not have the necessary bidding tools. I strongly suspect that most B/I's as South would either bid 3NT or launch into 4NT as some kind of Blackwood. Those that do the latter will land on their feet but it could be very wrong if North opened 1♦ with a weak balanced hand.

The bidding tool required here is the cue bid in the overcalled suit (3♥) showing a limit raise in diamonds or better, but not ruling out 3NT. Even so this gives North a problem. 4♦ would suggest a minimum opener. 5♦ gets over the strength of the diamond suit but omits to show 2 important features that South might need to know to bid 6, namely the singleton heart and the 4 card club suit headed by the king. The best bid for North I believe is 4♥. This bid only makes sense if it shows a singleton or void in hearts and confirms diamonds as trumps. Now South with Axx can see that there a no heart losers and so now can feel sufficiently confident to key card 4NT (0314) North responds 5♠ showing ♦AKQ. Now South can be confident of a fill in clubs or spades or both for the small slam..

As for the grand, even if South bids 5NT asking for kings and South shows 1 which must be clubs, there may still be a loser somewhere. So be content with 6♦.

So I would recommend:
1♦- (2♥)-3♥-p
4♥- p- 4NT-p
5♠-p-6♦

[helene_t]

3♥ is probably better than 3NT but we probably can't end in 3NT then unless opener happens to have a heart stopper.

6♦ is a good contract. In 6NT we could loose two club tricks.

(sorry I meant 3♥ is better than 3NT of course, now I see some have quoted this, lol)

[mich-b]

helene_t, on May 20 2009, 05:50 AM, said:

3♦ is probably better than 3NT but we probably can't end in 3NT then unless opener happens to have a heart stopper.

After responder's 3♥ , opener can bid 3♠ as a NoTrump probe, letting the 3♥ bidder bid 3NT if he has a stopper.
Using 3♠ in this manner is not dangerous because the 3♥ bidder does not have 4♠s (no negative double) , and will not support.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I think the bidding was ok, a 3NT bid is certainly heavy,
but reasonable.

If you bid 3H, showing support, asking for further description,
you basically bypass 3NT, and you are commiting your side
to 5D.

So all in all I would say: bad luck, next bord.

Please keep in mind, that there is nearly no wastage, only
both jacks are redundant (and the Queen of trumps), so worrying
to much is not worth it.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[P_Marlowe]

mich-b, on May 20 2009, 05:58 AM, said:

helene_t, on May 20 2009, 05:50 AM, said:

3♦ is probably better than 3NT but we probably can't end in 3NT then unless opener happens to have a heart stopper.

After responder's 3♥ , opener can bid 3♠ as a NoTrump probe, letting the 3♥ bidder bid 3NT if he has a stopper.
Using 3♠ in this manner is not dangerous because the 3♥ bidder does not have 4♠s (no negative double) , and will not support.

Does 3S ask for a diamond stopper, a stopper in spade,
a stopper in spade and diamond or for stoppers in
clubs and diamonds?

Claiming that 3S is obviously a ask for a stopper in daimonds
and spades is wishful thinking, 3H endplayes you in playing a
diamond contract.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

I won't blame anybody.

For south:

I guess that 3 NT shows the equivalent of an good opening (13-15) so, the bid was just a tad heavy.

And what are the alternatives?

Double and later raising diamonds? So that you bypass 3 NT and may play five diamonds opposite Qxxx,Qx,AKxx,Kxxx or another balanced minimum? Even at imps this is against the odds.

No way.

3♥ and hoping that partner will bid 3 ♠ as asking for a Heart control? This is the B/I forum, better learn to walk before you can run.

No way.

4 NT quantitative? This is possible, OTOH, I just have 16, just one stopper and my diamond fit is lousy.

So, no major flaw in south bid.

And north: He has max. too, a lot of tricks. But opposite a 13-15 HCP hand, how shall there be a slam? No way.

So, bad luck, next board.

[se12sam]

I think after a 3NT bid (which must be based on good playing tricks / HCP), North can re-evaluate his hand and bid 4NT. The 13 HCP does not matter because the diamonds are worth much more in a NT contract than their suggested HCP value

Will South interpret this as Quantitative? Not sure. But if this is the logical meaning, South could jump to 6NT at his next turn.

[helene_t]

1♦-(2♥)-3♥-(pass)
3♠*
obviously asks for a heart stopper. Probably the optimal agreement is that 3♠ just says "I am happy with you playing 3NT if you have a hearts stopper", i.e. mandatory with any minimum without a heart stopper and without great shape. Or something like that. But I wouldn't make any assumptions about this without discussion.

[ArtK78]

In some respects, South's hand is too big for a 3NT bid. AK A A is a lot for a 3NT bid.

In other respects, South's hand is not right for a 3NT bid. His heart holding of Axx with the lead coming through partner's possible minor heart honor(s) is not good. For 3NT to succeed, the partnership will need 9 running tricks. If there are 9 running tricks, then 3NT might be the right contract for other reasons.

I would bid 3♥. Partner will bid 3NT if he has heart cards, and then 3NT will probably be the right spot. Even then there are no guarantees.

If partner does not bid 3NT, I would be very concerned that (1) there will not be 9 running tricks in 3NT; and (2) 5♦ or 6♦ might be better contracts. This is IMPs - I don't mind playing 5♦ instead of 3NT if I have a reasonable belief that 3NT is the wrong spot.

When I bid 3♥, partner should start looking for slam.

[Old York]

Looks like we need an artificial 2NT here. This preserves the 3 level for exploration
Is there a lebensohl or similar bid available?

1♦-(2♥)-2N*-(p)
3♣*-(p)-3♦*

2♥ overcall was pre-emptive, but 3♥ and 3NT responses seem to make the situation worse

Tony

[whereagles]

All decisions were normal given the circumstances. Move on

[Quantumcat]

My system:

1D(1) (2H) 3C(2) (P)
3H(3) (P) 3S(4) (P)
4C(5) (p) 4H(6) (P)
5D(7) (P) 5NT(8) (P)
6C(9) (P) 6NT or 6D depending on bravery

1. 17-19 bal or natural
2. transfer (invitational raise+ opposite natural diamonds)
3. cue and accepting invite natural diamonds not 17-19 bal
4. control
5. control
6. RKCB (4NT is a heart cue if that were necessary)
7. 2 with the Q
8. club holding ask
9. 4 small (showed king previously)