[mtvesuvius]

The auction:

(1♥) - X - (2♥) - 2♠
(P) - 4♣ - (P) - ?

Several questions here:

1. Do you play some sort of lehbensohl here? Do you think it should apply?
2. What is the standard treatment of 4♣, and how do you play it?
3. Do you agree with the 2♠ bid with AJxx Qx xx Kxxxx?
4. What's your call over 4♣ with the above hand?

[Phil]

1. I play good bad 2N here. It doesn't apply since I bid 2♠.

2. I don't know since 3♣ is forcing. I'm not ready to call 4♣ a splinter though.

3. Yes. The ♥Q is worthless.

4. 4♥. Clearly I'm too good for 5♣. If 4N would be understood as a good club raise and denying a heart card then I would bid that instead.

[hanp]

I wouldn't bid 4C at the table, but I think it shows clubs.

Also agree with the rest of what Phil said.

[JLOL]

Given that we have Kxxxx of clubs and that partner had a forcing 3C bid available ill bet on a splinter.

[Echognome]

I just can't bring myself to believe it's a splinter. Partner made a takeout double of 1♥. It's conceivable he has a powerful one-suiter containing a stiff club, but then that would not be a 1-suiter with spades. I can't think of a hand that doubled initially and is splintering now, but I'm sure someone will enlighten me.

Aside from that, I would hope we have agreed that in (1) in competition, we can only splinter in one of their suits and (2) that jumps are fitted. So maybe partner has a strong 4=2=2=5 or maybe even a 4=1=3=5 with good clubs, such as ♠KQTx xx Ax AQJxx? I don't know if I would have overcalled rather than double with that or bid 4♣ with that after a double, but it seems possible.

Anyway, as others, I will bid 4♥ now.

[CSGibson]

partner made an undefined bid in our system. I'll pass the buck right back with 4♥, so he can tell me what the heck he's doing.

[kenrexford]

Duh. Partner has an ELC double and now is offering a splinter.

I have two hearts, and the opponents probably have 8 or 9, so I expect partner to have 2-3 hearts. He has four spades for sure. If he also has a stiff club, he has 5-6 diamonds. Hence, ELC.

So, maybe something like ♠KQxx ♥Kx ♦AKJxxx ♣x?

If he has a slightly better hand, with the heart Ace or the club void (4-3-6-0), we might be able to make a slam here. But, I have no real call to offer. If my diamonds were Qx, and throw away the heart Queen or club King, I'd have a clear cue.

[JLOL]

Alternatively, partner might have a spade 1 suiter that he was going to double and bid spades with and has a stiff club.

[Echognome]

JLOL, on May 29 2009, 03:37 PM, said:

Alternatively, partner might have a spade 1 suiter that he was going to double and bid spades with and has a stiff club.

Thought of that, but thought it less likely given we hold AJxx in spades. I guess he could have KQT9xx AKx AKx x? Just seemed so unlikely.

[kenrexford]

JLOL, on May 29 2009, 06:37 PM, said:

Alternatively, partner might have a spade 1 suiter that he was going to double and bid spades with and has a stiff club.

Ture. Could be that too.

[kgr]

I would think partner has a good ♠-♣ 2-suiter.