[lmilne]

I chose to open the South hand 1♦ (thoughts?). The 1♠ rebid showed an unbalanced hand (this shape counts).
If partner had bid 3♥ over 1♠, this would be natural and forcing to game.
4♦ over 4♣ would likely be some sort of last train, but can't be too sure.

What is your preferred auction to get there playing a fairly simple natural system, preferably starting 1♦-1♥-1♠?

---

[kenrexford]

Obviously, the problem seems to be that Responder expected a likely stiff in clubs for the unbalanced hand rather than A-Q tight, which radically affects the decision.
The auction ends up much better after a 1NT opening.

[lmilne]

Ken, I showed a club stopper over partner's artificial 2♣ bid. I don't think he was playing me for a club singleton.

[ahydra]

I think North should make a bit more of an effort. A "perfect minimum" ♠A ♦AK ♣Q gives you the slam - and partner's shown more than a minimum raise to 4H. So a cuebid over 4C is probably the way to get started.

Sounds like South showed his hand accurately, so I'm gonna give all the blame to North.

ahydra

[TWO4BRIDGE]

There are 2 ways for North to bid 3H.
He chose the stronger way by going thru 4th Suit GF . ( The 3H-jump over 3S would not be a GF ( IMO ) -- why would you need 2 ways to show a GF in ♥ ? )

Anyway, I think South could just bid 5H! ( over 3H ) asking about trump quality.
( Or he could bid 5H over 4H in the given auction ).

[Fluffy]

I think you underbid twice (slightly), you should open this one 1NT afer you didn´t even want to jump over 2♣, you cannot just pass 4♥ with a hand full of aces.

[gnasher]

Why do you play 4♣ as "nothing about clubs"? When you have two cue-bids available, you don't have to do anything clever - you can just play them as cue-bids.

[CSGibson]

S. It's an easy slam to get to after opening 1N, assuming any kind of systemic follow-up where N can show a spade singleton with 6+ hearts. Also, with all of those controls I think S is worth one more try - 4S comes to mind, as I really want partner to be the one to ask for keycards if that's where this is going.

[lalldonn]

Sorry I think not opening 1NT is a really poor choice. I wouldn't even have expected this one to be controversial.

Certainly as it went, north is worth 4D at least over 4C.

[wank]

north knows his clubs are opposite 2 with an honour - ideal - and he's got the AKQ of trumps. looks like a pretty good hand to me.

as for south he's got no rebid problems and 3 bangers so why the rush from the other posters to get the NTs in?

[nigel_k]

I agree with the auction up to 3♥. After that, I think anything except 3NT should show heart support so would cue bid 3♠ with South. In any case I would bid on after 4♥ as South on the given auction. I can't see how North can do more, even if his hand was a bit better.

[CSGibson]

wank, on 2012-March-08, 11:53, said:

north knows his clubs are opposite 2 with an honour - ideal - and he's got the AKQ of trumps. looks like a pretty good hand to me.

as for south he's got no rebid problems and 3 bangers so why the rush from the other posters to get the NTs in?

I have a 15-17 hand with no shortness, no 5 card major, and no 6 card minor. You say there's no rebid problem, but I see a hand that has to guess what to do over a 1N response (unhappily passing being obvious, but don't I hate it...), or any number of possible scenerios where they interfere. On the other hand, if I open 1N, I have a tight definition of the offensive & defensive potential of the hand on the table as quickly as possible, setting my partner up to be able to make good decisions later, either in a competitive auction or in a non-competitive auction like the one actually perpetrated.

Even though its semi-balanced with no rebid problem over 1H, the only reason I wouldn't open 1N, getting the offensive and defensive potential of the hand off my chest as quickly as possible, would be when all my HCP were concentrated in my long suits, or that I had the strength to reverse. Here about half are in my short suits, and the thought of reversing makes me queasy.

[wank]

well i would be perfectly happy putting dummy down if p bids 1NT - his suit's most likely clubs and on a heart lead he might find his only outside entry being knocked out at t1.

on the other hand if the bidding doesn't go like that, I'm much better placed after starting with my longest suit - this hand is very suit-orientated.

[CSGibson]

wank, on 2012-March-08, 14:12, said:

well i would be perfectly happy putting dummy down if p bids 1NT - his suit's most likely clubs and on a heart lead he might find his only outside entry being knocked out at t1.

on the other hand if the bidding doesn't go like that, I'm much better placed after starting with my longest suit - this hand is very suit-orientated.

I would agree, except that on this hand OP obviously wasn't better placed. Maybe you would have been, but I don't really believe it, despite my respect for your demonstrated skill. The subset of hands which would open 1♦ and rebid 1♠ has much more variance than those that would have opened 1N, especially if you include these types of semi-balanced hands.

Yes, aces are good for suit play. It turns out that they are good for NT too. And defense. On the other hand, half of your HCP are in short suits, including all of your minor honors - which is good for NT.

[kenrexford]

lmilne, on 2012-March-08, 07:54, said:

Ken, I showed a club stopper over partner's artificial 2♣ bid. I don't think he was playing me for a club singleton.

Stoppers are for losers. But, if your 2NT promises a club stopper, then I suppose you might have a point. Still, I doubt that 2NT promises AK or AQ.



If, however, 2NT followed by a cue acceptance of clubs promises a fitting 2452 hand that is appropriate for a 1NT opening, then you have described your hand remarkably well. In that case, 4♦ as LTTC seems almost obvious.

[wank]

CSGibson, on 2012-March-08, 14:33, said:

despite my respect for your demonstrated skill.

curious. i wasn't aware i had ever demonstrated enough skill (if i possess such skill in the first place) to climb above the bbo forum rank of Random Poster.

[gnasher]

wank, on 2012-March-09, 00:39, said:

curious. i wasn't aware i had ever demonstrated enough skill (if i possess such skill in the first place) to climb above the bbo forum rank of Random Poster.

http://www.bridgebas...post__p__618475

[benlessard]

In the french system in GF situation when you have stoppers and the choice between 2Nt/3NT, 2NT is minimum or 18-19 and 3NT is 15-17. Why did south didnt bid 3S rather than 4C ? Frivolous ?

[TWO4BRIDGE]

kenrexford, on 2012-March-08, 07:46, said:

The auction ends up much better after a 1NT opening.

A number of folks here advocate the 1NT opening ( including J-J ).
Does it really end up better ? ( like reaching slam ? ) .

1NT - 2D!
2H - 3C
3NT

Edit: The following is better:
1NT - 2D!
2H - 3S! ( self-splinter showing good 6 card ♥ )
??
... OK, this one will get you there.

This post has been edited by TWO4BRIDGE: 2012-March-09, 08:15