[mgoetze]

Opponents open 3♠ and remain silent thereafter:

1. (3♠)-X-4♣; 4♥

2. (3♠)-X-4♣; 5♥

3. (3♠)-4♠-4NT; 5♥

4. (3♠)-4NT-5♣; 5♥

5. (3♠)-5♥

What do you think these different auctions mean? Do some show a better hand than others? Do some ask for a spade control, others for trump quality, etc.?

[gnasher]

Good question.

Somebody has to break the stunned silence, so I'll have a go. I'm going to assume that
- 4m is forcing NLM, and includes all slam-try two suiters with hearts
- 4♠ is ostensibly both minors and not a slam try
- 4NT is a slam try with both minors

1. (3♠)-X-4♣; 4♥
A flexible game-going hand with five hearts

2. (3♠)-X-4♣; 5♥
A flexible hand with six hearts and slam interest.

3. (3♠)-4♠-4NT; 5♥
A one-suited slam try with a spade control.

4. (3♠)-4NT-5♣; 5♥
A cue-bid for clubs.

5. (3♠)-5♥
A one-suited slam try that lacks a spade control.

[aguahombre]

gnasher, on 2012-June-13, 05:24, said:

3. (3♠)-4♠-4NT; 5♥
A one-suited slam try with a spade control.

This one is interesting, and dovetails onto another active thread.

Gnasher's answer still works. Partner was probably expecting a big Heart/minor 2-suiter with her 4NT ask, but we don't care and our "break" does show what Gnasher says it shows.

[Phil]

I don't think its necessary to use NLM in these sequences.

A cue of 4♠ is generally a big ♥ + minor hand. 5♣ should be p/c, and 4N should be a slam going hand. Therefore, Auction 3 can simply be a hand too big to bid 5m, without being specific as to the minor, but showing extra heart length.

3♠ - 4N is ostensibly minors, but a pull to 5♥ should be single suited hearts, like many 4N for takeout auctions, instead of two places to play. I cannot see why someone would want to label this differently.

Auction 5 is interesting, and and the Katz / Capelli team had a misunderstanding with a similar auction (3♣) - 5♠ in a QF match of the senior trials against Robinson. One thought it was looking for a club control, and the other thought it was just a hand too good to overcall 4♠.

Under this criteria, 5 is the good single suited hand, which 3 is simply looking for a spade control.

[JLOGIC]

I think 3S 4N 5C 5H is a cuebid. I don't think a 1 suiter in hearts can start with 4N.

I would have assumed 3S 4S was michaels, I guess it depends on whether you use NLM so please advise.

I would take 3S 5H as just too strong to bid 4H. I do not think a hand that is solid minus a spade control is at all important to show, I have never seen that hand type in real life.

[gnasher]

JLOGIC, on 2012-June-13, 12:43, said:

I do not think a hand that is solid minus a spade control is at all important to show, I have never seen that hand type in real life.

I agree, but I think it is useful to distinguish between a slam try with a spade control and a slam try without a spade control.

[JLOGIC]

It is just very unlikely to have a slam try with no spade control over a 3S opener (even if its not a demand). You have 2 small spades and another loser, are you really not bidding 4H? Like xx AKQJxxx AQx A, I would just bid 4H even if I had a way to show a slam TRY and no spade control, call me crazy.

[mgoetze]

aguahombre, on 2012-June-13, 10:05, said:

This one is interesting, and dovetails onto another active thread.

No, really? What a coincidence!

[mgoetze]

Phil, on 2012-June-13, 10:34, said:

A cue of 4♠ is generally a big ♥ + minor hand. 5♣ should be p/c, and 4N should be a slam going hand. Therefore, Auction 3 can simply be a hand too big to bid 5m, without being specific as to the minor, but showing extra heart length.

I was trying to keep the number of sequences down but here's a bonus question for you:

6. (3♠)-4♠-5♣; 5♥

Would this hand have bid higher than 5♥ if the response had been 4NT?

[Phil]

mgoetze, on 2012-June-13, 18:20, said:

I was trying to keep the number of sequences down but here's a bonus question for you:

6. (3♠)-4♠-5♣; 5♥

Would this hand have bid higher than 5♥ if the response had been 4NT?

This is a 'how many angels can fit on the head of a pin' question.

[JLOGIC]

I would take 4S (assuming hearts and a minor) followed by 5H as a very strong preference for hearts, maybe 7-5, and non forcing.