[ahydra]

Assume love all at IMPs (this was just a casual game really). Basic system Acol (4cM weak NT), no fancy methods.

♠A10x
♥K10x
♦AQJ9xx
♣x

You open 1D in first seat, partner responds 1H, opponents silent. What's your second call?

ahydra

[billw55]

3♦, after upgrading for spots and a good holding in partner's suit. I'd rather overbid than underbid. I wonder what partner will say if this hand is dummy in 3NT.

[MrAce]

I very rarely upgrade with 14 in this auction, but I would have with this one.

3♦

[MrAce]

I very rarely upgrade with 14 in this auction, but I would have with this one.

3♦

[Zelandakh]

I agree with 3♦ in Acol. Note also that this is a hand type that benefits from playing an unbalanced diamond, where one can painlessly use a 2NT rebid to show precisely this hand, a raise to 3 of partner's suit with 3 card support.

[rhm]

Zelandakh, on 2016-July-19, 06:21, said:

I agree with 3♦ in Acol. Note also that this is a hand type that benefits from playing an unbalanced diamond, where one can painlessly use a 2NT rebid to show precisely this hand, a raise to 3 of partner's suit with 3 card support.

Without playing fancy methods I simply raise hearts with such hands and in my experience had rarely cause for regret.
Yes it is possible that we belong in 3NT or diamonds and partner will not move.
But it is also possible that a part-score in hearts is our best contract or that we will miss game in hearts over 3♦.

It does not pay to be too aggressive at love all.

Rainer Herrmann

[ahydra]

The thing with 3D is, how do you find a 5-3 heart fit? That's what worries me the most on this kind of hand - partner may well just bid 3NT with a 3523 or similar and it goes off where 4H is cold.

ahydra

[fromageGB]

So don't bid 3♦. In my view the hand is not strong enough for that, but more to the point partner is 4+ hearts (length unspecified) and you have 3 card support where the moysian fit (if there is one) works because you have immediate ruffs in the short hand. 2♥ is the obvious bid.

[billw55]

ahydra, on 2016-July-20, 07:32, said:

The thing with 3D is, how do you find a 5-3 heart fit? That's what worries me the most on this kind of hand - partner may well just bid 3NT with a 3523 or similar and it goes off where 4H is cold.

It is a concern, yes. I am open to suggestions.

I am leery of bidding 2♥ because it is a (minor) mistatement of both length and strength, whereas 3♦ is only a (minor) mistatement of strength. There are probably cases where it prevents us from reaching 5♦ or 6♦ when we should, but I suspect this is less likely than missing the 5-3 heart fit.

[Cyberyeti]

fromageGB, on 2016-July-20, 08:04, said:

So don't bid 3♦. In my view the hand is not strong enough for that, but more to the point partner is 4+ hearts (length unspecified) and you have 3 card support where the moysian fit (if there is one) works because you have immediate ruffs in the short hand. 2♥ is the obvious bid.

For us I don't bid 3♦ for a different reason.

We have 2 3♦ bids, direct and via a gameforcing 2N, so 3♦ is limited and we shade it a bit so while it's fine for strength it's more likely to be passed with 4♥ on than playing more standard methods. Also because of this 2♦ is out of the question.

2♥ is what I'd bid if the Q♦ was a small one, and I think I'd do it here, if there is a heart game on, partner at least knows there is a fit.

[Jinksy]

ahydra, on 2016-July-20, 07:32, said:

The thing with 3D is, how do you find a 5-3 heart fit? That's what worries me the most on this kind of hand - partner may well just bid 3NT with a 3523 or similar and it goes off where 4H is cold.

There are no guarantees, but I like to play 3♠ over 3♦ as concern about either or both of the black suits. Opener can bid 3N with something in both of them or something particularly substantial in either. Here with only a single stop between the two (and it being an ace), I'd then bid 4♥.

[Tramticket]

It's close for me. if you bid 3♦, you risk not finding a possible heart game. If you rebid 2♥, you might even miss a diamond slam.

If forced to choose, I think i bid 2♥.

[eagles123]

I really dont understand 2h it seems like the underbid to beat all underbids.

i would go 3d, surely if p is like 2533 or something he can just bid 3h forcing anyway...

[Jinksy]

I would assume he has at least 6 reasonable hearts for a 3♥ bid over 3♦.

[nullve]

1N

[rval]

Nobody likes 1S?

[Thiros]

The fact that so few others have voted for 2♦ is a bit surprising. The 2♦ rebid has a range and our hand happens to be at the very top of it. However good it looks for the red suits, a 3♦ rebid has a lower limit and this hand is below it. Yes, I know that rebidding 2♦ drops a cold 3NT when partner has ♠xxx ♥Axxx ♦Kx ♣J109x. I am willing to take the risk. On most deals where game is good, partner will keep the bidding going and we don't need to be pushy to go after a nonvulnerable game. Raising to 2♥ could certainly work out, but if we get another call after 2♦ we'll be nicely placed to show the heart support then.

[Zelandakh]

Thiros, on 2016-July-22, 15:51, said:

However good it looks for the red suits, a 3♦ rebid has a lower limit and this hand is below it.

Clearly a large portion of the BBF poster base disagree with your hand evaluation.

[mike777]

ahydra, on 2016-July-18, 10:04, said:

Assume love all at IMPs (this was just a casual game really). Basic system Acol (4cM weak NT), no fancy methods.

♠A10x
♥K10x
♦AQJ9xx
♣x

You open 1D in first seat, partner responds 1H, opponents silent. What's your second call?

ahydra

I will try 2h, option2=2d

sometimes I have max rebid.