[pescetom]

MP

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I see this as too strong for 1NT 15-17, whatever your willingness to bid that with a 6 card minor.
Your call after 1♠?

[DavidKok]

3♣ 15-17 6(+)♣, seems about right.

[mike777]

I have a gadget for this
2NT=long clubs, less than 3 spades, about 15-17.

Otherwise 3C

[Cyberyeti]

1N 15-bad 19, intending to show it as 17-19 with 5 clubs and 2 spades playing what I play

3♣ playing what you play

[mikeh]

3C is 100% normal playing standard types of methods. I’ve never understood the urge to get creative early in constructive auctions. Do we hate partner?

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-28, 12:57, said:

I have a gadget for this
2NT=long clubs, less than 3 spades, about 15-17.

What do you do with 18-19, balanced, less than 4 spades?

[pescetom]

DavidKok, on 2026-September-28, 12:56, said:

3♣ 15-17 6(+)♣, seems about right.

Agreed.

How about this variant:
MP

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What are our options now?

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 14:54, said:

What do you do with 18-19, balanced, less than 4 spades?

Another gadget
Rebid one no trump
One of the major reasons to play this style is this exact bid.


Standard this is just 1C-3C

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 14:58, said:

Agreed.

How about this variant:
MP

---

What are our options now?

I think our options are double or 3Clubs

I would choose 3C

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-28, 15:29, said:

Another gadget
Rebid one no trump

And with 12-14 balanced, less than 4 spades?

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 15:56, said:

And with 12-14 balanced, less than 4 spades?

One spade, partner will actually bid one heart, with spades.

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-28, 15:32, said:

I think our options are double or 3Clubs

I would choose 3C

Playing a natural defence, I'm comfortable with 3C, not sure what X should be.
Playing Unusual over Unusual (or similar) I am curious what A/E would do.

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-28, 15:58, said:

One spade, partner will actually bid one heart, with spades.

Ok, you forgot to mention that trivial point

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 16:01, said:

Ok, you forgot to mention that trivial point

I was trying to avoid a tempest in a teapot, which I think is the name of a Shakespearean play..

Or the third circle of hell which some Italian guy invented... probably a bridge player

[jillybean]

Clear 3♣, breathe

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 16:00, said:

Playing a natural defence, I'm comfortable with 3C, not sure what X should be.
Playing Unusual over Unusual (or similar) I am curious what A/E would do.

I’ve never heard of anyone playing un v un by opener. I suppose a case could be made for it, but not in anything resembling the usual un v un situation.

It’s not as if we can’t accurately describe a spade fit without un v un. 3S shows playing strength, since opener is committing to the 3 level opposite a potentially weak hand and often facing bad breaks, 4S is bigger yet. 4D and 4H are splinters. 3C shows pretty much the same hand as if RHO has passed.

If I were designing something, 3D would presumptively show a long, running club suit and a diamond stopper, looking for 3N. If I later bid spades, I was showing a huge spade raise with a diamond control. Same meaning, reversed red suits, for 3H. There are probably better methods..this took me thirty seconds to think up.

[mw64ahw]

pescetom, on 2026-September-28, 14:54, said:

What do you do with 18-19, balanced, less than 4 spades?

Playing Tansfer Walsh I use the break of transfer to show1N 15~17 semi-balanced<4M2♦ 18~19 (semi)-balanced2N 3-way (3x)x6, (4x)x5 GF, 6♣ 18+, 3♣/3♦ asks min. passable/max.3♣ 15~17 6+♣3M BD 4M 18~19

I need to know the strength of the 2N 4th seat bid given a number of other bids could show the same shape in the 2N variant.

[pescetom]

Ok, back to what happened at table.

MP

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Your agreement is that 4♣ is natural and invites control bidding (4♦ would have been Kickback).

[P_Marlowe]

I guess 4D from p would have been Kickback?

If 4D from me is also KC, I would go with it, otherwise I bid 4H.

[mikeh]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-September-29, 03:07, said:

I guess 4D from p would have been Kickback?

If 4D from me is also KC, I would go with it, otherwise I bid 4H.

Great call. Partner tells you that you’re off a keycard. Im wondering how you know that you don’t have 2 diamond losers?