[han]

10xx KQJ87x - A9xx

You are playing precision and open 1H. The bidding continues:

1H - 2D
2H - 2S
3H - 3S
4H - 5C
...

What are your thoughts about 3H and 4H?

What's partner doing and what is your call now?

[helene_t]

I think p is 5260 so it's exclusion if we play that. Could also have been 5161 maybe but then he would have had ♣A.

[ArcLight]

I don't know Precision, so maybe I shouldn't respond, but doesn't this bidding imply responder has longer ♦ than ♠, and at least 5♠?
Why not bid 4S instead of 4H, playing in the 5-3 fit rather than the 6-1 (or 0) fit?

As for 3S vs 3H, might responder think you have 4 spades?

Pard is not asking for aces, so maybe he has 5-2-6-0 shape?

[pclayton]

I'm fine with 3♥. 3♣ sounds like a 5-4.

I would have just bid 4♠ over 3. I don't care for 4♥. This doesn't look like a suit I want to play opposite a void.

5♣ is a strange call. if pard had a 5=2=6=0, why didn't pard bid 4 or 5 clubs over 3♥? I think pard has something like a great 5=1=7=0: AKxxx x AKJxxxx void. 6♠ will probably make in practice (who leads the ♥A on this auction?) but I need to slow down pard and show my spades, so I'll try 5♠ - even if it sounds like a cuebid.

[nige1]

han, on Jun 24 2008, 10:39 AM, said:

10xx KQJ87x - A9xx
You are playing precision and open 1H. The bidding continues:
1H - 2D
2H - 2S
3H - 3S
4H - 5C
...

What are your thoughts about 3H and 4H?
What's partner doing and what is your call now?

IMO 3♥ was OK. Arguably, 4♠ is a better bid than 4♥ over 3♠. Although ♥ may in fact play better, even opposite a void. Partner's shape is probably 5260 or 5170.
Now 5♠ sounds too encouraging but I don't suppose 5♥ is going to put partner off, either

[jtfanclub]

If I understood the auction correctly, looks like a wtp 6♠ unless it's Exclusion.

Partner went for slam not knowing if we had any fit. I have 3 spades, a void in diamonds, and the Ace of clubs. Awesome.

[Apollo81]

wtf 4♥? Looks like an auto 4♠ to me. South already bid hearts 3 times and has spade support. I agree with 3♥ though.

5♣ is obviously a slam try of some sort. I'd guess that partner has either 5260 or 5170/5161 with the ♥A.

If I could bid 4♠ to play now I would. I guess since partner thinks we're playing in hearts I'd better sign off in 5♥.

The right dummy may produce a decent slam (AKxxx A Axxxxxx --- for instance) but I really just want a plus on this one.

[han]

I'd like to point out that I didn't hold this hand. :-)

Nor was I the partner or an opponent.

[jtfanclub]

I'll stand by my statement. Partner has made a slam try across a minimum 1♥ opener. My hand went from garbage to awesome.

This sounds to me like a hand like:

AKQxx xx AKQxxx ---

Even that's not safe across my possible hands, but I think you have to give it a shot.

[Halo]

If it is right to say that the auction is completely natural, and after 2H it doesn't matter that you were playing strong club, then 4H rather than 4S seems odd.

After 5C, I agree with jtfanclub. Can't see how we can bid anything other than 6S.

[kenrexford]

♠10xx ♥KQJ87x ♦- ♣A9xx

1H - 2D...

I like the opening bid.

...2H - 2S...

I like the rebid of hearts

...3H - 3S...

...I think I'd introduce clubs here. I don't get it bidding hearts over and over again when I have a perfectly good club suit to mention. Partner is allowed to have 4054 shape at this point.

...4H - 5C...

This one boggles my mind. WTF?!? I mean, I could imagine two basic schemes here:

1. 4♣ flags diamonds, 4♦ flags spades.
2. 4♣ flags spades, 4♦ is natural

4♥ to show spade support is not one that I had considered. I suppose that 4♥ makes sense, though, if:

1. 4♣ is a power diamond raise
2. 4♦ is a passable diamond raise/preference
3. 4♥ is a power spade raise, and
4. 4♠ is a weak spade preference

It might make sense to have 4♥ not a viable contract here, but that seems odd.

After 4♥, I don't know what the heck is going on, having bid this so insanely, unless there is a secret agreement here. 5♣ seems like a PUNT slam try, so I'll make a WAG -- 6♠. This is probably either making six or down in five.

[han]

The player who bid 4H is of the opinion that 3S in this auction can often be only 4 as a punt to 3NT. Therefore he wasn't willing to raise to 4S. Thoughts?

[gnasher]

han, on Jun 25 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

The player who bid 4H is of the opinion that 3S in this auction can often be only 4 as a punt to 3NT. Therefore he wasn't willing to raise to 4S. Thoughts?

I think it ridiculous to assume that an undiscussed natural-sounding bid is artificial.

I can see the benefits of playing 3♠ as an artificial request for a club stop, or as two-way, either 5-6 or a try for 3NT. The way to deal with that thought is to assume at the table that 3♠ is natural, and later discuss whether to play it as artificial.

[han]

The other hand had AKJxx 10x K10xxxx - I believe, I think this is a 4H bid over 3H. Even 1H-2D-2H-2S-3H-3S-3NT-4H is an overstatement and 5C over 4H is far too much, especially in a precision setting.

[helene_t]

han, on Jun 25 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

The player who bid 4H is of the opinion that 3S in this auction can often be only 4 as a punt to 3NT. Therefore he wasn't willing to raise to 4S. Thoughts?

I don't think so. Our 3♥ bid should either deny a club stopper or show 7 hearts. With 4162 and no club stopper p would have bid 4♥ instead of 3♠.

[gnasher]

han, on Jun 25 2008, 10:26 AM, said:

The other hand had AKJxx 10x K10xxxx - I believe, I think this is a 4H bid over 3H.

I agree - opposite 3=6 in the majors you probably want to be in hearts anyway.

[kenrexford]

I think Responder has a 3♥ bid over 2♥, personally. But, after 3♣ (from Opener instead of 3♥), definitely 3♥. If Opener keeps bidding hearts, then 4♦ is probably a fair bid -- stronger heart support.

What a sick and stubborn auction! LOL

[han]

kenrexford, on Jun 25 2008, 05:40 AM, said:

I think Responder has a 3♥ bid over 2♥, personally.

I don't know their agreements in this direction but I imagine that 2H does not suggest 6 hearts or denies 4 spades. If this is indeed the case then 3H by responder would of course be ridiculous.