[Apollo81]

None vul, IMPs

♠AKxxx
♥--
♦10xxx
♣Axxx

1m-(p)-1♠-(p)
1NT-(p)-??

You have available 3 different game-forcing sequences that show (below 3NT) approximately
5134
5143
4144

Is this worth a game force? If so, would you use one of the above shape showing sequences, or would you just bid an artificial GFing 2♦ and let partner describe his hand? What if the minor opening was a Precision 1♦ instead of a Standard minor?

In each case you can assume the 1NT opening range is 14+ to 17.

[rbforster]

In std, I think I'd show a GF with 5431 5♠ and 4 in partner's minor (whichever that was).

In precision, I think I'd only invite, maybe with 2♣ (2-way NMF) followed by 2♠.

[hrothgar]

I would force to game

I would bid 2♦ rather than misrepresent shape. (There are a lot of cases where I am willing to misrepresent shape. I am always very leery to do so when I am suppressing a first round distributional control)

[Apollo81]

hrothgar, on Oct 10 2008, 11:29 AM, said:

I am always very leery to do so when I am suppressing a first round distributional control)

Does this really matter if slam is out of the question?

[jdonn]

Apollo81, on Oct 10 2008, 11:33 AM, said:

hrothgar, on Oct 10 2008, 11:29 AM, said:

I am always very leery to do so when I am suppressing a first round distributional control)

Does this really matter if slam is out of the question?

Is it? It's pretty specific, but if partner has a doubleton spade, five card minor, and nothing in hearts, we could roll it.

I would bid 2♦, I don't want to show a singleton heart.

[awm]

I'd show the heart splinter in a 51(43) hand. I'd show four in opener's minor if known.

Slam is pretty unlikely on this hand. We need opener to really have nothing in hearts, and that's against the odds especially with opponents silent. If opener does have this hand, he will not bid notrump opposite a singleton heart either, and we will have some chance to scramble to 6m later.

My concern about 2♦ is that this asks for opener's distribution. But opener's distribution won't tell me where to play the hand necessarily -- his heart holding is far more critical for this purpose.
It's easy to construct 2443 hands (for example) that play best in 3NT and other hands with the same shape that play best in 5♦.

[Apollo81]

If you bid the artificial 2♦, what do you do if partner bids

A. 2NT
B. 3♣

[dake50]

Yup. Show the short. If partner likes it, he'll show good stuff -even S-Qx raise. If not liking, maybe 3NT is last okay game, or 4m ends GF.

[keylime]

5 controls opposite an opener - with that shape - I am definitely G/F unless you play something like a 8-14 opening range, then I invite.

[effervesce]

I GF with 2♦. The hand is damn good with AK-A. If partner bids 2NT/3♣, then I bid game in partner's minor.

[Apollo81]

Partner had x KQx Kxxx K109xx on the actual deal. I chose to show 5134.

[Tcyk]

Apollo81, on Oct 20 2008, 03:29 PM, said:

Partner had x KQx Kxxx K109xx on the actual deal. I chose to show 5134.

Does your partner often bid NT with a singleton? I would prefer to open the hand 1D and rebid 2C (5-4 either way). We will find the right contract. It amazes me that the opponents failed to bid their 9-card heart suit but they probably will.