[Jlall]

Looks like an auction from 1950.

BTW when you guys say 3D should show extras what does that mean? I think any hand with 4 diamonds should bid 3D, and no hand with 3 diamonds. Good to know about those 5-4 fits... oh wait.

edit: Sorry I spoke too quickly, I think exactly 5134 with extra values should bid 3D.

[y66]

I don't think South can bid 3D undiscussed.

I like 3H. South can bid 3S if he isn't interested in a diamond slam and doesn't have a club stopper for 3N.

I don't understand 4D.

[jmcw]

For me an immediate raise of the Minor shows more than a minimum and at least 3 good trumps. Over 3♦ I would not consider anything other than 3NT.
2♠ is a reasonable alternative to raising ♦ immediately, this will fetch a 3NT rebid which pretty much shows a 1NT opener in my methods.

[jdeegan]

3♦, like duh! You have the notorious 5-3-3-2 shape with no ♣ stop and a good but minimum hand in terms of HCP. 3♦ is at least hinting that 6♦ might be the spot. A noncommital 2♠ is clearly best. If 5 or 6♦ is right, partner will let you know, and you will eagerly cooperate.

[barryallen]

kenrexford, on Jun 14 2009, 02:29 PM, said:

Too many unknowns.  But...

2♦?  Prefer 2♣, but not wanting to start that debate again, so I'll buy 2♦.

3♦?  Sick.  Sick in the head, sick.  This is even worse when the raise is diamonds, because it evades intelligent notrump probe auctions, because only one unbid suit is available.  Raising clubs is not as bad, because both unbids can be bid.

3♥?  Depends.  3♦ should have promised more shape, but it maybe also should have promised more strength, depending on the style here.  I'm not sure, but it seems like some would bid 2♠ and then 3♦ with a weaker hand.  So, if 3♥ was meant as a slam probe because Responder thought Opener had mote strength for their call, sure.

4♦?  Kind of boxed in.  If I was forced to sit down at the table with Opener's hand at this point in the bidding, though, I'd bid by spade 10 like it was gold and rebid 3♠ instead.

Just taking a step outside the box for a minute, what do you do when opener has 4♦ and responds 3♦? Where do you go from here? Exactly the same problem with only one person to blame! You then have to go back to the 2♦ bid as the root of the problem?

[gnasher]

barryallen, on Jun 22 2009, 04:37 PM, said:

Just taking a step outside the box for a minute, what do you do when opener has 4♦ and responds 3♦? Where do you go from here? Exactly the same problem with only one person to blame! You then have to go back to the 2♦ bid as the root of the problem?

With KJTxx,Qx,AKxx,xx, South should bid 3♠ over 3♥. Then he might pass 3NT, but if he doesn't responder will put him back to 4♠ anyway.

With KJTxx,Qxx,AKxx,x, again South should bid 3♠ over 3♥, but this time he definitely won't pass 3NT.

3NT is the best contract opposite these hands because of ♣10, which gives us a guaranteed stop, and because we have enough high-card strength to make 3NT on a club lead without needing any spade tricks. Those are both things that North might have considered before he bid 3♥.

[barryallen]

gnasher, on Jun 22 2009, 11:04 AM, said:

barryallen, on Jun 22 2009, 04:37 PM, said:

Just taking a step outside the box for a minute, what do you do when opener has 4♦ and responds 3♦? Where do you go from here? Exactly the same problem with only one person to blame! You then have to go back to the 2♦ bid as the root of the problem?

With KJTxx,Qx,AKxx,xx, South should bid 3♠ over 3♥. Then he might pass 3NT, but if he doesn't responder will put him back to 4♠ anyway.

With KJTxx,Qxx,AKxx,x, again South should bid 3♠ over 3♥, but this time he definitely won't pass 3NT.

3NT is the best contract opposite these hands because of ♣10, which gives us a guaranteed stop, and because we have enough high-card strength to make 3NT on a club lead without needing any spade tricks. Those are both things that North might have considered before he bid 3♥.

There is always the problem of bypassing 3NT on the search for slam in a minor, ending up in an inferior contract costing points. With just a small bit of foresight you can solve all these issues and make things easy for both you and partner subsequently.