[SimonFa]

I can't remember the exact hand but as this is just a general principle question it doesn't matter:

AQxxx
xx
AKJTx (I think it was T, if it wasn't does it make a difference?
x

No interference, I opened 1S and partner responds 2NT promising 4 spades and 13+ HCP.

Should I bid 3C splinter, which leaves bidding space and certainly implies a longish red suit or 4D showing the rather good diamond suit, which also implies a short suit somewhere?

In the end I bid 3C and partner signed off in 4H AQx in clubs.

What are the pros and cons? It was MPs would IMPs make a difference? As I say above would a slightly weaker Diamond suit make a difference?

Thanks in advance,

Simon
PS The More I think about the more I think 4D was a better bid. I know a couple of pairs in the club revers the splinter and long suit levels ie on this hand 3d WOULD SHOW THE LONG SUIT.

[ggwhiz]

I can think of just as many cons as pros to reversing the meaning of the 3 and 4 level responses in that you face losing useful bidding room on both approaches just critical on different hands.

I slightly favour the 4♦ bid on a hand like this to show the source of tricks and partnership agreement is that it has the Ace in it to not turn off pard with a stiff 2. (AJT minimum). If responder needs to know your side controls it can be problematic but you should have through the 5 level to ask safely.

We also treat stiff A or K as NOT shortness for the same reason, not turning partner off.

[mike777]

SimonFa, on 2012-February-25, 14:38, said:

I can't remember the exact hand but as this is just a general principle question it doesn't matter:

AQxxx
xx
AKJTx (I think it was T, if it wasn't does it make a difference?
x

No interference, I opened 1S and partner responds 2NT promising 4 spades and 13+ HCP.

Should I bid 3C splinter, which leaves bidding space and certainly implies a longish red suit or 4D showing the rather good diamond suit, which also implies a short suit somewhere?

In the end I bid 3C and partner signed off in 4H AQx in clubs.

What are the pros and cons? It was MPs would IMPs make a difference? As I say above would a slightly weaker Diamond suit make a difference?

Thanks in advance,

Simon
PS The More I think about the more I think 4D was a better bid. I know a couple of pairs in the club revers the splinter and long suit levels ie on this hand 3d WOULD SHOW THE LONG SUIT.

I strongly favor showing D as a source of tricks, if pard can bid 4h then now I can bw.
If we have all the kcards I can later show the KD as a grand slam try and pard will know the QD is a big card.

If she bids 4s over 4d then I can now cue 5c and pard knows we need a h card.

[Codo]

If you do not bid 4 ♦ on this hand, you should use 4m after Jac2NT for other purposes.
Maybe this is a better approach anyway, but as long as you play a kind of a standard Jac 2 Nt, you should bid 4 m if you have the right hand for it.

[neilkaz]

Codo, on 2012-February-25, 17:33, said:

If you do not bid 4 ♦ on this hand, you should use 4m after Jac2NT for other purposes.
Maybe this is a better approach anyway, but as long as you play a kind of a standard Jac 2 Nt, you should bid 4 m if you have the right hand for it.

Agreed and this certainly is the right hand for it.

[SimonFa]

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

Simon

[dcohio]

I typicall only bid my side 5 card suit if it is a good suit:

AQxxx
xx
AKJxx
x

I would definitely bid 4D

AQxxx
AK
Jxxxx
x

I would bid 3c

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

In the end, it comes down to partnership agreement.

We always bid the shortage.

This eliminates the judgment part, is the suit quality sufficent to show
the suit, or do you need an add. 10?
Showing the shortage devalues partners values in this suit, and strengthen
his other values, which will help him to judge the strength of his hand.

My guess is also, that the bility to count tricks is more important, if you
wonder if it makes sense to bid grand, or if you should settle for the small
slam, but that impression may be ...

In the end, it comes down to partnership agreement.
And if you have a big believe in your judgement abilities.

With kind regards
Marlowe