[barsikb]

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Dlr: North, Vul: N-S

1. Pass-Pass-1H-Pass-?
2. Pass-Pass-1H-1S-?

[RunemPard]

I am passing and supporting after if I have a chance.

[ahydra]

In the first case, you don't want to bid now because that promises more values than you have. So you pass. However, if the subsequent auction is about to die out at less than 2H, you would bid 2H - after all, you have a 9-card fit (I assume you are playing 5cM?), and you can bid knowing that partner won't go crazy because you passed initially.

The second one is a matter of partnership agreement. Some players would bid 3H (pre-emptive) with this; some would bid 2H; some would pass. In my case, my partner and I play that a single raise in competition can be rather weak, in an attempt to "get in the way", so I bid 2H. If you don't have any such agreements, then you pass and compete later as with the first case.

ahydra

[barsikb]

Thank you, RunemPard and ahydra!

"Some players would bid 3H (pre-emptive) with this" What are requirements for that?

[Vampyr]

barsikb, on 2013-October-17, 07:50, said:

Thank you, RunemPard and ahydra!

"Some players would bid 3H (pre-emptive) with this" What are requirements for that?

1. If you are playing Bergen raises (not suggesting beginners should play this, but if you want to it is not too hard) then 3♥ would show 0-5 HCP and 4 trumps. Whether you would do it or not is a matter of judgment; you might want, for example, a similar hand with a singleton if you are vulnerable.

Also if you are playing that a 2NT response shows an invitational hand or better, 3♥ will also be a weak pre-empt, and might or might not have a lower limit. Anyway the range should be determined by partnership agreement.

2. In this case, if you play that 2♠ is a good raise to 3 or better, or other conventional treatments that show an invitational raise, you free up 3♥ as a weak raise. Again you will want to agree on a range for this bid.

I will probably bid 3♥ in both cases if NV; if V I will think about it, and may consider 2♥ in #2.

[P_Marlowe]

#2 bid 2H, you have a fit, partner should expect, that in competition
you have to stretch sometimes, and the 4th trump is compensation
#1 this is closer, now you dont fight for the partscore, you want to
investigate game, ..., playing standard pass, playing forcing NT,
this is a 1NT response

With kind regards
Marlowe

[neilkaz]

Perhaps I am showing my age, but I have found that it actually can be acceptable to pass when you're vulnerable and all you have is two jacks and 4432 hand.

[Codo]

I think that the french bidding style is a very good tool for beginners. They do not just count HCPs, but points for the 9. trump and the doubelton. So, you will come up with 5 points, not enough to respond.
In the second case, you should raise.Iit is a matter of partnership agreement to which level, but I would like to bid just 2 ♥ with such a bad shape.

[ggwhiz]

neilkaz, on 2013-October-17, 22:11, said:

Perhaps I am showing my age, but I have found that it actually can be acceptable to pass when you're vulnerable and all you have is two jacks and 4432 hand.

You make me feel old too. The pre-emptive jumps in particular tell either opponent looking at 3 hearts that they have plus offensive potential that they wouldn't know about otherwise. Pass and support as able hides that and stops partner from doubling things they have booked in their own hand.