[jallerton]

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What do the following calls by West mean?

1. 2♦
2. 2♥
3. 2♠

In each case, please provide a typical hand.

Thanks in advance.

[broze]

1. Normal double and cuebid - big hand
2. Normal double and new suit - extras
3. Normal double and bid spades - natural, extras

Not providing example hands because I believe they should be the same as a direct double and bid. Might consider different meanings if 1D is precision or something similar.

[deannz]

1) Normal double and bid diamonds = natural (I made a t/o double of spades)
2) Double and bid new suit = extras
3) Double and cue-bid t/o doubled suit = big hand. Doesn't show big hand with spades.

D./

[whereagles]

jallerton, on 2014-October-29, 13:23, said:

What do the following calls by West mean?

1. 2♦
2. 2♥
3. 2♠

In each case, please provide a typical hand.

Thanks in advance.

1. Big hand, 18+. Something like Axx KQxx x AKQxx, although the club fit isn't mandatory.

2. Natural 5 cards and around 14-17 H. Say Kxx AKJTx Ax xxx.

3. As above, with majors exchanged. Rule: cue of responder's suit is natural (unless otherwise agreed, ofc).

[chasetb]

I am assuming that 1♦ is (3)4+ , so unlikely we will ever want to play in that suit. Therefore:

2♦ = Usually big hand with support, probably a fit with Clubs but could be a big NT hand without a Diamond stopper.

2♥ = Larger than average with Hearts, probably 6+ . After all, we can just bid 2♥ naturally on the first round.

2♠ = Pretty big hand with Spades. While borderline, I have an example hand of X then a Major below.

I would also say that 2♥ and 2♠ should be limited to less than an opening Strong 2♣ (With HCP, IF it ever comes up), which you can do via 2♦ and then bidding the Major naturally.

While not the most likely, a hand from a tournament awhile ago convinced me that I needed the Major as natural. Hearts play better than NT, and it's very likely if you bid 2NT instead of 2♥, partner will raise to 3, going down 1:

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[gnasher]

2♦ covers a variety of strong hands, including fairly balanced hands unsuited to other action, hands with club support, and hands that are going to insist on game.
2♥ is natural with 5+ hearts and extra values. Not a one-suiter, which would bid 3♥.
2♠ is similar to 2♦, but specifically shows a spade stopper and denies a diamond stopper.

If I were designing methods for this auction from scratch, I might do something different with the cue-bids, but without agreement I think that's what they mean.

[wanoff]

2♦ Strong takeout of diamonds. NT,clubs or even spades could be the right strain. (maybe AKJx AQxx x K10xx)
2♥ 5+ hearts, similar strength to double in 2nd followed by 2♥
2♠ Strong 5+ spades 4 hearts. (maybe AKJ9x AQxx x Kxx)

[FrancesHinden]

Out of 6 replies so far, 5 think 2D is artificial and 1 thinks it is natural.
3 (exactly 50%) think 2S is artificial and 3 think it is natural.

Maybe other shave some thoughts.
I asked Jallerton following an auction I read in the bridge world where at least the two players at the table agreed what 2S meant.

[PhilKing]

Double then 2♠ should be 5413 good or similar, I think. We don't need it for the spade one suiters - they either overcall immediately, pass then overcall, or pass then double then bid 2♠ in progressive order of strength.