[Tramticket]

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Teams (IMPs)

What is your plan? If you double initially, partner will reply 2♥. Now what?
- What does a raise to 3♥ show?
- What does a raise to 4♥ show?
- What does a cue-bid show?
- Or will you bid no trumps? Or spades?

[pescetom]

Not a situation ever really discussed, but I would expect:
- 3♥ = natural game invite if partner is at the maximum 2♥ response
- 4♥ = signoff
- 3♦ = strong, balanced with no stop and no fit
I would just bid 4♥ here.

[FelicityR]

There's some similarity between this hand and a hand Tony Forrester held in the World Championships. One less trump mind. And a one level opening as opposed to a weak two. (Board 32)

https://www.bridgeba...ch.php?id=65789

As the opponents haven't raised ♦ pre-emptively after the X at favourable vulnerability, it does suggest that the other suits may be stacked against you. I assume 3♥ would be invitational here, so I would just bid 4♥ a la Mr Forrester and hope for the best.

[rmnka447]

Playing Lebensohl over double of weak 2s helps here. Any bid at the 2 level that can be made shows the weakest hand 6-7 or less. Use of the 2 NT relay followed by the bid of a suit below the original weak 2 suit is also weak (here that would be passing the 3 ♣ relay).

in this auction, 2 by South is weak, but I think North should raise to 3 ♥ asking partner to carry on to game with a decent "weak hand".

[paulg]

One danger on this hand is that partner has responded with a three-card heart suit when he has diamonds that were insufficient to pass a takeout double. However the risk of trying to cope with this possibility have to be weighed against the danger of missing game or finding a different wrong spot.

For example, I think 2♠ is an option that guards against this danger and will help you find the right game when partner is 3-3 in the majors. If partner passes 2♠, which I guess will happen with a completely worthless hand, then you will probably be in a playable spot. Otherwise you will find game somewhere. Of course they almost certainly have a diamond ruff at trick two in this case, but hopefully they will also be endplayed at trick three.

When partner is 3-4 in the majors, he will raise two spades and now you might not be able to play in the 4-4 heart fit when you have a 5-3 spade fit. No-one said bridge was easy.

It helps if your partner is expecting a strong and flexible hand for this action rather than a spade single-suiter.

With my regular partner I would bid 2♠. With many other partners I would just bid 4♥.

[Cyberyeti]

I want to be in game opposite some pretty crappy hands, the only time I come seriously unstuck is when partner's 3343 or has absolutely nothing, but that doesn't mean that I have to bid it straight away. My inclination would be to bid 3♦ and see what partner does.

[chasetb]

paulg, on 2019-September-23, 15:31, said:

One danger on this hand is that partner has responded with a three-card heart suit when he has diamonds that were insufficient to pass a takeout double. However the risk of trying to cope with this possibility have to be weighed against the danger of missing game or finding a different wrong spot.

For example, I think 2♠ is an option that guards against this danger and will help you find the right game when partner is 3-3 in the majors. If partner passes 2♠, which I guess will happen with a completely worthless hand, then you will probably be in a playable spot. Otherwise you will find game somewhere. Of course they almost certainly have a diamond ruff at trick two in this case, but hopefully they will also be endplayed at trick three.

When partner is 3-4 in the majors, he will raise two spades and now you might not be able to play in the 4-4 heart fit when you have a 5-3 spade fit. No-one said bridge was easy.

It helps if your partner is expecting a strong and flexible hand for this action rather than a spade single-suiter.

With my regular partner I would bid 2♠. With many other partners I would just bid 4♥.

I agree with Paul - I am worried that partner is 2344, 33(43), or 3352/2353 and can't pass our double for penalty. If I had 5 Hearts instead of 4 with this point count, I would go straight to game.
As is, I would bid 2♠. It is mostly forcing, and I can get a better idea. If partner passes, we are probably in the best spot, since my hand loses value if I can't take finesses.

[Tramticket]

Partner did indeed respond with a three-card suit:

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Maybe partner should have responded 3♣ - but the club suit is poor and I don't quarrel with the actual 3♥ choice.

I was lured by the vulnerable game at IMPs. The double-dummy analysis shows that 4♥ can make ... but it probably wouldn't make on any reasonable line and was three-off on partner's line!

Bidding 2♠ (or 2NT) would have kept us safe on this hand and I must admit that I was changing my mind and wanting to change my 4♥ bid to 2♠ almost as soon as I made the bid. I don't know what partner would do over 3♦, but I guess that she would bid 3♠.

[TMorris]

Playing Leb partner might bid 2NT and you can then bid 3♠ whcih might show this hand type.

[Tramticket]

TMorris, on 2019-September-24, 11:25, said:

Playing Leb partner might bid 2NT and you can then bid 3♠ whcih might show this hand type.

Possible, but I can understand why partner preferred to try to play in a major at the two-level.