[jillybean]

This board caused problems in our game, what is your plan?

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[paulg]

My plan is to open 1♦ and rebid 2♠ over 1♥, 1NT and 2♣ responses. At some point I may be able to bid 3♥ to show my power and distribution.

If partner does respond to 1♦, then it is hard to see us stopping short of game. If partner doesn't respond, then we might

[jillybean]

2S Strong Jump Shift

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[Cyberyeti]

Our style is to bid 1♠ rather than 2, this is passable, but only if you didn't really have a response in the first place, Jxx, xxxx, x, QJxxx is a pass.

We have a bid to show a game force opposite that bad hand too, so it's a question how we define this hand, it's close but I'm happy with a 1♦-1♥-1♠ start.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2025-February-13, 12:59, said:

2S Strong Jump Shift

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RKCB?

[akwoo]

Does 3♦ promise some values (i.e. was there a 2N weakness-showing bid available)?

Are opponents expected to be aggressive if they have clubs and some shape (e.g. would xxx xxx x AKxxxx have come in at some point)?

Is East scared of 3N without a stopper? Might they have bid 4H with Qx Axxx Jxx xxxx?

Is this a bad MP field where 4H making 6 requiring non-beginner declarer play for the second overtrick would expect to have a good score?

In a good field with a good partner - where the answers are Yes, Yes, No, and No - I'd bid RKCB. Under other circumstances - I'm not sure.

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2025-February-13, 12:59, said:

2S Strong Jump Shift

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So what agreements do you have here?
Does 2♠ force to game?
What are the implications of 3♦?
What would 4♣ or 4NT instead of 4♥ have been?

[mw64ahw]

One of those hands where playing an unbalanced ♦ makes bidding easier. I get to show shape and a strength floor by 2♠ with responder able to go via 3♣ to limit their hand with 5♥ or bid 3♥ to initiate a slam sequence. Over 3♣ I force to game via 3♦ even when responder is min.

[jillybean]

2♠ was Paul's start to the auction, I assume 2♠ is gf
Let's say a leb style 2N weakness is available, 3♦ could be 6+, does not promise any extras
4♣/4nt is cue bidding (kickback)
Is this a bad MP field where 4H making 6 requiring non-beginner declarer play for the second overtrick would expect to have a good score? yes

[Stephen Tu]

jillybean, on 2025-February-13, 18:40, said:

SJS or a Reverse - what's the difference?

Playing normal agreements in the U.S., a jump shift by opener is game forcing (~19+), while a reverse is strong(~16/17+), but not necessarily game forcing. The min for a jump shift is somewhere around a Q or K stronger than the min for a reverse.
Normally, after a jump shift, you don't play any artificial weakness signal. The auction is already game forced, there is no bid to show responder is weak and attempt to sign off in a partial, you just keep bidding until game is reached, trying to find the right strain first. Opener's range is actually somewhat narrower than after a reverse (since the floor is higher, and still constrained from failure to open 2c), so responder should drive beyond game if warranted. Opener should just bid assuming responder has some 6/7 count, until responder makes a clear slam try rather than just trump agreement or bidding game.

After the jump shift and bidding 3H, opener has described their hand fairly completely (19+, 3cd heart support, inferred club shortness). Thus they should give up when responder just bids game. If you missed a good slam, then responder should not be bidding 4H and should learn to evaluate their hand better.

[smerriman]

Stephen Tu, on 2025-February-13, 19:04, said:

If you missed a good slam, then responder should not be bidding 4H and should learn to evaluate their hand better.

How does responder bid with a hand too good for 4♥? Have hearts been set as trumps yet, or can responder still have 4? 4♦ looks natural / weak to me, but maybe 4♣ as a generic slam try in hearts saying nothing about clubs? Or do they just keycard?

[Stephen Tu]

smerriman, on 2025-February-13, 19:33, said:

How does responder bid with a hand too good for 4♥? Have hearts been set as trumps yet, or can responder still have 4? 4♦ looks natural / weak to me, but maybe 4♣ as a generic slam try in hearts saying nothing about clubs? Or do they just keycard?

For me,
5d = let's play 5d, slam not in picture, hope 5d makes.4d = diamonds are trumps, forward going not weak.
4c can be like you say, sort of a last train type bid agreeing hearts.

[paulg]

jillybean, on 2025-February-13, 18:50, said:

2♠ was Paul's start to the auction, I assume 2♠ is gf

I do not play that 2♠ is game forcing, just a one-round force.

In partnerships where I do not play Leb-style methods, such as with my better half, you basically have to bid fourth suit to force as most of responder rebids are non-forcing: this is not ideal but the consequence of not playing more sophisticated methods.

jillybean, on 2025-February-13, 18:50, said:

Let's say a leb style 2N weakness is available, 3♦ could be 6+, does not promise any extras
4♣/4nt is cue bidding (kickback)
Is this a bad MP field where 4H making 6 requiring non-beginner declarer play for the second overtrick would expect to have a good score? yes

If partner bid a Leb-style 2NT, then I would bid 3♥ and respect partner's sign-off in 4♥ ... but it is becoming a difficult auction where finding the best game should take precedence over finding a slam.

[jillybean]

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8 different contracts over 14 tables, only a few wrote scores of 600+ on their sheets.

[akwoo]

Does 5H make on good declarer play, or is there a bad break?

[jillybean]

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5♥=

or spades, nt

[P_Marlowe]

The bidding upto 4H was ok, in the end it dpends how much you trust p,
that he knowes, what he is doing.
4H is his weakes option, so maybe you should let it be in 4H.

[jillybean]

I didn't bid this, other than double dummy once it was posted here. I think I'd probably have one more go over 4♥ and hopefully stop in 5M
I think this would be a tough hand for a lot of players.

[jillybean]

Stephen Tu, on 2025-February-13, 19:04, said:

Playing normal agreements in the U.S., a jump shift by opener is game forcing (~19+), while a reverse is strong(~16/17+), but not necessarily game forcing. The min for a jump shift is somewhere around a Q or K stronger than the min for a reverse.
Normally, after a jump shift, you don't play any artificial weakness signal. The auction is already game forced, there is no bid to show responder is weak and attempt to sign off in a partial, you just keep bidding until game is reached, trying to find the right strain first. Opener's range is actually somewhat narrower than after a reverse (since the floor is higher, and still constrained from failure to open 2c), so responder should drive beyond game if warranted. Opener should just bid assuming responder has some 6/7 count, until responder makes a clear slam try rather than just trump agreement or bidding game.

After the jump shift and bidding 3H, opener has described their hand fairly completely (19+, 3cd heart support, inferred club shortness). Thus they should give up when responder just bids game. If you missed a good slam, then responder should not be bidding 4H and should learn to evaluate their hand better.

This has given me more to think about. SJS's are off my radar and I'm sure I would have rolled any SJS into my reverse, which I play as 18
MikeH style https://www.bridgeba...everse-bidding/

We are really getting down to the nitty gritty between reverse, 2N, 2C and 2N rebids. I also have to consider what my 10-13, 12-14 nt openings to do this ladder.
Perhaps a good time for a discussion of the NT ladder.

[jdiana]

jillybean, on 2025-February-15, 12:57, said:

Perhaps a good time for a discussion of the NT ladder.

Paging David Kok . . .