[mikl_plkcc]

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3NT was a complete failure and I got down 3, resulting a 0 in that board. There were no entries left after the Q and K were knocked out.

When I bid 3NT, I was expecting to get 5 or 6 tricks out of the suit, as there were no 8-card fit, but 3♣ ended up making.

How could I know that I shouldn't override partner's bid when I was void in it?

[Cyberyeti]

What do you think partner has, that is not a 3♣ rebid, but is going to offer you a lot of club tricks with a void ?

[hrothgar]

A few thoughts here

1. Misfits often take a lot less tricks in NT than one might hope. Normally, this shows up when you have a pair of 5/5 hands opposite one another. However, in this case

(a) Partner bid, then rebid, then rebid once again in a suit in which you are void
(b) You bid and rebid a suit and partner couldn't raise it or even tolerate it

I tend to play relay based strong club methods. We devote a lot of memory load to identifying situations in which we have misfits so we can give up on marginal slams...

2. Partner is showing a very minimum strength opening and you're sitting on an 10 count
You aren't making 3NT on power and partner's suit isn't going to run with no help from you

3. Partner's suit rates to take a whole bunch more trick in clubs then it will in NT

[jillybean]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-March-30, 06:07, said:

How could I know that I shouldn't override partner's bid when I was void in it?

Immediately down grade your hand when you discover this

[P_Marlowe]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-March-30, 06:07, said:

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3NT was a complete failure and I got down 3, resulting a 0 in that board. There were no entries left after the Q and K were knocked out.

When I bid 3NT, I was expecting to get 5 or 6 tricks out of the suit, as there were no 8-card fit, but 3♣ ended up making.

How could I know that I shouldn't override partner's bid when I was void in it?

You were content to play 2D, ..., 2D is NF as far as I see it, ... partner said he prefers clubs, why did you bid 3NT?
You did not deem this an opening bid, partner showed a min opener, why do you expect game to make?

The only good thing that happened, they did not go for blood.

[mycroft]

• Misfits do not play well in NT.
  • There is a habit of newer players that, if they can't find a fit, play 3NT. You have to know that it will not play well; there will be communication issues, and not enough attempts to take (even winning) finesses to set up the suit. Unless the suit is self-supporting, you will need time to set it up and to run it.
    
  • Sure, maybe it's the only possible game, and if you're game-forced, do it. It might work. But know that you usually will need extras or some luck.
    
  • In particular, 'do not run from a suit into NT'. If you bid it, you expect to make; you're not running away from a suit you *don't* expect to make.
• Here specifically, partner never showed any extras. In fact, he showed exactly what he had, 7 good (or he'd pass 2♦, even with a singleton), but not solid (or he'd probably blast 3NT and hope), clubs and a minimum, and short diamonds. You clearly have no extras (1-control-card misfitting 8-count, and your diamonds won't set up either). All signs say 'get out while you can!'
  
• In an auction such as this, it's almost 'known' that you have a singleton in partner's suit when you bid 3NT. This hand is exactly why.
  • It's so 'almost known', that were partner's suit spades instead of clubs, they'd feel comfortable rebidding 4♠ on 7 broken (and leaving it in 3NT with 7 one-loser)
    
  • It's so 'almost known' that I have been known to raise a three-times bid major to game *with a void* rather than bid 3NT. Once, partner jumped to 6. She made it.

Another maxim: 'when you know you're in a misfit, stop bidding.'

Small tip for these and other 'things to think about': Jeff Goldsmith's Imperious Rules of Bridge. Do not take them all at face value (ex. 23, 36, 55); but before you discount them out of hand, think about each one. If the opportunity shows up, and you don't know what to do, 'follow the rule' isn't a bad strategy - at least you'll find out whether it's one you should weight less highly next time!

[Cyberyeti]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-March-30, 10:07, said:

The only good thing that happened, they did not go for blood.

4♣x-1 nets them less than 3N-3

[hrothgar]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-March-30, 10:07, said:

You were content to play 2D, ..., 2D is NF as far as I see it,

FWIW, I think that there is a good argument that partner should pass 2!D
For me, this would strongly imply 6

[helene_t]

Think of what the 3cl bid means:

P is short in diamonds, likely void (some people would have passed 2di with the actual hand)
P has no interest in game if they took 2di as mildly encouraging. They could have bid 2nt or showed a decent 3card major. 3cl is their most negative call other than pass.

[P_Marlowe]

hrothgar, on 2025-March-30, 10:51, said:

FWIW, I think that there is a good argument that partner should pass 2!D
For me, this would strongly imply 6

I am neutral, ..., you have a strong 7 carder, and if you happen to play a w2
opening in diamond the diamond suit wont be worth much.
There is also an argument for passing 2C, which in the given seq. should show 6+
as well.

But there is no sensible reason to end up in 3NT after the first two rounds of bidding,
which partial you choose, ..., whatever works.

[mycroft]

I am also neutral. I think 3♣ with KQJxxxx and the A is automatic; here with 3 tricks for diamonds, it might be worth passing 2♦.