Hands played at the Palmerston North Bridge Club published here for discussion and question and answer.
Any bidding shown is an actual auction and not necessarily recommended.
Please feel free to participate and make suggestions.
South's hand is a marginal opening depending on style and system. I prefer a style where I am free to open that sort of hand 1NT but here at vulnerable versus not you can get into trouble when you open and do not find a fit. Going minus for 100s is costly especially at IMPs.
In the bidding shown there is not a clear bid over 2NT unless you have agreed that 3S is unconditionally forcing. Then partner can cue-bid or show range with a serious or frivolous 3NT. Here 3H was sort of intended as an old fashioned advanced cue-bid - seemingly natural but turns into a cue when partner shows spade support. Its an ok method if partner cooperates and bids 3NT as then a subsequent 4S clearly gives the message. However if partner had six spades and bids 3S now a raise to 4S is not so clearly a slam try as it might have been the sixth spade that allows you to raise to game.
Of course if you open 1NT with balanced hands then the 2S rebid already showed six spades.
At our table South passed and the bidding went 1c 1s 1nt 3nt. NS was playing checkback stayman and South should use on such a hand
ReplyDeleteSouth's hand is a marginal opening depending on style and system. I prefer a style where I am free to open that sort of hand 1NT but here at vulnerable versus not you can get into trouble when you open and do not find a fit. Going minus for 100s is costly especially at IMPs.
ReplyDeleteIn the bidding shown there is not a clear bid over 2NT unless you have agreed that 3S is unconditionally forcing. Then partner can cue-bid or show range with a serious or frivolous 3NT. Here 3H was sort of intended as an old fashioned advanced cue-bid - seemingly natural but turns into a cue when partner shows spade support. Its an ok method if partner cooperates and bids 3NT as then a subsequent 4S clearly gives the message. However if partner had six spades and bids 3S now a raise to 4S is not so clearly a slam try as it might have been the sixth spade that allows you to raise to game.
Of course if you open 1NT with balanced hands then the 2S rebid already showed six spades.