[raduv]

You, South, hold:

Scoring: MP

---

The action was:
(1♥) - 1♠ - (2♦*) - ?

* - non forcing

PS. Your overcalls are stronger than most people play these days but don't require opening values.

[whereagles]

I see no reason not to bid by the book: 4♠.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

it is either 3S or 4S.

Given that your overcalls are sounder than average, I would
say, you should go with 3S.
And another point in favor of 3S is, that we are talking about
spades,

The auction developed in a way, which makes it unlikely
that they will bid game, so there is no need to make
a adv. sacrifice in 4S.
In case 4S makes, partner will move on most of the time
anyway.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[brianshark]

3♠ is enough I think.

[rogerclee]

I expect 3♠ to buy this. 4♠ seems pretty far from making to me.

[gnasher]

With three cue bids available below 3S, I'd usually use one of them to show a "mixed" raise. No one has suggested that - is that because you don't play them, or is this not strong enough?

[raduv]

Quote

With three cue bids available below 3S, I'd usually use one of them to show a "mixed" raise. No one has suggested that - is that because you don't play them, or is this not strong enough?

This exactly was my remark after the board with my partner. What would mean each of the following (how do you play them)?
2♥
3♦
3♥

Thanks

[brianshark]

Even having mixed raise bids, I'm not sure I'd use it. 3♠ is never based on nothing when vul so pard can still expect what I have.

[gnasher]

raduv, on Feb 19 2008, 03:28 PM, said:

What would mean each of the following (how do you play them)?
2♥
3♦
3♥

2♥ Good three-card raise to any level
3♦ Good four-card raise to the three level
3♥ Mixed raise to the three level
4♣ Fit bid
4♦ Good raise to the four level
4♥ Mixed raise to the four level

[gwnn]

Surely 4♦ and 4♥ make more sense as splinter raises.

[han]

gnasher, on Feb 19 2008, 10:19 AM, said:

raduv, on Feb 19 2008, 03:28 PM, said:

What would mean each of the following (how do you play them)?
2♥
3♦
3♥

2♥ Good three-card raise to any level
3♦ Good four-card raise to the three level
3♥ Mixed raise to the three level
4♣ Fit bid
4♦ Good raise to the four level
4♥ Mixed raise to the four level

2♥ Good 3-card raise.
3♦ Good 4-card raise.
3♥ Mixed raise.
4♣ Fit bid.
4♦ Splinter.
4♥ Splinter.

[Ant590]

I play
2♥ Good 4-card raise
2NT Good 3-card raise
3♦ asking for heart stopper
3♥ asking for diamond stopper
4♣ fitted
4♦/♥ Splinters

[gnasher]

gwnn, on Feb 19 2008, 05:00 PM, said:

Surely 4♦ and 4♥ make more sense as splinter raises.

Possibly. You don't often bid a slam facing an overcall, so the main benefit of a splinter is to allow partner to judge what to do if the enemy bid 5D. The main benefit of having bids that say "I'm bidding game to make, and this is how much defensive strength I have" is also to allow partner to judge what to do if the enemy bid 5D.

There is some overlap between a splinter and a 4C fit bid, and I think this reduces the value of playing splinters.

The main advantage of being able to show a high card raise to game is to avoid auctions like:
  1H   1S   2D   2H
  5D
when you actually have enough for game, but partner thinks you have a raise only to the two level.

There is less benefit to the four-level mixed raise, which also overlaps somewhat with the fit bid and with a 4S bid - I just prefer to play it that way because it's easier on the memory.

[finally17]

3♠

4 seems very unnecessary to me, and could yet be bid with little lost if they do come back with 4♥. As an added bonus, 3♠ is probably close to an order of magnitude more likely to succeed than 4.

[Apollo81]

If partner is the 4 card overcall type then I would bid 3♠. Otherwise I'd bid 4 since I don't want a decision over 4♥pp. Maybe I'd show a mixed raise (3♥) if I have that option and then let 4♥ go if that happens.