[MickyB]

I thought Han's style was standard too.

Adam, why does whether pard has 4 spades or 3 spades affect whether you should play in a 5-3 heart fit?

Han, what's your structure over 1N:2H, 2S? Haven't heard of 3S as "unbal CoG" before.

[han]

We basically play Justin's transfer extension stuff:

2NT = spades and clubs, GF
3C = spades and diamonds, GF
3D = 5-5 or better spades and hearts, GF or better (2H followed by 3H would be exactly invitational with 5-5)
3H = 6+ hearts, invitational or slam interest (if so with shortness)
3S = unbalanced COG
3NT = balanced COG

To invite with 5 spades, bid stayman and then 2S.

[awm]

MickyB, on Feb 22 2008, 09:35 PM, said:

Adam, why does whether pard has 4 spades or 3 spades affect whether you should play in a 5-3 heart fit?

It was more critical back when this hand had two small spades instead of three. With the third spade, I would probably stayman and bid 3NT if partner doesn't have four hearts, regardless of partner's spade holding.

In any case, the point is that I want to avoid 3NT if partner has weak/short spades opposite my small doubleton. With 29 high, usually playing 3NT is fine unless there is a very weak suit (i.e. Qx or worse opposite xx). If I bid stayman and partner has 4♠ there is no risk (my points are in the minors). If partner has 2-3♠ obviously this might be a strong holding like AQx etc. but it might also be the "dangerous" weak holding.

[Cascade]

awm, on Feb 23 2008, 04:07 PM, said:

MickyB, on Feb 22 2008, 09:35 PM, said:

Adam, why does whether pard has 4 spades or 3 spades affect whether you should play in a 5-3 heart fit?

It was more critical back when this hand had two small spades instead of three. With the third spade, I would probably stayman and bid 3NT if partner doesn't have four hearts, regardless of partner's spade holding.

In any case, the point is that I want to avoid 3NT if partner has weak/short spades opposite my small doubleton. With 29 high, usually playing 3NT is fine unless there is a very weak suit (i.e. Qx or worse opposite xx). If I bid stayman and partner has 4♠ there is no risk (my points are in the minors). If partner has 2-3♠ obviously this might be a strong holding like AQx etc. but it might also be the "dangerous" weak holding.

Oh I didn't notice that we had three spades now.

[han]

I bid Stayman, partner bid 3H, I bid 4H. Partner had QJ AKxx AQx Axxx.

[gnasher]

han, on Feb 23 2008, 12:38 AM, said:

I have been told that Hamman has changed the responses to Smolen to be able to do both over 2NT: insist on 4M with a 5-3 or make a balanced choice-of-games. Not such a bad idea.

That sounds interesting. How does it work?

PS: I'm an idiot too, without any "almost".

[655321]

Add me to the list of idiots.

And (it gets worse!) I have seen recommendations that the 2NT opener correct to 4M sometimes when holding a doubleton. I confess I have never done this myself, but I do always (after a 2NT opening plus transfer) correct to 4M when holding 3 cards.

[gwnn]

two more "idiots":

Ulf Nilsson
http://viewsfromthebridgetable.blogspot.co...asking-bid.html

Larry Cohen (the link is from the above link)
http://www.larryco.c...hich%20Game.htm

[mikeh]

Ok, so I am suitably chastened, and I don't have my simulation software available right now so can't even run a simulation in an effort to buttress my case

I don't want to leave the wrong impression btw: when partner transfers over my 2N and then offers a cog, I usually bid 4M.... I do so anytime I have a side doubleton and anytime I have a soft 3 card side suit. But I don't do it robotically, and I very much doubt that Cohen (or Han) does either. Where we may differ is on hands that are borderline. AJx KQx AQxx AQx is a hand on which I would pass 3N, as an example...but remove the spade J and I would bid 4♥.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Feb 23 2008, 11:40 AM, said:

Ok, so I am suitably chastened, and I don't have my simulation software available right now so can't even run a simulation in an effort to buttress my case

I don't want to leave the wrong impression btw: when partner transfers over my 2N and then offers a cog, I usually bid 4M.... I do so anytime I have a side doubleton and anytime I have a soft 3 card side suit. But I don't do it robotically, and I very much doubt that Cohen (or Han) does either. Where we may differ is on hands that are borderline. AJx KQx AQxx AQx is a hand on which I would pass 3N, as an example...but remove the spade J and I would bid 4♥.

Ok I guess this is the hand that made me put an "almost" in front of "always"