[whereagles]

 Siegmund, on 2010-December-31, 14:35, said:

I will settle for an unimaginative 2C on the first round. Don't like 1NT with 3 lies (extra hcp, both majors unstopped), and think a cuebid on a 9-loser hand and no guaranteed fit is a shocking overbid.

I think 2♣ is a fine bid (way better than 1NT IMO), but I dispute that the cue is an overbid.

- First of all, if opener is balanced he'll bid 2/3NT now and we won't be playing diamonds, so the fit isn't an issue.
- Second, if opener is unbalanced then he has 5 diamonds and it's ok again.
- Third, it's a 9 loser hand but the LTC is meant for suit play, whereas here all points to playing the hand in NT, in which case the HCP count is a good evaluator.
- Fourth, the cue has it all covered:

... 2♥
2♠ -> assiming it's GF with a stopper, you can now bid 3♥ showing a half-stop there
2NT -> assming this is a 12/bad 13, now is the time to exercise judgement and pass
3♣ -> as 2♠.
3♦ -> this is some unbalanced min. Pass.
3♥ -> probably a good 13/14 with half stop. Bid 3NT. Pard will raise to 4NT if he's on the 18-19 range.
3♠ -> splinter, thus 5 diamonds. Easy 4/5♦, depending on your agreements.
3NT -> good 13/14 with stop. Pass

easy game

[Fluffy]

Thi sis the hand as I recall it.

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Doubling 2♠ was maybe a mistake, since +100 was already 96%, and -110 would stillbe about 65% I think, but +200 was 100%