[thjj]

East dealer, all vul, mp.
N: spade Q 8 7 2
heart A J 10 6
diamond K 8
club 6 4 2
---------
S: spade K 10 6
heart Q 8
diamond A Q J 3
club J 10 8 5
---------
W N E S
- - p 1D
1H X p 2C
p 2D p p
p
------------
N argues that I (South) should have asked heart control bidding 2H instead of 2C.
I think that he has good enough hearts to bid 2NT instead of 2D.

[mike777]

 thjj, on 2026-June-12, 01:45, said:

East dealer, all vul, mp.
N: spade Q 8 7 2
heart A J 10 6
diamond K 8
club 6 4 2
---------
S: spade K 10 6
heart Q 8
diamond A Q J 3
club J 10 8 5
---------
W N E S
- - p 1D
1H X p 2C
p 2D p p
p
------------
N argues that I (South) should have asked heart control bidding 2H instead of 2C.
I think that he has good enough hearts to bid 2NT instead of 2D.

Welcome to the bridge forums.

I would strongly recommend you both read some basic beginning bridge books that hopefully are free at you local bridge club. Many local clubs have beginner lessons.

Unfortunately both partners are incorrect in understanding what is going on here.

Good luck, best wishes

[awm]

---

East's double shows the unbid suits (spades and clubs) which he doesn't have here. His best call at second turn is pass.

West's 2♣ bid is normal: partner has shown both black suits so there should be an 8+ card fit.

East's 2♦ bid is strange: maybe he is trying to make up for the initial double? He should just pass 2♣.

My preferred auction would be to pass throughout with both hands, and let opponents declare (most likely they will try 1NT). We should be able to set them two tricks for +200 which is better than declaring any contract from our side (unless we can bid and make game, which is very unlikely here).

[kerkido]

You added a pass that wasn't there.

---

[apollo1201]

The issue is S rebid. That describes a real 2-suiter with 5+ D and 4+C (or the reverse for some pairs). The correct rebid is 1NT that does not promise a stopper in this forced situation. Indeed when you have no repeatable suit or 2-suiter and no fit for partner s S, what can you do as you cannot leave it in.

Here Qx is even better to receive the lead and you could also agree that 1S is exactly 3-cd raise while 2S is 4-cd (same bid as unobstructed, partner would have bid 1S and you 2S). So 2 possible better calls as more descriptive than 2C.

Partner took a conservative view by giving preference to your supposed D suit. Hardly criticizable. 2NT is a small stretch but 10 HCPs with H well stopped and a useful DK can awake greed red at IMPs; at MPs like here it is riskier but 120 beats 110.

Last, 2D is pretty odds on seeing both hands.

[Zelandakh]

You should bid 1♠ at your second turn, after which North can bid NT. You may not reach the borderline game but at least will have a sensible auction. North has likely downgraded their hand based on the expected misfit indicated by your choice of 2♣. Their actual argument is bogus though - the Opener's hand is not good enough for a 2♥ cue rebid and after 2♣ - 2♦, it is correct for South to pass.

[Huibertus]

IF N/S tend to always bid 1♦ rather than 1 ♣ on this hand pattern I agree with the 2♣ rebid after double, you'll often have a ♣ fit. (This is my approach when playing with bots as opening 1 ♦ makes competing for part scores easier then when you open 1♣ on the same hand as 1♦ more often is a 4 card so easier to support). If this is not the agreement, then I agree with the comment others made on 2♣. Regardless of this, North has a clear 2NT rebid instead of 2♦. If North feels the hand is too weak for 2NT, then he should have bid 1♠ (if it doesn't promise a 5 card) or 1NT instead of double.

[Zelandakh]

Huibertus, on 2026-June-16, 07:57, said:

Regardless of this, North has a clear 2NT rebid instead of 2♦.

"clear"

Huibertus, on 2026-June-16, 07:57, said:

he should have bid 1♠ (if it doesn't promise a 5 card)

For most half-decent players who are not using a transfer scheme, it does.

[Huibertus]

Zelandakh, on 2026-June-16, 12:25, said:

For most half-decent players who are not using a transfer scheme, it does.

That's an emotional response that probably only relates to YOU having to have a 5 card and considering yourself half decent.

I on the other hand have had partnerships where it was natural 4+ and natural 5+ as well as transfers, and know of opponents with all 3 varieties. I've plaid the highest competition level in the Netherlands at Imps which IS half decent, unless you consider world champions as decent and runner ups as half decent and everybody else as crap.

[fromageGB]

I, and many others, use the N double to show 4 spades, saying nothing about clubs, and it seems the OP partnership does too, because otherwise N would pass 2C. A 1S bid from N would show 5. As S I would therefore bid 2C as an ongoing move and certainly expect N to bid 2NT. I agree with thjj.

[mikeh]

Huibertus, on 2026-June-21, 02:39, said:

That's an emotional response that probably only relates to YOU having to have a 5 card and considering yourself half decent.

I on the other hand have had partnerships where it was natural 4+ and natural 5+ as well as transfers, and know of opponents with all 3 varieties. I've plaid the highest competition level in the Netherlands at Imps which IS half decent, unless you consider world champions as decent and runner ups as half decent and everybody else as crap.

He said ‘most’, which is in my experience a valid statement. And I say that as someone who has played with and against world champions on many occasions…predominantly against.

As to my views on south’s auction I think it a close choice between 1S (assuming traditional negative double agreeements) and 1N. I slightly prefer 1N.