[Winstonm]

gszes, on 2013-June-21, 12:13, said:

support with support is a wonderful concept but it is far from dogma.

Let us assume you begin life with QJT9xx A43 xxx x this is a very
reasonable hand to start with 1s intending to support hearts later.
Spades can easily be a superior contract to hearts and showing
belated support at least allows p to know you have concentrated
values in spades. The principle is not that different from 2/1
thining where responder will bid say 2d with a decent 6 card
dia suit and support for partner's major. I realize you said that
you will make exceptions for game forcing hands but we hope
you will open up your thinking about delayed support:))))))))))))

The principle competing with dogma is that it is normally best to play in the weaker hand's suit, if possible. I submit that QJ10xxx, Axx is much different than holding QJ10xx, Axx. In the first, pard only needs to hold a balanced hand for spades to be right. In the second, spades does not improve our contract over hearts unless partner holds a fit.

In the latter case, I would argue it is wiser to raise partner than introduce a speculative 1S bid.

[PhilG007]

Bid 1NT over the double. This shows 6-9 points and values in the unbid suits
(in this case,the minors.)

[Fluffy]

unpassed 1♠ and then a voluntary 2♥ would be a limit raise.

having druri avaible this doesn't make much sense but I think I would take it that way also since everything doesn't fit, still the waters are muddy enough that bidding 3♥ with that trash should had never happened.

Bidding 1♠ with a weak hand and 3 card support I've always though is a beginners mistake, but I encounter good players who do it, haven't tried it myself ever anyway.


to Phil: the hand you posted is a clear fit-jump, 2♣ denies support and your partner should had tried to give you a ruff immediately, only supporting gives partner a chance to defeat, if you show clubs along the way, even better.

[kael chi]

None else for biding, i will pass.

[gszes]

jillybean, on 2013-June-21, 23:40, said:

How many times are you going to bid spades before you show heart support here?

I dislike "rules" but if I had to make one it would be to show support with support, unless of course you have a gf hand.

just bidding spades once and then supporting hearts shows a significant spade presence as there is no reason
to bid a puny spade holding before supporting with support. This is especially useful when you have a hand strong
enough to think about slam (ie your GF hand exception above))))))))))))))))))
Is there a downside?? if the bidding goes (nooppeinterference) 1h 1s 2 c/d if your hand is too weak to at least bid
3h your 2h bid would be considered preference and the inference to great spades would also be lost. In this
case however the worst case scenario will be an occasional missed game. Small price to pay for much more
overall accuracy at being in the right place and much improved slam bidding.

[mgoetze]

Life was so much easier when people still believed in the law of total tricks.