[Shugart23]

In Matchpoints :

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set.

I don't have a particular problem with the bidding or the result, but I am interested in how others might bid the hand.

[Free]

The only difference I see is when responder would look for a 5-3 ♥ fit. Result is the same though...

[PrecisionL]

Shugart23, on 2014-July-17, 09:02, said:

In Matchpoints :

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set.

I don't have a particular problem with the bidding or the result, but I am interested in how others might bid the hand.

Probably the same way, but how strong are the clubs?

[kenrexford]

You have the opponents three chances to bid their spades, and no one acted. That's usually as good a way to check on a spade stopper as any. Unfortunately, the opponents failed to understand the convention.

[dake50]

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set.

1C-1D-
1H-2D- .1H asks 4+ to show something; 1S if 0-4. [1H is NOT a waiting bid]
2H-?? .2H shows some missing stop. Asks 2S with S-stop; 3C with C-stop; 3D with only D.

.I'd have played in 3D.

[Shugart23]

dake50, on 2014-July-17, 09:17, said:

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set.

1C-1D-
1H-2D- .1H asks 4+ to show something; 1S if 0-4. [1H is NOT a waiting bid]
2H-?? .2H shows some missing stop. Asks 2S with S-stop; 3C with C-stop; 3D with only D.

.I'd have played in 3D.

We use the 1H as a waiting bid (where responder bids 1S 95% of the time) to show a variety of NT point ranges...or a two suit hands showing hearts and another suit. eg

1C - 1D -1H -1S -2C (by opener)shows 5+ hearts, 4 Clubs 16-21 HCP but

1C-1D -1H -1S - 1NT or 2NT or 3NT by opener shows different point ranges as does 1C-1D-1NT or 2NT or 3NT by opener.

Opener can describe his balanced hand to within 2 HCP and all systems are on for responder

[chasetb]

I use 2NT opening as a good 22-24 and 1♣ - 1♦ - 2NT as 20- bad 22 for slam reasons. I don't like the 1♥ relay when it isn't natural. If I was really worried about that Spade stopper, I would have downgraded my 22 to 21 and tried 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♣. The only time I would be really worried is if I had a semi-solid Club suit like KQJxx or AQJxx. Otherwise, I bid 2NT - 3NT.

I would expect the room to be in 3NT and most going down, c'est la vie.

P.S. What was your hand, or at least your Club holding?

[PrecisionL]

Shugart23, on 2014-July-17, 12:07, said:

We use the 1H as a waiting bid (where responder bids 1S 95% of the time) to show a variety of NT point ranges...or a two suit hands showing hearts and another suit. eg

1C - 1D -1H -1S -2C (by opener)shows 5+ hearts, 4 Clubs 16-21 HCP but

1C-1D -1H -1S - 1NT or 2NT or 3NT by opener shows different point ranges as does 1C-1D-1NT or 2NT or 3NT by opener.

Opener can describe his balanced hand to within 2 HCP and all systems are on for responder

Using 1♥ as a waiting bid forcing a 1♠ continuation (except for certain 'rare' distributions) is a IMP design, but your question is for Matchpoints!

[FM75]

Some times you just are unlucky.

The 1♥ bid does not seem like a "waiting bid" so much as a Cambridge Hearts treatment:



Cambridge Heart Complex
After the sequence 1♣-1♦ a rebid of 1♥ by Opener is either natural, promising a 5-card or longer Heart suit or showing a strong balanced hand. In either case it asks Responder to rebid 1♠ unless they have one of the special hand-types listed below. Over Responder's 1♠ bid Opener now clarifies their hand-type and range, rebids in NTs promising strong balanced hands and any other bid being 100% natural and confirming the Heart suit.


The full scheme for showing balanced hands is as follows

1NT shows 10-12 balanced (Non-vulnerable)
1♦-1x-1NT shows 11-12 balanced (Vulnerable) or 13-15 balanced (Non-Vulnerable)
1NT shows 13-15 balanced (Vulnerable)
1♣-1♦-1NT shows 16-18 balanced
1♣-1♦-1♥-1♠-1NT shows 19-21 balanced
1♣-1♦-2NT shows 22-23 balanced <----- consistent with your partner's hand.
1♣-1♦-1♥-1♠-2NT shows 24-25 balanced1
♣-1♦-3NT shows 26-27 balanced1
♣-1♦-1♥-1♠-3NT shows 28-29 balanced <--- Oops. partner passed my 1 !H bid once, and we still made 6 spades. Not a happy team result.

For more, and the exceptions, see:
http://bbo.pigpen.org.uk/1c.php

[Shugart23]

yes, Oliver's work forms the foundation for much of what my wife and I do, though we have added and subtracted our own certain gadgets. Oliver plays mostly Imps, so it may be as PreecisionL says...perhaps this scheme is IMP oriented....but it works for me where I play 99% matchpoints. Not sure why/what modification Precision L might be thinking for Matchpoints vs Imps

[rhm]

This remdins me of a hand I played a couple of days ago where my infrequent partner insisted on stoneage Wei precision.

I held as West in second position and the bidding started:

---

1NT was 8-10 and a balanced game force and 2♣ Stayman.

Over 2♦ I got worried about the spades and decided to test the waters with 2♥

After 3♣ it did not look like we belonged in 3NT and if 3NT does not make there is little point at matchpoints trying for 11 tricks in clubs.

Result: Partner held

---

Spades were 4-4 and everything else broke evenly.

3♣ making 5 was worth 16%

Rainer Herrmann

[PrecisionL]

Shugart23, on 2014-July-18, 04:31, said:

yes, Oliver's work forms the foundation for much of what my wife and I do, though we have added and subtracted our own certain gadgets. Oliver plays mostly Imps, so it may be as PreecisionL says...perhaps this scheme is IMP oriented....but it works for me where I play 99% matchpoints. Not sure why/what modification Precision L might be thinking for Matchpoints vs Imps

Matchpoint Design for 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - ? (Thanks to Radin - Wei and Johnson - Berkowitz):

1♥ = (a) 4+♥ and one round force, or (b) 2+♥, balanced and 20+ hcp

Follow-ons: Similar to Johnson - Berkowitz but fit-jumps and hidden splinters after 1♥
1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ -1♠ = 4+♠s and 0-7 hcp
1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ -1NT = 0-3♠s and 0-4 hcp

For IMPs some reverse the 1NT and 1♠ responses.

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♣ = 5-7 hcp and 0-2♥s
1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♦ = 5-7 hcp and exactly 3♥s

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♥ = 3-5 hcp and 4+♥, no singleton or void

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♠ = 3-5 hcp and 4+♥ and unknown singleton

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2[NT] = 5-7 hcp and Fit Jump with 5+♠ and 4+♥

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 3♣ = 5-7 hcp and Fit Jump with 5+♣ and 4+♥, and so on

Similar scheme for 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠ - ?

Reference: http://www.reginabri...lub/bc_jb1c.txt

I have played this version for over 10 years in MP Pairs and find it is very good.

[biggerclub]

Add a vote for 22-24 2N opening here.

What are your ranges for balanced hands?

[Shugart23]

We use 2nt opening to show both minors. Generally as a premptive bid. Oliver Clarke describes a multi 2nt opening which looks good but I can't use with GCC

[whereagles]

Shugart23, on 2014-July-17, 09:02, said:

In Matchpoints :

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set.

I don't have a particular problem with the bidding or the result, but I am interested in how others might bid the hand.

Reaching 3NT seems like perfectly normal bidding to me, regardless of system or HCP placement.

People have realized it's easier to play the odds and bid 3NT in situations like this. This is because the likelyhood 5m is a better contract is very small. Also, opps might have a natural lead somewhere and/or can mix-up their defence.