[hamish32]

The modern trend to open 2!C with extreme but weak hands causes quite a few problems if you don't discuss continuations.

Here 1!S would not be passed and leads to a decent auction

1!S - 2!H
3!S - 4!C
4!D - 4!H
4N - 5!H
5N - 6!C
6!D - 6!H
7N

2!H = game forcing
3!S = solid !S better than min (suit setting)
4!C/4!D/4!H = cue first or second
4N = key card
5!H = 2 no Q
5N = king ask (all keys held)
6!C this king
6!D this king
6!H this king

2!C used to show 23+ hcp or 22-24 balanced if partner opened 2!C and you held that responding hand with !H and !C you can pretty much bid 7N or you could offer !H then !C twice knowing that you where deciding which grand to bid.

If you open 2!C showing a hand that could be weak with 8.5 playing tricks then you must show that specific hand by jump bidding on the second round. I.E. a failure to jump to 3!S shows the serious 2!C opener described just above while a jump to 3!S shows the hand with solid !S and 15-20 HCP. Now partner will find the same sequence above because 2!C then 3!S set the suit making 4!C by responder a cue for !S.

Another alternative is to open 4!C and 4!D to show the tier major !C=!H & !D=!S and 8.5 playing tricks.

[GrahamJson]

What’s wrong with 2C-2H-3S-7S?

[Cyberyeti]

GrahamJson, on 2019-December-29, 07:50, said:

What’s wrong with 2C-2H-3S-7S?

A touch embarrassing when partner has AKQJxxxxx, void, AKxx, void, but you'reprobably not stopping in anything you can make, and 7♠ at least has chances 7N doesn't have

[bluenikki]

phoenixmj, on 2019-December-27, 21:43, said:

---

OK - here is the other side of the story.

South has passed when the bid came to me. I opened 2C.

My partner bid 2H - so I know him to have 5 hearts and a good suit (2 of top 3 or 3 of top 5), and a minimum of 8 points.

I now mention my spades at the two level. I know someone mentioned bidding them at the 3 level, but I know I get to bid again so I bid them at the 2 level. Curious to know if that is an underbid?

Next, partner says 3 clubs - so I figure he is two suited - but they are my singletons. I really want to know if he has kings and aces in those suits so I can sluff my 2 losing diamonds. A void in diamonds is only useful if he has spades.
I next bid 3 spades.

My partner then made a bid that I think is an underbid - and he said 4 spades. By this point, I feel we should be in slam and I bid 4NT. He responded 5H and I bid 6 spades. I should have bid 5 NT to ask for kings - but instead I chickened out and bid 6 spades. WE made 7 and about 1/2 the field wound up in 7.

Now - if I ask for kings, he would tell me he had the king of clubs. I still don't know about the kind of hearts or if he has a queen in clubs. I know I will have transportation problems in all likelihood. Frankly - we are intermediate players rather than advanced - and we do tend to back away from 7 bids.

I would appreciate any advice as to how this auction should have gone now that you have both sides of the story. Should I open 1 spade instead of 2c? Should I jump in spades?

Thanks in advance?

Did partner think 4♠ was forcing?

[phoenixmj]

bluenikki, on 2019-December-29, 12:57, said:

Did partner think 4♠ was forcing?

I think he felt he had told his story. 2-suited and at least 8 points. His singleton spades makes his void worth less if we are playing in spades. I think the initial mistake on this bidding was mine - I should have jumped in spades to better describe my hand. I do think his hand was too strong to not ask for key cards - but I went on bidding because of my two singletons in his suits. I was hoping I can sluff. Turns out he had both kings as well - so it was cold for 7.

[Cyberyeti]

phoenixmj, on 2019-December-29, 13:14, said:

I think he felt he had told his story. 2-suited and at least 8 points. His singleton spades makes his void worth less if we are playing in spades. I think the initial mistake on this bidding was mine - I should have jumped in spades to better describe my hand. I do think his hand was too strong to not ask for key cards - but I went on bidding because of my two singletons in his suits. I was hoping I can sluff. Turns out he had both kings as well - so it was cold for 7.

We actually play 2♣-positive F4N unless a suit is known to be open (which is one of the reasons we have a decently high bar for both 2♣ and a positive).

As it is, if you had simply bid 5N on the end of your auction, depending on methods, partner shows 2 kings or some sort of specific kings via 6♣-6♦-6♥ you will be in 7N with confidence. Less easy if 5N is pick a slam but you imply it isn't for you.

[Winstonm]

phoenixmj, on 2019-December-27, 21:43, said:

---

OK - here is the other side of the story.

South has passed when the bid came to me. I opened 2C.

My partner bid 2H - so I know him to have 5 hearts and a good suit (2 of top 3 or 3 of top 5), and a minimum of 8 points.

I now mention my spades at the two level. I know someone mentioned bidding them at the 3 level, but I know I get to bid again so I bid them at the 2 level. Curious to know if that is an underbid?

Next, partner says 3 clubs - so I figure he is two suited - but they are my singletons. I really want to know if he has kings and aces in those suits so I can sluff my 2 losing diamonds. A void in diamonds is only useful if he has spades.
I next bid 3 spades.

My partner then made a bid that I think is an underbid - and he said 4 spades. By this point, I feel we should be in slam and I bid 4NT. He responded 5H and I bid 6 spades. I should have bid 5 NT to ask for kings - but instead I chickened out and bid 6 spades. WE made 7 and about 1/2 the field wound up in 7.

Now - if I ask for kings, he would tell me he had the king of clubs. I still don't know about the kind of hearts or if he has a queen in clubs. I know I will have transportation problems in all likelihood. Frankly - we are intermediate players rather than advanced - and we do tend to back away from 7 bids.

I would appreciate any advice as to how this auction should have gone now that you have both sides of the story. Should I open 1 spade instead of 2c? Should I jump in spades?

Thanks in advance?

First, I wouldn't open 2C, but you did so that is OK.
Second, with your partner's hand, I would assume you have a single suited spade hand when you rebid them so with my singleton spade I would raise 3S to 4S as you have not limited your hand so you are captain of this auction.

[pescetom]

phoenixmj, on 2019-December-28, 08:08, said:

Question - what does the 5NT bid mean or ask for?

I can see that responder is in a better position to see 7 rather than 6 because responder knows about the kings. When I bid, Iknew we had first round control of all the suits and I certainly expected that I would get all the spades. My concern was the 2 losing diamonds - especially when I did not get indication of partner having spades. How do I know that both my losing diamonds are covered - especially since I know that there will likely be transportation issues with my 2 singletons.

Could you explain the 5NT, 7S sequence for me?

5NT by E confirms the oustanding keycards and denies the Q of trumps. Note that 5♣ by W showed odd keycards (must be 3) as well as clubs control.
7S by W assumes E's hearts are as promised and the diamonds losers can go there, perhaps with a heart ruff if necessary and possible. But a more cautious W would continue 6♦ over 5NT which would also make E's 7NT decision simpler.