Re: Help needed: questions on 2/1.

Micha Keijzers wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> How should the following hands be bid, playing 2/1? (Teams, all vul.)
>
> AQxx
> AKJxx
> A10x
> J
>
> KJx
> xx
> Q9x
> AKxxx
>
> We bid: 1H-2C*-2S**-2NT-3D-3NT. 2C is 3-way, either a GF balanced, a GF 
> in clubs or a hand with 3-crd support for hearts. For the problem you 
> can assume that 2C is a normal 2/1-GF. 2S shows extras (15+) in my 
> partnership. Obviously, 3NT is a fine contract. Slam is not very good. 
> So, we bid to the right contract, but there are a few issues. A few 
> questions on 2/1 therefore:
> 1) What does 2NT show in 2/1? A diamond stopper?



A suggestion to play No Trump.  There should be a diamond stopper, since 
partner can bid three other suits to keep the GF alive.


> 2) Can there be a 4crd diamond in responder's hand if he bids 2NT? Or 
> should he bid 3D with that? Or does that show an unbalanced hand with at 
> least 5 clubs?



Fourth Suit Forcing, a request to take another descriptive bid.


> 3) Range problems: what about a fitting 16 opposite 16? Suppose 
> responder has KJx,Qx,Kxx,Axxxx. Now you have a laydown 6NT. How should 
> it be bid? Does 3NT in the above auction show a minimum hand, something 
> in the range of (12)13-15? Or can it be stronger?



Over 2NT, rebid 4NT, invitaional -- partner's positive response can be 
any of several methods, including rolling Blackwood.


> 4) What should opener bid if he is 4-5-2-2? 



You mean over 2NT?  I would bid the same as with the indicated shape .



> 5) If 3D could be a fragment and 2NT could contain a 4crd diamond, how 
> are you going to find a fit there? For example, suppose opener holds 
> AQxx,AKJxx,A10xx and responder has KJx,Qx,KQxx,Axxx. How are you going 
> to bid the good grand (possibly in hearts) after 1H-2C-2S-2NT-3D when 3D 
> could merely be a fragment? Or should 3D always be natural? Or should 
> responder bid 3D instead of 2NT?


When partner bids 3D, raise it.  Even if it's a fragment, he'll get the 
idea.


As to what it should be, that's up to you and your partner.


> In short, I guess I need some guiding principles as to what opener's 3rd 
> round suit rebids mean.


Unless you have agreements, they mean what they sound like they mean:  a 
suit of at least four cards or, if partner bid it the round before, 
3-card support.

And even without it, you still missed 6NT?

Bob