The last few days
Today I encountered this situation for the first time, but I'm sure not the last.
I held 11 points. 4 spades a couple of hearts four clubs and three diamonds. Partner opened a spade opps overcaleld 2 nt (unusual.) I wanted to cue. Because that seems right. But would partner know what I meant? Which do I cue? The suit with the better cards or the worse? Well, I asked around and here's what I learned. 3c shows a limit raise for p's suit. 3d for the other major and 3s is competitive. And apparently that's pretty standard (Unless I got this backwards.)
Yesterday I learned about the covention with no name. 1d 1h 4d showing a solid 64 diamond and heart hand. Nice.
And I learned about signalling to p's lead in a trump contract with a doubleton honor or a sequence.
With the doubleton you play low. With the sequence you play the top and p knows it's a sequence because had it been a doubleton you'd have played low.
I held 11 points. 4 spades a couple of hearts four clubs and three diamonds. Partner opened a spade opps overcaleld 2 nt (unusual.) I wanted to cue. Because that seems right. But would partner know what I meant? Which do I cue? The suit with the better cards or the worse? Well, I asked around and here's what I learned. 3c shows a limit raise for p's suit. 3d for the other major and 3s is competitive. And apparently that's pretty standard (Unless I got this backwards.)
Yesterday I learned about the covention with no name. 1d 1h 4d showing a solid 64 diamond and heart hand. Nice.
And I learned about signalling to p's lead in a trump contract with a doubleton honor or a sequence.
With the doubleton you play low. With the sequence you play the top and p knows it's a sequence because had it been a doubleton you'd have played low.
posted by Deborah at 8:40 PM
8 Comments:
I think you got the meanings of 3C and 3D wrong, as far as US standard is concerned. Usually, after an unusual 2N a cue-bid of their lower suit shows the lower unbid suit, cuebidding the higher suit shows the higher unbid suit. Both are stronger than a direct bid, which is more competitive.
This is called "unusual vs unusual", and I would claim most adv-epxerts would assume this in a pickup partnership. (Of course, there are variations that may be superior, but I haven't yet seen anyone claim such a variation is standard.)
Arend
Thank you, Arend. I had a strong nagging suspicion I'd gotten it backwards.
I guess I thought if you used the lower bid for the support you'd have more room (by a whole bid.)
What sort of hand do you need for the 3C bid?
Hm, time to throw in a bit more confusion!
I agree with Arend that Unusual vs Unusual (3C = good heart bid, 3D = good spade bid) is the most common, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it standard.
There is a fairly common variant along the lines of your original post, so I guess this is probably what you heard about. I'm not sure if you have it backwards or not, sorry :)
I would also assume unusual vs unusual without discussion (the version that Arend sketches).
I prefer to play that 3D (the raise) is invitational or better, and that 3C (the other suit) is gameforcing (with at least a 5-card suit).
Han
On the grounds that it's easier to remember and work with one method only, Root & Pavlicek ("Modern Bridge Conventions", pp. 242, 228, 83+, c.1981, Three Rivers Press) recommend "Invisible Cue-Bids" as general defense to all 2-suited overcalls. Cheapest bid of KNOWN o/c suit shows 10+ and support for opener's suit. Higher cue when both suits are known (minors in your given circumstance, thus 3D response) shows 10+ and at least 5c holding in 4th suit. Rebids for either can be signoff below/at game or explore game/slam.
But ... is it alertable? I think not - as cues - but not sure.
If I'm going to only remember one, I think I'll go with the unusual vs unusual. Arend points out that with good players this treatment is more popular, and less likely to cause confusion with a p/u p.
As for alertable, I believe all conventional bids are alertable.
I'm late to this thread, but to add even more confusion, I will say it is superior to play that the higher cuebid should show just competitive values in the 4th suit. With GF values you can bid the Higher suit freely and not worry about bypassing partner's major. This is particularly important for a 1H opener.
1H - 2NT - ?
3C Good Heart Raise
3D Competitive in spades (3H is an offer to play)
3H Competitive
3S GF with spades
-Echognome
Ok. I am a little confused. But I see what you mean.
It's so exciting to have someone post in my blog after so long! Hi.
Post a Comment
<< Home