[awm]

♠Jx
♥ATx
♦KJT8x
♣KQx

IMPs, all red. LHO deals:

1♥ - 1♠ - 2♥ - 2NT
PA - 3♣ - PA - ???

The 2NT bid was natural by agreement. What's your call now over 3♣? If it matters:

(1) Opponents are known to sometimes open/raise on junk.
(2) Partner is also known to sometimes overcall pretty aggressively.
(3) We do play michaels cuebids in this auction. We have no agreement about range.

[JLOL]

I like 2N a lot, now I'd bid 3H. My first instinct was 3D but I think 2N could be based on a hand with like 6 diamonds and hearts stopped so I don't think it shows a hand with black suits this good.

[rogerclee]

Boring 3♦ for me.

Edit: Changed my mind, partner is just so likely to be 5134, and we know our hand is just fantastic opposite this shape. 3♥, planning on bidding diamonds next.

[Fluffy]

3♣ over 2NT is normally rejecting game. But if he had 55 he would use michaels. With 54 he could just pass.

maybe 5044?, a 64?, even a 46?

I am lost, lets try 3♥ and let partner clarify what he's got.

[RichMor]

3♠.

I have already bid NT which shows some Heart values and denies significant Spade support. Time to limit the hand and give pard an out.

[whereagles]

I don't think pard would be bidding like this without a 55, regardless of the Michaels brand you're playing. Now I would try 4♣. With a bid of luck, pard raises that for a good game.

[MarkDean]

hmm, previous posts and the poll indicate I may be out to lunch on this one, but I would pass. I think 3♣ is to play, and I do not have a hand far enough out of the norm to overrule that decision.

[JLOL]

The previous posts indicate that this was a well named thread

[mike777]

I thought 3c is 110% forcing. 2nt is not forcing

3h for me...I like my hand.

[awm]

On the actual hand, partner held:

♠QT9xx
♥x
♦Qxx
♣AJ9x

I tried 3♥, partner rebid 4♣, and this contract was doubled and went one off. The other table played 4♠ (undoubled) also one off.

Partner thought I should correct to 3♠ (which he would pass). He expected a substantial club fit for the 3♥ call.

Seems like there is a pretty wide range of views on this one.

[orlam]

Why did partner bid 3♣?

[Phil]

I thought this was a wtp 3♠ myself. Pard is running from 2N, we have a single heart stop and no real trick source for NT. Sure its a max but there's no future in this hand.

[orlam]

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 03:20 AM, said:

I thought this was a wtp 3♠ myself. Pard is running from 2N, we have a single heart stop and no real trick source for NT. Sure its a max but there's no future in this hand.

Why would partner run with 5-4 shape? Can he be sure of a fit?

[Codo]

I see the hand you posted, but where is the hand partner hold while he did the bidding?

[Mosene]

I don't hate 2nt, just not too keen on it. Double would be take-out here, right? I think either 3 diamonds or 3 spades is what I would bid. Depends on the time of day.

[gnasher]

orlam, on Feb 3 2009, 09:10 AM, said:

Why did partner bid 3♣?

Perhaps he thought that 2NT would probably go several down, and hoped that in our best black suit fit we'd have a reasonable chance of making?

[Apollo81]

I disagree with the 3♣ call because I think it's a forcing bid (weak 5-5 would bid Michaels). Even if I knew partner would take 3♣ as NF I would still pass 2NT with the actual hand.