[the hog]

Open 1D of course. wtp?

[gnasher]

han, on 2010-November-26, 05:36, said:

Gnasher, of course you are right that partner may have a normal gameforce and we go down because the hands fit poorly. I don't think that it is worth worrying about too much but I agree with you that this is a possibility.

I didn't say it was worth worrying about. After Mike said "I hate 1N", and Gwnn said "don't hate it at all really", I offered the intermediate position of "I'll only hate 1NT if partner shows 5-5 in the majors".

On reflection, though, it's probably not even worth not-worrying about. I've noticed that whenever I reach a horrible 3NT, we are vulnerable. We're not vulnerable on this deal, so that must mean that it won't happen.

[Free]

1NT, because I don't like the alternatives

[Flameous]

1♣ and 1NT. I downgrade, partner has lot's of bids at his disposal after that start which might lead to good result. No problem with 1NT though and if I had another J, I guess I'd have to bid it.

[han]

WellSpyder, on 2010-November-26, 05:57, said:

Fair enough. There was a hand just like this in the English inter-county championship (Tollemache) last weekend, though. Playing against a strong pair representing the county that won the event last year, they held a 2245 hand opposite a 5521 shape, and bid 1N - 2H (transfer); 2S - 3H (GF, 2nd suit); 3N - 4H; 4S. The resulting 5-2 fit was not a success (though if declarer's spades had been J4 rather than J2 the result might have been different...).

Tell them about Smolen, then they might not need the ♠4. It would also rightside 4-4 heart fits.

My partner and I play the transfer extensions Justin wrote about in his blog some years ago. This works well with gameforcing 5-5 hands because after 1NT - 2H - 2S - 3D partner can set trumps at the 3-level which makes slam bidding easier. With invitational 5-5 hands we bid 2D - 2H - 3H. I've played this method also with cherdano and others. I love it and I think it's worth the trouble of visiting Justin's website.