[jillybean]

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2/1
no bergen
nebulous 2♣

[DavidKok]

2♣, intending to bid spades next round. If we're lucky I get to bid it at the 2-level, which is always nice.

As a side note, I think it is standard to also bid that way with a strong 3=4=4=2 type hand, as well as a host of other balanced hands with 3 spades. This sequence therefore does not promise club length.

[mike777]

Nebulous 2C it is
Welcome to the modern world


Now opener can even rebid a nebulous 2S

Or at some point bid a nebulous 3NT
😉

[jillybean]

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off to the right start, it wouldn't be a post if North had left us room
3♠ will be 6

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-June-28, 16:39, said:

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off to the right start, it wouldn't be a post if North had left us room
3♠ will be 6

I am not fooling around and confusing my partners with splinters or control bids now.

Just hope they don't take it as quantitative 🙈


4NT

[DavidKok]

4♥, a good spade raise.

[mikeh]

DavidKok, on 2026-June-28, 22:52, said:

4♥, a good spade raise.

That was my first choice as well. I’m assuming that you are not intending to pass a 4S call.

Btw, a comment at large…even if one’s plan is to keycard over 4S (rather than 5C)…..it’s worth bidding 4H because, once in a while, partner will bid something else which may lead to finding a good grand.

So the options seems to be 4N or 5C….hoping for 5D then 5H

[pescetom]

How do those contributing here play Opener's Pass and Double calls over 3♥?

[DavidKok]

Pass: catchall, nothing to say. Can be strong and waiting, or even a trap pass.
Double: takeout, short hearts and the hand isn't extreme enough to unilaterally bid.

Initially I was taught "pass = waiting, double = penalty, shortage = bid something" but I find this wasteful. It requires taking action too often, the penalty double is very rare, and it creates ambiguous situations.

[jillybean]

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4H would have been better but I still think we are destined for 6

[pescetom]

 DavidKok, on 2026-June-29, 04:18, said:

Pass: catchall, nothing to say. Can be strong and waiting, or even a trap pass.
Double: takeout, short hearts and the hand isn't extreme enough to unilaterally bid.

Initially I was taught "pass = waiting, double = penalty, shortage = bid something" but I find this wasteful. It requires taking action too often, the penalty double is very rare, and it creates ambiguous situations.

Thanks. I was taught the same and made the same migration.

In a situation like this I stretch to bid Pass with a wide range of hands, to give Responder the chance to bid 3♠ keeping the auction low and soundly on the rails.

I was wondering if anyone plays Pass/X more specifically about the major suit here, say:
Pass = need 3 card support
X = only need 2 card support
3♠ = imposes trumps, requests control bid.

[WasWinM]

One of the more ridiculous ideas to dumb down 2/1 is the nebulous 2C bid when there is a perfectly fine alternative. Bergen raise. What? You say.
With Bergen, the 3C bid can be used as a 2-way bid with 3D the relay/ask.

A big benefit of 2/1 is to find double fits early with lots of room for slam exploration. Silly, IMO, to give that up to the god of nebulous bidding.