A couple of other confusing points from this month.
On H the auction went
1
1NT
2
3
4
4
What is 4
? Ok, back up to what was 3
? After 1
- 1NT - 2
it could be that NS have a
fit, n has an 11 count, S has a 17 count. Or 18 count. It also could be that N has a 6 count and S has a 12 count.And anywhere in-between. Maybe we clearly want to play in 4
, maybe we clearly don't, and maybe we need 3
to be invitational with, say, a 10 count.
Now if 3 !h is invitational, what is 4
? Is S saying "Well, 2
was passable, and 3
was invitational, but now that we have found this fit let's bid a slam"? Possible, but another case of not likely. But I suppose that's what it was.
And then there is C:
1
- 1
- X - 1
.
Now on this hand I, opening with 1
, have a spade void but consider a hand where my shape is 4=2=3=4 and I have a 14 count. Yes, I would like to show my spades, partly because the 1
could be a fake bid but mostly because I have them so I would like to show them. But the 1
could be for real, probably is for real in most games, pard's X showed both major bu xxxx is a major and pard could have an 8 count or probably could have a six count. I can't say that I want to bid a natural 2
here. And we could use X to show this. I don't need X to show hearts. If I have four hearts I can bid 2
. My opponents have not claimed they have length in hearts and 2
should show the heart fit and a hand that is not totally minimal. With a 12 count I could pass. 1
is not apt to end the auction and there is a good chance I will be able to bid 2
next round saying "Yes I have a
fit but don't expect much else".
So I think 1
- 1
- X - 1
- X should show four spades. Bit then what is 1
- 1
- X - 1
- 2
? Maybe it should be
shortness and a
fit but I am not sure that it is.
Working on mysteries without any clues.