Specifically when the auction begins 1M-X-Pass-2
there are a lot of people who do not play the 2
call as being all that strong. Definitely a good five card (at least) suit though. The idea is that second seat, hearing 1M, might well have four cards in the other major and a hand that would justify a 2
call. partner's 2
is limited in strength, he has good diamonds and decent values, playing 2
seems fine. Maybe X over 1
with:
Kxxx
x
KQJxxx
Ax
Something like that. The hand is stronger than a simple 13 count suggests.
At any rate, I like the X with the intention of converting 2
to 2NT. It's minimal for this action but I think it is right.
Now if, after X, there is a raise to 2
and that gets passed back, what to do. 1
on my right, 2
on my left, I have four hearts. Ok, nothing is ever certain but I think partner has a stiff heart (at most). Could he have fours spades? Maybe. With Kxxx and a stiff heart I would expect 2
to be bid. Still, he might have four spades so I suppose I double again. If he has four spades the hand takes care of itself. If he does not have four spades, then, assuming at most one heart, he has at least nine cards in the minors and it's a good bet, since i have four diamonds and only one club, that his long minor is clubs. If he has
QJxxxx I want to leave him in 3
. Might he have that? I said that with
Kxxx and a stiff
I think he would be 2
over 1
but that's at the 2 level.Would he have bid 3
over 1 2
with
QJxxxx and a stiff
? Good question, maybe yes. Otoh, maybe with 5-4 in the minors he would have made a responsive X over 2
? It's a bit of a guess whether to pull 3
to 3
. Holding only four cards? I might let him struggle in 3
. But no, 3
is best. Not that it is that easy to see how to make it, at least if the defense begins with a
to the A, and then a shift to a small
.
An interesting feature is that the raise to 2
really helps the opponents find the right spot.