I figure if he has a heart fit then this will not be the end of the matter.
About the clubs: We have 15 high in non-clubs. So pard has at most 15 highs in clubs. Moreover, our highs are really good highs, including two aces and a king. Pard has to have some good clubs. So now here I (your pard) sit, 3
passed back to me. With a balanced hand, say a 22 count with the
AK and all the missing side suit honors, I bid 3NT. But no, I bid 4
. I think I have
, and not just AKxx.
But I could also have hearts, say
KQx. And maybe
A, I did open 2
. So I think I am not ready to stop. 4
sounds right if I have the A. A little risky maybe, but if we agree that the 4
showed long strong clubs, then I think 4
is an A, not a suit, and presumably heart support. I accept this is open to interpretation, but if we agree that 4
shows clubs then I think it follows.
The above is pretty much what I was thinking when I posted. Afterward, I looked up the hands so I will not go on. The main thing with 4
is that partner, by bidding 4
, has put me in this spot. He has to be prepared for me to do the best I can.Had he doubled 3
I would be free to bid 3
and we could explore further from there. But no, he bid 4
. This cramps me, but I will bid my suit and hope it works out.
I do not claim this logic is air tight. It is what I think I would do at the table. If partner could have made my life easier and didn't, he must have a reason. I think he has clubs.