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Forcing…to where?

Today’s problem is one of understanding what partner’s bid means and then find the most appropriate bid in response.

It started with a simple take-out double but there's not a straightforward reply:

 

 

We are playing Teams and neither side is vulnerable. 2 is a standard Weak Two.

It would be reasonable to presume that we are heading game-wards… no stopping in 4 of a minor whatever we reply. Some panellists raised the question of Lebensohl and this answer in particular reflected that:

Andy Braithwaite “4: I assume we play Lebensohl so 3 shows four hearts with no spade stop- hence I bid 4.”

With a spade hold, North would bid 2NT followed by 3.
Lysandra Zheng “4: In my methods 3 is 4 of the other unbid major (), with or without a stopper depends on the partnership -- though it clearly does not matter here!”

Yet, is it that straightforward. There are other possible meanings for partner’s bid.

Leon Meier “3NT: 3 is initially stopper asking and while I would prefer a better one, we may just have enough tricks off the top, or partner could have something like Kxx and wanted another stop.”

 With Weak Twos getting weaker, there is a good possibility that our partner has a rather good hand, perhaps too strong for a jump to game.

Kris Wooles “3NT: which I hope will show I have a spade stop and do not have an obvious suit to bid despite the take out double. At this point I’m not really sure with what partner is forcing and some clarity will hopefully unfold.????

Peter Newell “3NT: East’s pass and my singleton spade lead me to think that partner has 3-4 spades with not much of a stopper if at all. What types of hands could partner have? A balanced hand with game values but no or weak spade stopper, or a game force with a 5 + suit that will likely bid next. 

If I bid 3NT, I am likely to get a spade lead through dummy to my singleton Ace and 9 tricks are likely to be difficult as the spades may be set up, or East may have an entry to lead through partner’s spade holding. However, given I have not bid 2NT over 2, I am unlikely to have more than a single spade stopper and will not be in the 15-18 range.  So partner is warned, and I would expect partner to bid 4 with a 4+ suit over 3NT, or 4 of a minor with a game forcing 5+ suit. 

I am not that keen at advancing my 4 card minors given partner may have a balanced hand and may not fit, and if partner had a 4333 shape, 5 of a minor is unlikely to be a success.  Generally I think bidding 4 of a minor would usually show a  5 card minor though with no spade stopper and not 4 hearts.

 I will need to bid on a 4 card minor at times. While I have chosen 3NT, 4 and 4 are close options for me.”

And we do have support for bidding each of our 4-card suits:

Nigel Kearney “4: With few agreements, my view is that the cue bid is primarily looking for the best denomination but may also be a strong one suiter. No trumps does not look right with a singleton ace, and if partner has four hearts, he will bid them. But with Lebensohl 2NT (possibly followed by 3 or 4) available as well, there are several options for partner and they need to be discussed in advance.”

With a definite agreement is:

Pam Livingston (and welcome back to the Panel, Pam) “4: 3 would show a game force hand with clubs (playing transfer Rubinsohl) so mine is an easy 4 bid.”

I do sympathise with Stephen about my choosing a suit headed by the 9:

Stephen Blackstock “4:  Largely a matter of style and agreement. As I play, after the double, South must bid 4 with a 4+ suit lacking the values to go any higher; a slam try in hearts must cue-bid and then rebid 4. This way he can make a slam try in any suit without risking a higher level. 4 from North in this sequence would show five cards, quite a plausible holding since a 3 overcall without a long or solid suit is asking for trouble.

After 3, North should bid a 5-card minor, and normally 4 with equal length. However I simply cannot stomach 4 on xxxx!”

and without mincing words:

Michael Ware “4: 3NT insane. Allows room for partner to correct to 4 showing a strong raise, or find our minor fit now.”

There are "strong raises"..and ones too strong for that action.

Wayne Burrows “4: It is good to have some partnership agreement about what "forcing" means and what the expectations are in response. I like 3 to be a choice of games cue, usually without a spade stop as I go through Lebensohl 2NT with a stopper. In response to the cue-bid, doubler's priority is to bid a four-card major.”

And if partner wanted more information about our hand, I am not sure the following would help:

Bruce Anderson “4: partner should be strong and read this as a spade control and that I am asking him/ her to bid the small slam in their best suit.(any missing club honour is likely to be onside).           

  If partner is exceptionally strong, they could use standard Blackwood (no suit has been agreed) to check on aces and move on from there towards a possible grand slam.”

Indeed, partner was exceptionally strong. Let’s look at the four hands:

 

The strict Lebensohl meaning of 3 cannot be the only reason for that bid here. South was definitely slamming and no other response to the double seems appropriate from their point of view.

It is a matter of style whether 4 does know show a 5-card suit or just says that the double does show 4 hearts as we would all double with a 2344 shape with or without a spade hold.

The 4 response would have provided the easiest route to grand slam:

where 5 showed 2 key cards and Q and 6 either K or 1 outside king according to agreement. South really should bid 7NT for absolute safety.

This time, 4 from North would be fine as well as long as one knows what is Key Card and what is sign off after this bid.

East might have raised to 3 over the double though then double by South would replace the 3 bid above, creating a similar problem.

At the table, North temporised with 3NT (sorry, Michael Ware!) and unsure of developments, North jumped to 6NT. Would you have done better?

Richard Solomon

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