The hand: 
Ax 
AKQJxx 
x 
AKQx
| West | North | East | South (you) |
| 1 |
Dbl | ||
| 2 |
Pass | Pass | ? |
Sabine. Here are the answers she got:
Sabine Auken
I am wondering what a 3 bid at this point would mean. If one plays a direct 3 bid as asking for a stopper it should be something else, shouldn’t it? Probably a hand that wants to force to game, but doesn’t want to double again? Does it help in any way?
Chip Martel
Honestly I don’t think it’s realistic to find the 4-4 club fit. Since partner is very likely to have 4+ spades he is unlikely to bid clubs if I double, and if I double he might think I have a more flexible hand than this.
In my methods I’d probably bid 4 over 1 as a strong 4 bid, then bid 5 next. Maybe partner would get the idea I have this, but I doubt it (or perhaps more realistically would bid slam with A or K).
Michael Rosenberg
Honestly I don’t think it’s realistic to find the 4-4 club fit. Since partner is very likely to have 4+ spades he is unlikely to bid clubs if I double, and if I double he might think I have a more flexible hand than this.
In my methods I’d probably bid 4 over 1as a strong 4H bid, then bid 5C next. Maybe partner would get the idea I have this, but I doubt it (or perhaps more realistically would bid slam with A or spade K).
Zia Mahmood
VERY hard ( too hard?)
I think I would bid 3 ( stopper ask?) then 5over 3.
Which may make him wonder why I didn’t bid 5 the first time .. what I would do when I need 1 worker.
But I have no real hope he would bid 6 over that with: xxx xx xxxx xxxx
But I guess I would get there with 5 opp
PS
I think a belated 3 asks in principle for a stopper ..
eg a hand TOO good to bid an immediate 3
But could also be used for hands where you don’t want to double again.
Michael Rosenberg: When you say immediate and belated, do you mean over 1 or 2. I would not have thought 3 over 1 was stopper ask – only over 1M.
I think you’re right about 3 over 2 asking for stopper as first priority (if that’s what you meant) – the huge club hand. If I have the huge black 2-suiter then I try to make that clear later.
Fredrik Nyström
I would have started with 2NT over 1(please dont pass pd!). And at some point depending on the auction I would bid 5. Partner should then not correct to 6with x and xxx in my suits. Feels like my best chance to reach the best spot.
Sabine: Love that plan!!! & Roy Welland: I like it! Very creative.
Zia: I like that, Wish I had thought of it. Tom Hanlon: Good job Freddy, very clever.
Chip Martel: 2NT is clever and could be a big winner. However, not so clear to me that partner will know to P 5 with x xxx in the round suits. Also, worth noting that:
i) 5 may be too high and
ii) even if you catch 4-2-3-Jxxx, 6 clubs requires 3-2 trumps (so even when you “win” in the auction, may still go minus).
. And partner will act on that basis. You could have 7-5 (maybe) 1-AKJxxxx-0-AKQxx. Or A, AKQxxx, x, AKJxx. Or other combinations.cards. Let’s say after (1)-X -(2)-P, and now opponents are silent… – even given that I’m confident 3 is forcing. If partner bids 3 or 3NT I guess now I’m in a fair position with 4. But if partner raises me to 4, now it’s not clear that my 5 bid just needs any 4-card support.These are some few more answers:
Mikael Rimstedt (Junior Teams World Champion)
One more Dbl. Crossing my fingers partner won’t pass it. Bidding 3on 2 and then 4 if partner keep showing “minimum”.
like forcing – slammish. After any bid, I may risk 6. My dream is – slam in clubs with 4-4 fit.
4. The main hope is to reach 6 not 6 opposite, e.g. xxx, xxx, xxx, xxxx. If I were 5/5+ in the majors I would not have started with DBL, so a cue-bid now can’t be THAT hand. If partner appreciates that he will not bid a three-card major when he has 4+ clubs, so there is real hope we can do the right thing opposite at least some very weak hands. Over 3 I will have to bid 4or risk getting too high in five.
. I extra thought I will bid another dbl. That If partner will bid 3 I can make 6even with zero points and 4 cards in club.
Alfredo Versace
if partner bid 3 ..if not I will jump in 4 hearts (very rare slam if no club fit).
