Ascot Bridge Club

Problem 1

How would you bid this?

I picked up this hand with a partner of mine in a Teams match. We didn’t end up in the right contract and gave up some imps in the process.

        S     x

        H     AKxxx

        D     Kxx

        C     Qxxx

 Partner is dealer and opens 1 club

 In our system he could have anything from 10 pts and 6-7 clubs to a v. poor 16 count unable to bid three clubs and no second suit – odds are on it being at the weaker end.

 I respond 1 Heart and LHO doubles. Partner bids 2 clubs and RHO passes.

 If I rebid my Hearts (three or two) I’m over - or understating my hand and/or the distribution.

If I bid three Clubs and partner’s weak (long, good Clubs, but something outside) we could miss a making game (never knowingly underbid don’t forget….)

I can’t rebid in No Trumps.

In the end I decide to bid two diamonds.

 LHO passes, partner bids three Clubs and RHO passed – now what?

 OK, partner is at the weak end, 10-11 pts and 6, probably 7 Clubs but game is still on if he has a stop in spades for NT or we don’t have a spade loser AND two diamond losers.

 I’m looking for something like:

        S     Kx

        H     xx

        D     xx

        C     AKxxxxx

 Or

        S     xx

H     xx

        D     Qx

        C     AKxxxxx

(With a couple more points somewhere)

 So I bid three Spades meaning fourth suit forcing or asking “have you got a spade stop?”  

The outcome's irrelevant.

 What’s your verdict on my choice of bids and how would you have bid the hand?