What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for December 2005

The best submission for the month of December was made by Edna Matheson.

Hand: Dealer West, E-W Vul:

	983  AKJ8  Q3  Q832		AQ10  7  972  AKJ1086

Bidding:	West	North	East	South
	1	P	4NT	P
	5	P	6	All Pass

Comments: Hi Peter,

We were playing Standard in a Butler event. My questions are: should partner bid 3? If so, what would my response be to this - 4, 5 or 4 to show where my values are? Is 4 stronger here than 5?

And Peter's Response:

Hi Edna,

I would bid whatever my forcing raise of clubs is in my methods (Jacoby 2NT, inverted minor, whatever).

I would feel ill at ease making a splinter raise of 3 as I would be concerned about the diamond position should partner re-bid 3NT. While splinter bids don't specifically promise cards in both the unbid suits, partner will usually assume this in choosing their re-bid.

Were I West, and partner had responded 3, I would bid 3NT, a strong suggestion to play based on substantial heart values and no particular desire to proceed any higher.

Regards
Peter Fordham

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