Expert: Unhunk - 1/29/2012

Question
QUESTION: South,opens with "1 diamond". West passes.  North[has a strong hand of 12 points] bids "3 clubs", East passes; how would South interpret North's bid?

ANSWER: Hi,

A bid of 3 clubs is a jump shift. It would show a very strong hand of at least 18 points, a good club suit and a definite interest in exploring for a slam.

With 12 points, a 2 club bid would certainly be sufficient. This bid shows at least 10 or 11 points.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: With 10 or more points wouldn't a bid of 2 clubs be sufficient the first time around.  The responder is changing suits, so he knows the opening bidder will have to bid again thus giving him a second chance to reveal the strength of his hand and possibly bid "3 clubs".  

Regarding your answer above,it seems it's correct to go from a
"1 diamond" bid [by the opening bidder] to "3 clubs" (or jump shift by the responder) on the first bid if the responder has 17 points.  Otherwise, if the point count is 10 to 17 points, the responder would simply bid "2 clubs" on the first round and jump shift after the opener bids a second time.  Is this correct?

Answer
Hi,

With 10 or more points a 2C response is sufficient since opener is forced to bid again. With 18 or more it is not mandatory to bid 3C. However, it conveys the strength of the hand immediately and removes the need for responder to feel that he has to keep bidding, possibly too much, later in the auction because he's not sure that he conveyed the full strength of his hang.

With 10-17 respomder bids 2C. With 10 or 11 responder can pass if opener bids 2NT or he can bid 3C depending on the shape of his hand. With 12 or more, responder should force to game by either bidding 3NT, bidding a new suit. There is no need to jump shift. An auction like 1D-2C-2D-2H is forcing to game. There is no need to jump shift to 3H on the second turn. He should make an effort to not go beyond 3NT unless he is reasonably sure that he doesn't want to play in notrump.