Responder must make a tough call

Here is your hand:

♠AQT863
♥AQ
♦T
♣Q987

Playing matchpoints you are not vulnerable. Your Partner is Dealer and open the bidding 1♣. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. You respond 1♠. Now your Partner bids 2♣.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 14 HCP and a six card ♠ suit. How do you show this?

Let's go over the bids you should not make and why.

2♠
2♠ shows a WEAK hand with six ♠. You are too strong.

3♠
3♠ shows an invitational hand with six ♠. You are too strong. Besides, Partner might not have any ♠ AT ALL. You KNOW you have a nice ♣. Maybe you are better off in ♣?

4♠
4♠ has the same problem that 3♠ does. Partner might not have any ♠ AT ALL. You KNOW you have a nice ♣. Maybe you are better off in ♣? But at least this bid gets you to game.

How about 3♣?
3♣ is a NON-FORCING bid. Partner can "Pass" that bid.

4♣
Is this a forcing bid? Do you know? Are you sure? Does Partner know? Probably not. Even if you both know it is forcing does Partner know to show three card support for your ♠? You still could have a nice fit there.

2NT
You have too many values for this bid plus you are too distributional and you do not have a ♦ card.

3NT
You are too distributional and you do not have a ♦ card. Plus you could still have a ♠ fit. But at least you bid game.

Hmmmm. Any ideas?

We need to make a FORCING bid. What are bids that FORCE Partner to bid?

How about 2♥?
2♥ is a forcing bid (new suit by responder) but the problem is that Partner might think you have four ♥. They might not quite get the joke and keep bidding ♥.

2♦
This is a FORCING bid (new suit by responder) and is unlikely to get Partner too excited. After this bid they are likely to support your ♠ if they have three card support.

I think we have a WINNER! 2♦!

This is not really a lie. It is just a forcing bid.

After 2♦ Partner will bid 3♣. Now you can decide whether or not to bid 5♣ or 6♣.

The slam does make in case you are wondering.