Bidding a 4th suit as opener

This question was asked to: Julian Pottage

Question

Hi Julian, I was north on the following hand, playing in a small pairs event scored as cross-IMPs. – Would you regard partner’s 3D as forcing? Competitive? Constructive? – Even if competitive, should I bid bid on with a maximum and four-card diamond support? – Should partner do more than bid 3D with so much playing strength? 5D can go off with a heart ruff. It is also interesting that the H10 is a very important card, as is the S10 for E/W. Without these cards, both 5H and 4S will fail. I would welcome your thoughts.

Julian Pottage's Answer

I play that South doubles 2S with a strong hand, so 3D is not forcing – but the North hand is exceptionally suitable for play in diamonds, with values in the diamond suit and the fast ace of spades – so I would raise to 4D with the North hand. Whether South bids on over 4D is unclear. Possibly I would have rebid 3H rather than 3D on the South hand – but 3D is no underbid – only 10 HCP.

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