[straube]

What does this sequence show?

1C (3D) 3H P 3S

I thought it showed spades, but a good player I know says that it is a cue or temporizing bid looking for 3N; he points out that if responder has 4S and 5H he could make a negative double. Is that a good treatment? Is it standard?

[jmcw]

Your friend's advice is right on for me.
Initially opener's rebid will be trying to establish the correct strain. Since you have ostensibly denied hold a ♠ suit, his bid is most likely showing a stop in ♠, inviting you to bid 3NT with a ♦ stop.

QJx
Kx
xxx
AKJxx

However, he may well have a hand to good for an immediate raise to 4♥.

Ax
AQxx
xx
AKJxx

[han]

Your partner should never have the second hand given by jmcw. That seems a clear jump to 5H. With a weaker hand partner can bid 4D.

[whereagles]

straube, on 2011-December-18, 19:17, said:

What does this sequence show?

1C (3D) 3H P 3S

I thought it showed spades, but a good player I know says that it is a cue or temporizing bid looking for 3N; he points out that if responder has 4S and 5H he could make a negative double. Is that a good treatment? Is it standard?

I suppose it could logically show some hand stuck for a bid, but I would NEVER use it with that meaning without previous discussion.

As a rule undiscussed bids are natural, so it's pretty reckless and irresponsible to bid based on undiscussed inferences.

[mikeh]

straube, on 2011-December-18, 19:17, said:

What does this sequence show?

1C (3D) 3H P 3S

I thought it showed spades, but a good player I know says that it is a cue or temporizing bid looking for 3N; he points out that if responder has 4S and 5H he could make a negative double. Is that a good treatment? Is it standard?

I am not commenting on whether it is a good treatment, but I am suggesting his argument in support of it is nonsensical. I leave for the interested reader to think about the problems his usage presents....from how to handle 4=6 hands, to what double followed by 4♥ over 3N or 4♣ would show, how to show very good hands with 4=5 or 4=6 after a double and so on.

As against these issues, there is undeniably a gain from the stall, but methinks your 'good player' didn't look too deeply into the types of hands that responder might hold.