[xcurt]

I got some silly results on little hands tonight.

Conditions: ximps, opponents don't bid.

(1) All red, ximps, ♠Q9764, ♥KQ, ♦Q3, ♣KT95. Three passes to you. Do you open? If you open 1♠ and partner bids 1NT presumably semi-forcing, do you pass or bid 2♣?

(2) Unfavorable, ximps, ♠J653, ♥Q, ♦A8653, ♣Q54. Three passes to partner who bids 1♥. I bid 1♠ not 1NT, agree? Partner now bids 2♣. What now?

Curt

[han]

First one I open (duh) and bid 2C.

The second one is a clear 1S and pass.

[benlessard]

Quote

I would pass 1N in the first one, pass 2C in the second one. Both 1Ss are clear.

Agree 100%. First hand i think its clear to pass 1Nt because you have no desire to play in a 5-2 S fit.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 1S followed by 2C,
- I would like to have the character to pass it out,
but I dont think I would do it on the table, if your
partnership opens light in first / second seat, I say
passing may have some merrits
- I show shape

#2 1S followed by pass, but if 2C could be passed on a 3
carder, I think it may be better to bid 2H

With kind regards
Marlowe

[xcurt]

Nobody thinks the pot odds on passing out the first mean that pass gets serious consideration? If everyone is passing 1NT isn't our maximum upside +90/+110/+120 when we open -- since I think the only game we would ever have a chance of making after three passes to the first one is 3NT, and we aren't about to bid it. We're red and we have lousy defense against the red suits, so we could easily be -200/-500/-620.

I did open 1S though.

[louisg]

No strong feelings about the first one (I'd probably open and then pass 1NT, but admire anyone with the nerve to throw it in, and recognize that passing 1NT might miss a superior partial in any of the other four strains).

I think you have to keep the bidding open by rebidding 2H on the second one. You are red at IMPs, and have three working cards for partner. Game is certainly still in the picture, and if partner passes 2H there is a decent chance of scrambling 8 tricks by using my entries to ruff spades or diamonds with small trumps. Besides, it's not as if 2C will be cold on a trump lead either opposite a minimum. It just seems like the upside of bidding far exceeds the downside, and the chances for game are worth any risk being taken.

[cherdano]

I don't like passing out the first hand at all. Plus is better than minus, and plus is also better than 0. The odds are huge this is a partscore hand, and the odds are good that we will go plus.

[Apollo81]

Jlall, on Aug 4 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

I would pass 1N in the first one, pass 2C in the second one. Both 1Ss are clear.

agree