[kenberg]

Scoring: IMP

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The plan: Open 1♦ and bid 2♠ next round.

The reality: 1♦-(1♥)-Pass-(1♠)

What's the new plan, Stan?

[mtvesuvius]

I think I'll Double, which should just be showing values.

[whereagles]

hum.. I might just bid 2♦ and follow up with dbl. The problem of doubling is pard may bid clubs and I'll be a bit stuck.

[mtvesuvius]

whereagles, on Mar 8 2009, 06:44 PM, said:

hum.. I might just bid 2♦ and follow up with dbl. The problem of doubling is pard may bid clubs and I'll be a bit stuck.

Correct to ♦ then?

[Phil]

The first question I would ask is 1♠ forcing? I could pass and await developments, but its hard to show a hand this good if I do so so I'll double in spite of the flawed shape.

[jdonn]

I'll bid 2NT. 1NT would show 18-19 and clearly I'm too good for that, which is what I think 2NT says. I'm not particularly worried about hearts, it's relatively likely that if partner doesn't go back to diamonds he has heart length, especially given his spade shortness and the lack of a heart raise on my right. That is true since partner can read me for diamond length for this bid, since I can't be in range for it if I'm totally flat. So I just show my values and something close to my hand type, and leave it to partner to make a good decision.

[kenberg]

Phil, on Mar 8 2009, 07:19 PM, said:

The first question I would ask is 1♠ forcing? I could pass and await developments, but its hard to show a hand this good if I do so so I'll double in spite of the flawed shape.

1♠ was not forcing.

[Codo]

I would have opened different (NT) but maybe not successfull.

But with the bidding given so far:

I would never ever bid NT now- better disagreeing with Josh then being down before I get the first trick. Okay, both is horrible.

I think I try 2 ♠. This should show AKJx,xx,AJT9x,AK.

Do you have any idea, what your partner will understand when you bid this? (I don't) A 6/5 hand? Just forcing? Stopper? Whatever, I will try it. Maybe I will struck gold when rho psyched.
I guess the worst thing will be 3 ♦ with no real fit.

[Flameous]

I'll go with 1NT. Unlike Josh said, I don't think my hand really too good for 18-19 bal in this auction. ♠Q is wrong, I have nothing in hearts (not even shortness for trump contract), My diamond suit is good but without support/ entries I still lose two tricks there. And maybe the worst thing in NT contract, clubs are blocked.

Double being second choice and 2NT close third.

[y66]

At the table I'd prolly blast 3N. Pard will usually have 4+ hearts.

Agree 2N describes this hand.

I like your plan Tonto. Best laid plans and all that jazz.

[fachiru]

Your original plan is not too bad, although the fact that you have some discomfort bidding now should tell you that it wasn't the best.

I'd open 2nt, but perhaps I'm in the minority.
In the given sequence, I'll take the low road and bid only 1nt on the 2nd round.
Unless prd. finds some ♦ raise if opps. compete over that, I'm done bidding.

[whereagles]

mtvesuvius, on Mar 8 2009, 11:48 PM, said:

whereagles, on Mar 8 2009, 06:44 PM, said:

hum.. I might just bid 2♦ and follow up with dbl. The problem of doubling is pard may bid clubs and I'll be a bit stuck.

Correct to ♦ then?

Yeah, but if you bid 2♦ and pard bids to 3♣, you know you belong in clubs. If you dbl and LHO bids, if pard now bids 3♣ you won't know whether he's got 6 or 4 or them.

Dbl is ok if pard bids only 2♣. The problem is if he bids 3.

[ArtK78]

I agree that 1x - (1y) - P - (P) - 1NT shows 18-19 balanced.

I agree that 1x - (P) - P - (1y) - 1NT shows 18-19 balanced.

However, when both opponents bid, it makes little sense to bid 1NT. They have announced to you that partner is broke or nearly broke. So, 2NT would be suicidal. Even 1NT is dangerous.

Yes, one of the opps could be full of it. But I suspect that in the long run bidding NT is not a good idea.

I would double, showing cards (I am not so extreme in my position on this hand that I would pass).

[jdonn]

ArtK78, on Mar 9 2009, 12:51 PM, said:

I agree that 1x - (1y) - P - (P) - 1NT shows 18-19 balanced.

I agree that 1x - (P) - P - (1y) - 1NT shows 18-19 balanced.

However, when both opponents bid, it makes little sense to bid 1NT.  They have announced to you that partner is broke or nearly broke.  So, 2NT would be suicidal.  Even 1NT is dangerous.

Yes, one of the opps could be full of it.  But I suspect that in the long run bidding NT is not a good idea.

I would double, showing cards (I am not so extreme in my position on this hand that I would pass).

And people wonder why I overcall on less and less and less as I get older!

Seriously I have yet to see an argument against 2NT that I find convincing (someone even said the Q♠ is wrong?) Yes if partner has a 0 count then 1NT will work better. That applies in many cases where we are reasonably forced to show our hand and hope partner has just a little.

[Phil]

jdonn, on Mar 9 2009, 12:57 PM, said:

Seriously I have yet to see an argument against 2NT that I find convincing (someone even said the Q♠ is wrong?) Yes if partner has a 0 count then 1NT will work better. That applies in many cases where we are reasonably forced to show our hand and hope partner has just a little.

We don't have a heart stop?

I agree 2N is right on values however.

Oh, we have a trick source too

[kenberg]

Spoiler alert: I have dispayed the two hands below.


I was surprised and pleased by the variety of responses! I rebid 2♦ which I think is wrong. Bidding 2♦, and doubling and converting the expected 2♣ response to 2♦, presumably both show hands where I am aware of the vulnerability but think it reasonable to contract for 8 tricks with a passing partner and two bidding opponents. It seems to me that directly bidding 2♦ should be on solid and long ♦s, while doubling and converting might be more like what I have. I considered 1NT, I thought briefly about 2NT. I did not consider a blast to 3NT.

At the other table the auction went 2N-3N. [ Edit 1: My bad, of course there was a Stayman bid on the way to 3NT] The contract could be made as the cards lay, could have been defeated as it was played, and made.


Here are the hands:

Scoring: IMP

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At the other table the opening lead was the ♥6, the Jack was played and E followed with the 5. I wouldn't say you can spread the hand for nine tricks but there is a decent play fpr contract. Some decisions need to be made. But the J holding at T1 is a good start. [Edit 2; Not that huge a play problem. You play for ♦ honors yo be split and they are. Delarer took the spade ginesseat T2. It works abut now you can no longer get your ninth trick in ♦ w/o allowing opps to set up their cashable ♥s)]

[Phil]

So pard forgot to bid 1N. Bridge can be tough sometimes.

[jdonn]

Phil, on Mar 10 2009, 01:20 AM, said:

So pard forgot to bid 1N. Bridge can be tough sometimes.

Or he remembered that it shows a better hand than he holds?

[rogerclee]

We have been over this already, 1N in competition shows 6-10 in Orange County and England, but extras everywhere else.

[jdonn]

rogerclee, on Mar 10 2009, 01:43 AM, said:

We have been over this already, 1N in competition shows 6-10 in Orange County and England, but extras everywhere else.

?!?!?!

7+ to 10 pls???