[VegasVern]

Playing 2/1, the bidding goes pass, pass (me),2D (weak),2NT by my partner.

I assumed that he had a 1NT opener and two diamond stoppers. He had 11 highs with the AKx of diamonds.

I went to 3N with my balanced 9 highs and KJTxx of clubs.

Critique please.

[Free]

Partner is a noob.

[blackshoe]

Your partner misbid.

[matmat]

I ♥ these threads.

[helene_t]

Partner shows 16-19 points or something like that.

[peachy]

2NT was a misbid. You knew it. The rest of the world knows it.
Isn't your partner feeling bad enough already without your posting it on the forum?

[neilkaz]

peachy, on Mar 14 2009, 01:37 PM, said:

2NT was a misbid.  You knew it. The rest of the world knows it.
Isn't your partner feeling bad enough already without your posting it on the forum?

I'll bet his partner didn't have a clue that he was doing anything wrong. Hopefully he'll come to this forum and improve his bridge at least a bit.

[Hanoi5]

I expect these topics to be made in order to:

a. Clear a point you're not sure about.
b. Convince partner of what's normal, standard.
c. Win a discussion.

It should never be the aim of this kind of post to humiliate someone.

[VegasVern]

peachy, on Mar 14 2009, 11:37 AM, said:

2NT was a misbid.  You knew it. The rest of the world knows it.
Isn't your partner feeling bad enough already without your posting it on the forum?

For your information (not that it matters) my "partner" was a complete stranger to me. I have no idea how he "feels," or if he even cares. Since I want to improve my game, I discussed it with a friend.

I assumed his bid meant a 1NT opener with a couple of diamond stoppers. After our discussion, I thought perhaps I could be in error. I started to have doubts. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

So I decided to ask those in the know here.

Does that clear things up for you?

[rogerclee]

This thread is ridiculous, he posted a simple question and all people can do is make fun of him or assume he has some sort of evil agenda.

To answer your question, your partner's bid typically shows about 15 to 18 points and at least one diamond stopper, though sometimes these kinds of hands have the option to either double or overcall 2N, so you were right in the sense that this is typically a strong NT type hand, though the upper range is slightly higher.

With the minimum hands that can't make a takeout double, you just have to pass. This isn't perfect, and I understand why you might feel apprehensive about passing with an opening bid--after all, it is possible that you are getting stolen from. Still, experience has proven that it is better to pass with these kinds of hands, which I can go into more if you'd like (but I think it's clear why there are some problems with bidding 2N with a bad minimum balanced hand).

[Free]

rogerclee, on Mar 15 2009, 08:07 AM, said:

~snip~ and I understand why you might feel apprehensive about passing with an opening bid--after all, ~snip~

This thread is indeed ridiculous when everyone knows that 2NT is a clear mistake, but especially when you try to explain why with quotes like the above. Balanced 11HCP with a passed partner isn't even an opening.

[blackshoe]

This is the internet. Everyone has an evil agenda.

[jdonn]

Free, on Mar 15 2009, 05:20 AM, said:

This thread is indeed ridiculous when everyone knows that 2NT is a clear mistake

Who are you to say what everyone knows?? I have seen people overcall 2NT over a weak two bid with minors. If you think it's a bad question that don't answer it, but only a troll would poison the thread for someone who wants to learn.

Helene and Roger are right.

[peachy]

jdonn, on Mar 15 2009, 12:30 PM, said:

Free, on Mar 15 2009, 05:20 AM, said:

This thread is indeed ridiculous when everyone knows that 2NT is a clear mistake

Who are you to say what everyone knows?? I have seen people overcall 2NT over a weak two bid with minors. If you think it's a bad question that don't answer it, but only a troll would poison the thread for someone who wants to learn.

Helene and Roger are right.

My apologies to OP and others who may have taken offense from what I said.
To me, the tone and phrasing of the OP did not come across as "wanting to learn". It came across to me as "wanting to expose partner's silly bid". It now appears I was wrong to read it that way. Standard in SAYC and in all learning material says 2NT overcall over their weak two is a strong NT hand with stopper(s) in their suit.