[cnszsun]

Scoring: IMP

---

bidding:
1♣-(1♦)-?
Will you bid 1♠? Without rho's 1♦, will you make the same decision?
Do I need more strength and better suit to make a one level response after RHO's overcall?

[inquiry]

I use to pass these things, so that my "free bids" showed more. The logic seemed sound at the time. You keep the bidding open for partner with weak hands in case he has a monster. Here you RHO has done that for you.

Over the years, I came to learn that if you don't show your values when you have the chance at the one level, you usually regret it when you have to make a decision to balance or not at a higher level. This hand is worth a bid, and the best time to do it is now. Bid your 1♠ (or if you play with Misho 1♥ showing ♠'s, but that is another story). Now you are out of the auction.

BTW, this is very close decision. Change ♥AJT to ♥AT9 and I would be much less sure the free bid is the winning call in the long run.

Ben

[luis]

1s both times.

[mishovnbg]

Hi Michael!
The reason why 1♠ bid is good in both cases is because miracle for game is more important than best score. If you find fit ♠ you will have 2 more tricks in ♠ (4th and 5th) and your strength is even above min!
Misho

[Free]

Yes, always 1♠. You don't always need 6 HCP to bid imo, certainly with the mastersuit!

[Trpltrbl]

Pass first time, and if no overcall I would bid 1♠.

Mike

[Polish Goalie]

Would I have bid 1♠ without the overcall? Absolutely.
WIll I bid 1♠ after the overcall? Absolutely.

I don't need the ♥ Jack either time. I have Spades; it pays to bid, particularly when you have Spades. Passing and backing in is dangerous; you may (and often are against competent opponents) faced with a decision at the 3 or even 4 level on your next turn. Bidding now and hearing what partner has to say is invaluable in making a later decision.

[dogsbreath]

Definitely 1S ..at worst better to bid now than be tempted back in later.
Rgds Dog

Quote

furnulum pani nolo

[whereagles]

Playing 2/1 there's not much need to bid 1♠ here. Still, I think most of the times I'd venture bidding it. Depends a bit on opponents and state of the match.

The need to bid 1♠ is more pressing opposite, say, a precision 1♦. If you pass now, a limited opener is not likely to bid again unless he has something special.

[the hog]

1S. Get in while the going is good. Do not understand the above comment at all.

[cnszsun]

Thanks all for your replies. At table, i bid 1♠ without much hesitation, the reason behind is just as many have indicated here: I may have to make a decision at higher level later if i don't do it now. But, my pd later said i should not bid a free bid with such a lousy hand and lousy suit. He is a good player on BBO, so i fear i may have a wrong understanding about "free bid". Now my mind is much clear. Thx again.

[JRG]

My experience is exactly the same as Ben's.

We used to pass, because the "free bid" showed some extras. We have all learnt that to do so gets you shut out of the auction. If you would have responded and can still make the same bid, then do so.

[the hog]

I may be wrong about this, as ideas may differ in different countries, but basically here we believe that when you have a bid to make, you make it. That means bidding 1S like here, or raising partner with minimum hands. Here in Oz the concept of "free" bid showing extras has largely died out. You make the most descriptive bid possible in showing a suit or in raising partner. This is a bidders game after all.

Cheers
Ron

[Trpltrbl]

It is a bidders game but most of you forget Pass is a bid too. And I highly doubt my next decision is at 3 or 4 level.
I have not run into problems yet, with making these decisions.

Mike

[Cascade]

I used to pass these too.

Now I bid one spade without the 5th spade.

[1eyedjack]

cnszsun, on May 24 2004, 07:21 PM, said:

Thanks all for your replies. At table, i bid 1♠ without much hesitation, the reason behind is just as many have indicated here: I may have to make a decision at higher level later if i don't do it now. But, my pd later said i should not bid a free bid with such a lousy hand and lousy suit. He is a good player on BBO, so i fear i may have a wrong understanding about "free bid". Now my mind is much clear. Thx again.

I doubt that it will make much difference which you choose between an initial pass and 1♠ (and the same applies in uncontested!). The existence of partnership agreement on the minimum requirement is more important than the specifics of the agreement. Next time with that partner I would pass, because that is what he expects.

[inquiry]

Michael fear not, everyone makes mistakes. This time, the mistake wasn't yours, necessarily. The free bid shows substantial values is not horrible bridge, just not adhered to much any more. I suspect the mistake here was your expert partner's. He was wearing some very rose colored glasses. Here is the hand in question...

Scoring: IMP

West North East South

 Pass  1♣    1♦    1♠
 2♦    3♣    Pass  Pass
 3♦    4♣    Pass  Pass
 Dbl   Pass  4♦    Pass
 Pass  4♠    Pass  Pass
 Dbl   Pass  Pass  Pass
 

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If you pass, your side is out of the auction probably for ever. In addition. When you show up with the ♥AJ, and presumably long spades your partner will be played for the doubleton ♠Q because you didn't bid. As it is, declearer will surely misguess ♠ and likely misguess ♦ if they play in ♦.

It is also worth noting, that you PASSED 3♣, a very forward going bid by your partner. Your opponents doubled his 4♣ for penalty (probably down one) with correct restricted choice guess. But what in the world was he doing bidding 4♠? Sure by "old fashion" free bid style your hand was light, but even opposite a sound free bid 1♠, his hand is unsuited for a 4♠ bid. The road to riches here is paved in golden double. Even double dummy, 4♦ has no chance, as it has to lose 3♥ and a ♣, and i would not be surprised to see a ♠ come your way, as well as maybe a ♦. So, rack up +300 at a realistic minumum, and a likely +500.

Ben

[whereagles]

Hog: the point is as follows.

If you're playing 2/1, pard can still be strong enough to find another bid if you pass now. Then you'll have a second chance to show your spades. Playing precision, pard won't have a strong hand, so it's unlikely your side will get to bid again, thus the more urgent it is to make now a bid for the competition.

[the hog]

The above is illogical. Regardless of what system you play, if you have a bid, make it. How else can opener distinguish between
Txxxx
AJT
xxx
xx

and
xxxx
xx
xxx
xxxx

[Fluffy]

Bidding at level 1 after overcall shows exactly the same than when they didn´t bid, in my opinon. (At least a hand that is gonna play game opposite a 19 HCP balanced)

That doesn´t mean you will bid the same if they bid, in the example I would bid 1♠ over 1♦, but pass if RHO passed. But anyway is a close decision, ,so I wouldn´t criticice any of the choices.