[AL78]

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Opponents playing 5CM, North is a scratch partner playing Acol, weak NT, 3 weak twos. What do you do?

[eagles123]

Pass

[mikeh]

Matchpoints? Do I need a top? Then double and lead a trump. Imps…pass at something approximating the speed of light.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass?

Be grateful that p is alive.

[apollo1201]

With partner a passed hand, the flat shape and defensive values do not make a 9-trick contract our way a fancy place to play.

West correcting back to 3S would be a surprisingly pleasant evolution of the bidding, but most likely we ll end up leading C as much as possible to limit dummy s S ruffs.

[AL78]

I passed based on holding good defence and I thought there was a chance EW might walk into a disaster. I was right:

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I doubled on the assumption we probably have a heart contract our way and I was trying to get +200. If they pull to 4♣ I'm whacking that as well. +500 got us a near top, the only score to beat us was a +1100 for 5♣X-4.

The EW post-mortem revolved along the idea that because they were playing 5 card majors, East thought that if he opened 1♣, his partner would think he has denied a five card major suit, so he thought it best to bid the five card major first.

[P_Marlowe]

AL78, on 2025-December-04, 13:46, said:

I passed based on holding good defence and I thought there was a chance EW might walk into a disaster. I was right:

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I doubled on the assumption we probably have a heart contract our way and I was trying to get +200. If they pull to 4♣ I'm whacking that as well. +500 got us a near top, the only score to beat us was a +1100 for 5♣X-4.

The EW post-mortem revolved along the idea that because they were playing 5 card majors, East thought that if he opened 1♣, his partner would think he has denied a five card major suit, so he thought it best to bid the five card major first.

North has an opening bid?
I mean, I am pretty conservative, but I guess, even I would have found a 1H opening bid.
Although 420 is less than 500.

[AL78]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-December-04, 14:26, said:

North has an opening bid?
I mean, I am pretty conservative, but I guess, even I would have found a 1H opening bid.
Although 420 is less than 500.

I agree, I did wonder at the time what sort of hand couldn't open 1 or 2♥ but could find a 2♥ overcall, admittedly in the protective seat.

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2025-December-04, 14:45, said:

I agree, I did wonder at the time what sort of hand couldn't open 1 or 2♥ but could find a 2♥ overcall, admittedly in the protective seat.

One firm partnership agreement of mine is that there is no such hand.
It helps to agree that one may open 2M with 4oM.

[jillybean]

mikeh, on 2025-December-03, 22:23, said:

. Imps…pass at something approximating the speed of light.

I know you are joking but for those who may not, you’re going to have the Director at your table.

[Huibertus]

Lucky you. You would have had a bad score had the opponents knew what they were doing simply because partner refused to open. I don't know you styles, but either 1♥/2♥ or 3♥ should fit it, and an opening pass should be banned on this North hand.

[P_Marlowe]

pescetom, on 2025-December-04, 15:45, said:

One firm partnership agreement of mine is that there is no such hand.
It helps to agree that one may open 2M with 4oM.

I could picture hands with a 5 card heart suit that bid the way North bid,
a ragged 6 card suit is also possible, but not this suit.

[Cyberyeti]

AL78, on 2025-December-04, 13:46, said:

The EW post-mortem revolved along the idea that because they were playing 5 card majors, East thought that if he opened 1♣, his partner would think he has denied a five card major suit, so he thought it best to bid the five card major first.

How many wouuld 200 have scored you which is what you should be getting ?

This is a clear 1♥ opener

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-05, 04:03, said:

How many wouuld 200 have scored you which is what you should be getting ?

This is a clear 1♥ opener

If you play the rule of 19.

[Cyberyeti]

mw64ahw, on 2025-December-05, 05:04, said:

If you play the rule of 19.

If you have any clue about hand valuation, it's 6 rock solid playing tricks, you need to open it, it's worth way more than 10 points

I don't always agree with K&R, but that assesses this as 13.2

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-05, 05:20, said:

If you have any clue about hand valuation, it's 6 rock solid playing tricks, you need to open it, it's worth way more than 10 points

I don't always agree with K&R, but that assesses this as 13.2

I'm not disagreeing with opening 1♥; just stating that many club players won't.

[P_Marlowe]

mw64ahw, on 2025-December-05, 05:33, said:

I'm not disagreeing with opening 1♥; just stating that many club players won't.

I am not doubting it, although when I learned to play in Irland, i.e. Acol land,
I learned, that I can add length points, doing this, and why not?
the suit is pretty good, I will end up with 12, not 13 K&R, but 12 is enough,
7 loosers as well.

But if you agreed to play the rule of 20, ..., and dont play w2, and dont like
opening 3H, than pass it is.

[AL78]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-05, 04:03, said:

How many wouuld 200 have scored you which is what you should be getting ?

This is a clear 1♥ opener

An average plus, 8/14 MPs for -200. Of the three pairs our way in hearts, one only bid to 3♥ and the other two went off in game.

[AL78]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-December-05, 06:00, said:

I am not doubting it, although when I learned to play in Irland, i.e. Acol land,
I learned, that I can add length points, doing this, and why not?
the suit is pretty good, I will end up with 12, not 13 K&R, but 12 is enough,
7 loosers as well.

But if you agreed to play the rule of 20, ..., and dont play w2, and dont like
opening 3H, than pass it is.

We were playing weak twos. I wonder if partner mis-observed his hand and thought he had a 5332 10 count which would be a reasonable pass as opener, then realised he had a much better hand on his second turn.

[P_Marlowe]

AL78, on 2025-December-05, 06:12, said:

We were playing weak twos. I wonder if partner mis-observed his hand and thought he had a 5332 10 count which would be a reasonable pass as opener, then realised he had a much better hand on his second turn.

Given that I am sleepy as well, this is something I can understand.