Who overbid

[Echognome]

"In true basic Acol 1S-2D-2NT = 15-16 balanced, not 15+ and is non-forcing. Welcome to the land of truly light 2/1s."

 

I gather Rule of 19 openings are common in ACOL. Are the 9+ 2/1 responses forcing, and if so what do you rebid with a 5224 10 count in the sequence 1S-2D-?

 

Do you have a rebid that is for minimum openers only?

 

Peter

You rebid 2♠ of course. This only promises a 5 card suit and shows a minimum hand.

[beatrix45]

:P

North is at fault - 100% With two balanced/semi-balanced hands, HCP's matter!

 

He made a silly error in bidding 6♦. Partner is asking for a max to bid six NT. He has a min. Pass would be OK, esp at matchpoints where stopping at 5♦ isn't a good idea.

 

His other possible call is 4♦, intending to pull in his horns thereafter. When pard responds 5♣, he must bid 5♦ knowing that his side is off the heart ace. So, play 4NT at matchpoints and 5♦ at IMPs.

 

wtp?

[Robert]

Hello beatrix45

 

HCP do matter in slam auctions. The right kind of HCP also are very

important. Borderline slams with several Jacks often go down because of a lack of controls.

 

I have a warning in my CONFIT bidding section that says that the presense of even one Jack is a warning sign in minimum HCP slam auctions. The presense of 2+ Jacks is a caution flag. In the example bidding hand, the two jacks in the stronger hand is a reason to hold back 'somewhat' in the bidding.

 

Neither Jack added to the trick taking power in this hand. Trading the two jacks and the spade queen in for the KJ of spades(both 4HCPs) would raise the odds on this hand to about 50% from the 24% odds that resulted in this slam going down.

 

Regards,

Robert

[beatrix45]

I have a warning in my CONFIT bidding section that says that the presense of even one Jack is a warning sign in minimum HCP slam auctions.  The presense of 2+ Jacks is a caution flag.  In the example bidding hand, the two jacks in the stronger hand is a reason to hold back 'somewhat' in the bidding.

:( Excellent point! I presume you are not thinking of well-placed jacks embedded in a long suit. e.g. AQJxx. Rather that, Jxx or AJx aren't quite worth 'one point'.

 

One additional observation. With balanced hands, the closer you are to having all the high cards, the closer jacks are to parity (i.e. worth 'one point'). Try simulating two balanced hands with a combined 36, 37 and 38 HCP respectively. Play them out to see what your odds are for taking 13 tricks, and I think you will see what I mean.

[Robert]

Hello beatrix45

 

I use a CONFIT auction with pretty fair results over my 1NT or 2NT openings.

My policy of Jacks being a warning sign in 31+ auctions seems to work. :)

 

I am a poor card holder, I will have to run a simulation to get practice holding combined 36, 37 and 38HCP hands. :(

 

I would much rather be off four Jacks than one Ace holding 36 HCP if I am trying to make a seven NT contract.

 

How many hands do you want me to run missing the Jacks necessary to get my total HCP down to 36, 37 or 38 points. Is 16 hands a fair indication for your suggestion?

 

Fire up my hand generating program. Be back shortly I hope.

 

Regards,

Robert

[Robert]

Hello beatrix45

 

Hands generated were maxed out at 35+HCP

 

First 20 hands only produced four hands with 36+ HCP. 37HCP had 14 top tricks.

 

36HCP had 18 top tricks 36HCP had 14 top tricks. 36HCP had 15 top tricks.

 

The 35HCP hands twice had a missing Ace. I couldn't make more than 12 tricks.

 

Two contracts made only 11 tricks. Seven made 12 tricks. Four made 13 tricks.

 

One made 16 tricks. One made 15 tricks.

 

These were random 35+HCP hands.

 

Regards,

Robert