How aggressive are you

[hrothgar]

Here's a hand from the teaching session that Bobh2 ran this evening. (For what its worth, I think that he chose an interesting theme. All of the hands were chosen such that

 

1♠ - 2♠

3♥

 

was a feasible start to the auction. It lead to some interesting discussion regarding hand evaluation by the 2♠ bidder)

 

With this said and done, playing "standard" I held (approximately)

 

♠ 987

♥ K75

♦ JT83

♣ QJT

 

Partner opened 1♠ and I chose a 1N advance (natural and non-forcing). Partner rebid 2♥ and I bid 2♠. At this point in time, partner rebid 3♣ (natural, fragment)

 

Whats your call (and why)

[Guest Jlall]

4S, all my cards are working and I have 3 trumps.

[luke warm]

i missed this one, i don't recall anyone responding 1nt or any opener bidding a fragment... i'd bid 4s now because partner's bidding has only made my ♦J useless, the other 6 hcp are good... he's inviting me to bid game and all my hcp are in suits in which he's shown strength

[Kalvan14]

4♠: a maximum for my bid, 3 trumps and all my cards work

[mauro_1946]

Here's a hand from the teaching session that Bobh2 ran this evening. (For what its worth, I think that he chose an interesting theme. All of the hands were chosen such that

 

1♠ - 2♠

3♥

 

was a feasible start to the auction. It lead to some interesting discussion regarding hand evaluation by the 2♠ bidder.

 

With this said and done, playing "standard" I held (approximately)

 

♠ 987

♥ K75

♦ JT83

♣ QJT

 

Partner opened 1♠ and I chose a 1N advance (natural and non-forcing). Partner rebid 2♥ and I bid 2♠. At this point in time, partner rebid 3♣ (natural, fragment)

 

Whats your call (and why)

Hi, my name is Mauro and i'm a new member. I read a lot of discussions and found very interesting your forum. Compliments...and sorry for my poor english. The theme seems to be "how aggressive are you" and i agree that to be aggressive pay a lot (even if Garozzo, talking about Forquet sayd "he never takes a risk, but he never makes a mistake"...and Forquet wasn't the last player in bridge history), but ,if you have room, it's better to try to be precise instead of to much unilateral.

Coming to the this interesting hand, well, i know to have 3 atout (and i could have only 2♠ by the bidding), and usefull cards, but this is not the best i could have. So i'd prefer to leave the decision to my partner, noticing him "i'm alive", so i'd bid 3♥ always and with a good partner 3♦, showing ♥ and ♣ support. So i accept your invitation, but not sure we have game (i'd bid game with Kx♥ or Kx/xx♣).

Mauro

[Free]

After the bidding 1♠-2♠-3♥, I'd signoff in 3♠. However, after the bidding 1♠-1NT;2♥-2♠;3♣, I'd end up in 4♠ since I have working values.

[mike777]

Partner asked about my hearts and I got rock crusher.

Even after a constructive raise (7-10) I think one needs to bid 4s. Partner asked about hearts not if you are 4333 with only 7 hcp.

[awm]

I agree with Free. The way to get to game after a 2♠ raise is to make a club game try. Then I can make a counter-try with 3♥ and we will reach 4♠ if my cards are all working.

 

In my opinion, the auction 1♠-2♠-3♥ suggests that slow values in clubs will not be working, and there's no reason to think that one heart card and nothing else useful will be enough for game. Certainly I would never accept any game try if I had made a direct raise on xxx Kxx xxxx xxx, even in hearts, and that is what this hand amounts to (no I don't normally raise on that). In game try situations I generally look for 5-6 working points (working points are in trumps, in partner's long suit, or outside aces, or outside kings with a slight downgrade).

[han]

I agree with 4S, although I think that it is quite close. Even though almost all of our highcards are working, this is a poor hand. Given that you were bidding this hand with a British junior it may be right to bid only 3S :unsure: .

[jillybean]

Partner asked about my hearts and I got rock crusher.

Even after a constructive raise (7-10) I think one needs to bid 4s.  Partner asked about hearts not if you are 4333 with only 7 hcp.

 

 

Rock crusher? K♥ or do you mean a diamond stop? :unsure:

[Echognome]

A bit late in the game, but i'm bidding 4♠ here. Heavy invites, light acceptances. Everything's working and I've given partner a couple of chances to get out and he's still interested.

[Winstonm]

I would expect partner to be 5413 in this auction with something like Akjxx, Ajxx, x, Kxx so would bid 4S with all the cards working. And if game is worse than on a finesse, I would think partner overbid his hand.

 

Edited as I read the auction incorrectly. After 1S-1N-2H-2S, partner has made a natural fragment game try and I have an extra spade and I still have a responding hand when you toss out the diamond J so I bid 4S.

 

Winston

[Chamaco]

I have 6 working hcp and flat shape, and no extras from what I promised (no ruffing values, so 3rd trump is not a feature) already, unless the partnership has agreed to play VERY light 1NT bids, this is a bare minimum.

 

Because shape is bad, from my side of the table I shall bid game only on power (maximum hcp content), and that would mean to be in the 8-9 hcp range (or even a good 7 such a suit with AK or AQJ) excluding the values in diamonds.

 

 

 

I bid 3S offering a signoff.If game is on shape, pard will have shape, and can still go on.

If pard has the hand Winston has suggested, he'll bid 4S himself (my 1NT bid already showed I am not broke, and my 2S preference has shown spade tolerance).

 

I'd expect a 5=4=1=3 shape rather than a 6=3=1=3 shape

[Al_U_Card]

I certainly prefer responding 2♠ with that flat mess, but when pard takes a huge step with 3♣ based on my bidding, is he not looking for 3NT if I have a ♦ suit? I could be 2254 or worse. I consider my hand unsuitable for game in NT (they will lead ♦ at every opportunity) but would consider a 4♥ bid. Pard is expecting a doubleton ♠ and at best xxx in ♥. ♥ may be our better trump suit, so why not get it in? If he has better spades he will "know" (I did prefer to ♠) that I have enough in ♠ to make game there too. If I bid 3♥ and he then bids 3♠, do I pass or bid 3NT or 4♠ or what?

[Chamaco]

I certainly prefer responding 2♠ with that flat mess, but when pard takes a huge step with 3♣ based on my bidding, is he not looking for 3NT if I have a ♦ suit?

Could be, although the 3C bid may want to keep the bidding open if I have a balanced 8-9 (or a bad 10) with doubleton support or equivalent (e.g. 4333), which could be consistent with the bidding.

 

What I mean is that opener does not necessarily guarantee a battleship with 3C, but might hold simply a (really) good hand that wants to give a shot to game if I am maximum.

 

 

BTW, offering a Moysian in hearts seems to take quite a position, as all the ruffing values will be in the hand with 4 trumps, with the high likelihood of losing trump control.

While this is not so dramatic in a partscore, where it often happens hat declarer scrambles home with 8-9 tricks, it seem much more dangerous in game contracts.

[Winstonm]

3H in this auction should not be offering a Moysian opposite a known 5413 pattern but should suggest some doubt about the final contract - it should express a guarded optimisim about the auction up to this point and tell partner you are cooperating in the game try but are minimum for your action. I would expect 3H to be a hand like: xxx, KQx, xxxx, J9x.

 

Winston