Raising 1C in competition

[kfgauss]

A point that I wasn't so familiar with came up recently.

 

My partnerships have agreed that without competition, our preemptive raise to 3m is mixed when vul and weak when non-vul (mixed = 18-19 bal bids 3N, weak = 18-19 bal passes usually). We probably have the same agreement implicitly in competition, however there's the extra bid of 2C. My impression is that 2C is less shapely than 3C, and 6-10 or so (which I guess we'll call "mixed" in this discussion).

 

However, one can bid 2C, and then further compete to 3C. My partner suggested that this shows mixed values and enough shape to get to 3C, so when non-vul, one jumps with a weak 3C bid and bids 2C..3C with a mixed 3C bid. For example, he took this action on 95 53 9764 AQJ43 over 1C 1S (none vul, mps). Is this interpretation standard (or, more relevantly, do people like this treatment)?

 

I would've simply bid 3C on this hand, and think that in competition, preemption is more important in this situation than making sure you get to 3N opposite an 18-19 bal partner (at least with the given hand... change it to 95 Q3 9764 AQJ43 and I admit 3C is undesirable for various reasons, though I'm still not sure whether I like 2C..3C or 3C more).

 

Then there's the further point of what to do when vul in competition. Should one play 3C weak and 2C..3C mixed (even though not in comp we play 3C as mixed)? If not, what should 2C..3C mean, if anything?

 

Any thoughts people have on this topic would be appreciated.

 

Andy

[Guest Jlall]

I would not want to make a preemptive raise with Kx Qxx Jxx Qxxxx either, but I would certainly balance over 2S. Hands that either have too much defense and not enough shape for 3C, or are simply too strong for 3C would start with 2C. You don't want partner to misjudge in competitive auctions and whether to save or not, as well as whether or not to bid 3N.

 

Your example hand with 2245 and the AQJ of clubs might well bid 3C as a tactical bid, it shows the orientation of your hand (clubs, offense) and if partner saves it will surely be the right thing. However, not all hands are as pure.

 

Your agreement that partner can bid 3N with 18-19 bal after a vul 3C seems sound to me. With xx xxx xxx xxxxx you don't want to bid when red, but 3C would seem warranted white/red. In that case, I would just say a 2C followed by 3C sequence shows a hand that is not suitable for a preempt.