Support Doubles

[Winstonm]

As was pointed out, both hands hold the heart Q so these were not facing hands nor the actual hands that started the discussion.  It was odd that after playing all this time together a situation came up of which we had never discussed - what to do with a big hand and is pass semi-forcing a la negative doubles.  The actual hands were even stranger, and due to the good spots and partner holding the right pair of jacks slam was cold.

 

[hv=d=n&v=e&n=sa542hkjda4cakj93&s=sk7hat974dkq82ct2]133|200|Scoring: IMP

The actual and ugly auction was:

 

1C-P-1H-1S

P-P-2S-P

3S-P-3N-P

4C-P-4D-P

4N-P-P-P.[/hv]

20 HCP hands, especially semi-balanced ones, can be difficult to bid.

 

It might be useful to consider opening 2N= 20-21 more often with these sorts of hands.

 

Now at least a 12 HCP Responder knows to think about slam immediately:

(...and They tend not to dive into Our 2N auctions...)

 

2N-3D+;3H-4D= ?55? or ?54? with slam interest.

 

..and now you can have an thoughtful auction or blast if you feel like it.

I certainly agree that many 5422 patterns are better opened 2N, but I cannot find fault with partner's 1C opening on such a strongly suit-oriented hand so rich in controls - 2N also kills a lot of club slams.

 

Suffice it to say we need to figure out some kind of agreements on continuations if playing support doubles.

[foo]

I certainly agree that many 5422 patterns are better opened 2N, but I cannot find fault with partner's 1C opening on such a strongly suit-oriented hand so rich in controls - 2N also kills a lot of club slams.

 

Suffice it to say we need to figure out some kind of agreements on continuations if playing support doubles.

Please do not misunderstand. I did not mean any criticism of your pard's judgement!

 

I am also well aware that 2N=20-21 is sometimes called "the slam killer".

 

My POV is that in my studying and experience suggest:

1) You should open as many 20-21 HCP hands 2N as possible so that

a) 1foo is more of a Limit Bid (showing 11-19 the vast majority of the time)

b ) 1foo when strong is also shapely helping with rebid problems

c) you get maximum utility out of your 2N Response Structure

 

2) This hand type is a Problem weather you play Support X's or not.

Let's say you =don't= play Support X's:

♠A542♥KJ♦A4♣AKJ93

 

1C-pa-1H-(1S);-??

 

You are still utterly stuck.

X as penalty is not going to compensate you for a missed slam, and may very well not compensate you for a missed Game.

A 2D Reverse is a lie with regards to shape.

2S! is probably your best bet, but neither shows your strength nor your value placement.

3C definitely does not do this 20 HCP =4225 justice

etc.

You basically do not have a decent rebid.

 

Uncontested, the plan was probably 1C-1H;2S , and I can easily see that Opener was not expecting a S overcall!

 

OTOH, opening this 2N=20-21 solves all the potential rebid problems at the price of eating the one and two levels.

 

On the balance, it looks like opening this hand 2N works out better than opening it 1C.

[Codo]

Hi Winston,

 

your pd had been lucky to find you as pard or to find so many HCPS in your hand, that you did not pass 1 Spade.

 

I cannot believe, that so strong hands should pass over 1 Spade. Bid 2 Spade and if Pd denies a stopper, bid 3 NT anyway, then he will nearly "know" your hand.

 

Quite hard to reach the slam, but the bidding from your opponent should make the play much easier, as he is supposed to have the missing High Cards. But I doubt, that it is easy to reach this slam without a fit and 32 HCPs. With a third Heart f.e. the slam had been great and surly found.

 

 

Besides: I think, that this hand surely qualifies for a 2 NT opening, as both short suits are well covered.

[keylime]

Forgive my hazy language in advance; this is my mental exercise for the day following my zap treatment.

 

I am not a fan of opening 2NT, with a hand that offers great play for 5 or 6 clubs. The clubs are the prominent feature of the hand, NOT the quality doubletons. The fact that my opp overcalled 1♠ before my rebid I feel HELPS me more than hurts me. I can bid 2♠ freely knowing partner can now limit their hand. What happens if pard is on a six bagger in hearts? With a relatively medium hand slam in two/three strains are possible.

 

Opening 2NT, after a transfer into hearts, might go like this:

 

2NT-3D

3H-3NT.

 

Not good bridge. I think this hand is BETTER than 2NT to begin with, and opening 1C is the most practical solution, since opening 2C is icky.

[jdonn]

Nothing was wrong with opening 1♣, but it is an error to pass over 1♠ with a hand that good, partner could easily pass out 8 or 9 counts with no convenient bid. I would have cuebid 2♠ planning on bidding 3NT next, there just doesn't seem to be any other reasonable alternative. After the 2♠ bid south would probably bid 3NT himself, there is no point in messing around when partner didn't make a support double or anything. North has a little extra for his cuebid which could have been on 18-19 balanced and would bid 4NT, and south has enough for 6NT opposite the cuebid then 4NT bid, which must show at least 20.

 

A 2NT opening is not the most accurate bid, though sometimes it pays to simplify the auction at the cost of a little accuracy. I wouldn't do it though, Ax is a bad holding to have in one of the doubletons for opening 2NT with a shape like this. On the expected auction this hand would have been easy to bid, 1♣ then 2♠ then 3NT. You don't expect much competition at all when you have a balanced 20, and you certainly don't expect it in one of your long suits!

[foo]

Hi Dwayne! :huh:

 

I completely understand the fear of 2N-3D+;3H-3N or 2N-2D+;4H! and perhaps missing a slam.

 

However, Responder knows that the average 20-21 HCP balanced hand will have ~7 1/3 (20 HCP) or 7.5 (21 HCP) controls.

 

Usually 10+ controls are needed to be in a slam.

 

Any Responding hand with 3+ controls or 2+ controls and significant values and/or shape for the auction should not let the auction die in just Game.

 

I also agree with jdonn's comments that Opener should do =something= strong sounding and that should "wake up" Responder.