It's not bridge

[Echognome]

1.

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]133|100|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - P - (P) - ?[/hv]

 

Do you balance?

 

Or did you overcall?

 

Or are you going quietly into the night?

 

2.

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]133|100|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - P - (P) - ?[/hv]

 

Pick your poison.

[temp3600]

1. Pass the first time, 2S now.

 

2. 1NT. Qx is lovely.

[pbleighton]

1. I overcall with my primary pd. We overcall with mediocre 4 card suits, why not a bad 5 card suit? With most people I don't overcall, but I do balance. We aren't vulnerable, after all.

 

Vul, I would overcall but not balance.

 

2. If we weren't vulnerable 2H would be automatic. Vulnerable, it's close, but I still bid 2H.

 

Peter

[mike777]

1) 1s over 1h

2) x

[mgoetze]

First hand 2♠, second hand double. Twice (or thrice?) in a lifetime partner was forced to pass with long spades.

[pclayton]

1. Pass. I like defending 2 minor when 1N looks like a possibility. Hopefully pard tables a trump.

 

2. Double and pull 2♦ to 2♥.

[EricK]

I pass throughout on the first hand. Our best "fit" is probably in ♦ or ♥, and my hand is very defensive.

 

2♥ on the second hand

[hotShot]

1) 1♠ over 1♥

2) pass, reopening helps opener to reach a better contract.

[Echognome]

Enough different answers I felt that a poll was warranted. I now only regret not making it two threads. Thanks in advance for your contribution.

[P_Marlowe]

1) Pass

2) 2H

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Winstonm]

Pass: playing 2C at matchpoints is so rarely right that someone is surely going to get a good result - my lack of offense suggests we are in for a positive board.

 

2H: My double and bid shows an opening hand in this sequence.

[hrothgar]

Hand 1.

 

I would have overcalled 1S the previous round.

I am not tempted to balance in a no fit auction...

 

Hand 2.

 

1NT

[helene_t]

Agree with Richard.

[Free]

1. 2♠

2. Pass, don't see a reason to bid here...

[cf_John0]

1) 1s over 1h

2) x

Take out bdl for 1)

[Apollo81]

1.

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]133|100|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - P - (P) - ?[/hv]

 

Do you balance?

 

Or did you overcall?

 

Or are you going quietly into the night?

 

2.

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]133|100|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - P - (P) - ?[/hv]

 

Pick your poison.

#1) Overcall 1S. Why probe for a spade fit at the 2 level when I can do it at the 1 level?

 

#2) Pass. -100 will be no good if -80 was available. Also +90 will be no good if +100 was available.

 

-Noble

[inquiry]

1. Pass and pass

 

2. 1NT in balance seat.

[jdeegan]

:P 1. Pass - my soft ♦ cards are in the slot - their ♣ fit may not be much and if it is, I may be able to hurt it with three fast rounds of trump - my ♠ suit is weak and RHO may have up to 4 and LHO up to 3 - my ♣ cards are transferable values, but unlikely trick builders on offense.

 

2. Pass or 2♥ once in a while depending on table feel and the state of the match - I am not anxious to bid because this is a really soft hand with bad spots and my ♠ holding is a very bad sign. How likely is pard to have a trap pass over 1♠ when I hold Qx in the suit?

 

Nice problems. These two look like a lesson hands good to illustrate several useful concepts vis a vis balancing.

[Echognome]

Hand 1:

 

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=saqj7ht9643dq7c53&w=sk8hk8dat863cq986&e=s93haj72d542cjt42&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]399|300|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - All Pass[/hv]

 

I chose to pass throughout. We are in a non-fit auction, and I'm sitting under the diamond bidder. Partner could not find a call over 1♦ and opponents are playing in 2 of a minor at MPs. Umm nope. Disaster. Partner has the perfect hand for spades and diamonds are not a problem after all.

 

Partner lead a club (good) and I played AK and another and we took 2♣ one off for 8.62% of the matchpoints. Ouch!

 

Hand 2:

 

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=saqj7ht9643dq7c53&w=sk8hk8dat863cq986&e=s93haj72d542cjt42&s=st6542hq5dkj9cak7]399|300|Scoring: MP

(1♦) - P - (1♥) - P

(2♣) - All Pass[/hv]

 

I don't know what partner was thinking on this hand. I chose to reopen with a double b/c I felt my heart suit was a bit anemic and I didn't see a problem playing in either of partner's minors. When partner passed I was certainly not unhappy as I had pretty good defense to spades. I never expected him to have a clear 1NT overcall. To make matters worse, partner lead the ♦J and when in again with a trump through declarer, he lead another diamond! -160 was 0% of the MPs.

[Miron]

First 1♠ at MP, maybe 2♠ balance at IMPS.

The second 2♥, I don't like 1NT without stopper (when I have bid).