Respond to Mini NT

[joshs]

You Hold A8x Jxxxx Kxx QJ

All White. Imps.

 

Partner in first seat opens a 10-bad13 NT

RHO passes.

Do you x-fer to 2H or pass?

[pclayton]

I pass even though we might be missing a 10 card fit the way I play.

[Free]

pass: I have slow values, perfect for NT...

[mikeh]

I pass... altho this offends my close-to-rigid rule about always transferring with a 5 card major. I have a very weak major, and 'stuff' everywhere else, plus 1N is one trick easier to make.

 

My main concern is that LHO may balance and now I have a problem: if they bid 2m, surely a bid by me of 2♥ implies 4=4 or 4=5 in the majors? So I may end up in a tough spot.

 

However, I have enough stuff that I can probably land on my feet. And I avoid seeing KQxx xx QJx K10xx on play in 2♥. Of course, I also see Kxx AQxx QJxx xx on play in 1N B)

 

BTW, many mini-notrumpers don't like transfers over this range: as was said (by several) on a recent 'transfers' thread, transfers become less viable as the nt range diminishes.

 

Here, you get the defined hand as declarer, rather than the hidden hand. Sonce your hand is approximately the same strength as partner, you lose the opening lead around to the strong hand edge available in strong nt auctions.

 

And you give LHO extra bids. He can double 2♦ (when he'd have to pass a natural 2♥) and he can pass the transfer and then balance to show a different (weaker) hand than the immediate overcall. If you just bid 2♥ (wide range but passable) he has to bid now, without being able to differentiate.

 

And, moreover, there are some very powerful forcing stayman treatments that work very well with mini-notrumps, so it is not as if transfers represent the only serious means of conveying information.

[bid_em_up]

I pass. Let them compete :)

[EricK]

When 2♥ is a good contract they probably have 2♠ or 3m and will find it after a take out double by one or other of them. When 2♥ is a bad contract you don't want to be in it.

 

I pass.

[whereagles]

I transfer.

[Gerben42]

I pass. And I don't play transfers after a mini NT :)

[joshs]

OK. Now suppose the auction continues:

1N-P-P-2C(C and Higher)

P-P-?

 

Or (What actually happened):

1N-P-P-2C

P-2S-?

[Finch]

I transfer.

You've beaten me to it: the reason I transfer is that it makes the subsequent auction easier if they compete. Now I can double to show values and partner will pass or bid as appropriate.

[luke warm]

OK. Now suppose the auction continues:

1N-P-P-2C(C and Higher)

P-P-?

 

Or (What actually happened):

1N-P-P-2C

P-2S-?

i got here late, but i'd have bid (i don't xfer with mini or weak) 2♥.. after the example bidding #1, i guess i'd bid 2h... on #2 i'm at a loss... as frances said, passing originally caused this mess

[Free]

When opps intervene:

2♣ - p - p -? Double, nice values, short in ♣, ready for penalties if p has some ♣s

2♦ - p - p - ? 2♥ or pass, I like to bid so probably 2♥

2♥ - p - p - ? Pass, wtp?

2♠ - p - p - ? Pass

[EricK]

I transfer.

You've beaten me to it: the reason I transfer is that it makes the subsequent auction easier if they compete. Now I can double to show values and partner will pass or bid as appropriate.

This is true but it is much easier for them to compete if you show your ♥. This points to a recurrent dilemma in bidding:

 

Competitive auctions are harder than non-competitive ones. So should you, at the expense of your constructive bidding, try to make it difficult for opponents to safely compete and take your lumps on some of the occasions when they do compete? Or should you make bids which let the opponents in more easily but will lead to easier auctions if they don't compete?