prebalance at MPs

[mikegill]

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=sj9xhkxdqt9ckqjxx]133|100|Scoring: MP

1♥ P 2♥ ?[/hv]

 

Seems like the options are pretty much pass, 3C and X. Which do you take?

[Guest Jlall]

double.

[pclayton]

Many of you won't be surprised if I pass with this hand. Pard's still in if it gets passed back.

[mikeh]

pass for me. maybe this is why I don't win at mps :P

[inquiry]

At imps I would double, but not at matchpoints. A double is too likely to encourage a spade lead from something we might not want to lead a spade from. If I was going to prebalance, a lead directing 3♣ would come to mind. But I have too much overall stuff to risk -200 (doubled or not), so I will pass.

[Apollo81]

Double

[Apollo81]

Many of you won't be surprised if I pass with this hand. Pard's still in if it gets passed back.

My pre/balancing style must be pretty different than yours then. I rarely pre/balance with more than 2 cards in their suit. It seems like you will frequently go -110 if you dont prebalance here.

 

I like direct action, I don't like having to stick my neck out after both opps know each others' hand.

 

(pre/balance = prebalance or balance)

 

 

I like Dbl better than 3♣ because 2♠ is less likely to be hacked.

[Guest Jlall]

Just have faith in the opps guys and go +100 vs 3H cold for -200 in something silly and keep laughin :P

[Guest Jlall]

A double is too likely to encourage a spade lead from something we might not want to lead a spade from.

I don't see why a X which suggests all suits would suggest a spade lead. Partner will generally make his normal lead. 3C as lead director AND pushing them up is pretty sexy but it's greedy. You could easily belong somewhere else so I like to keep it flexible and reduce the chances of getting doubled. Also they bid 3H more often over 2S (from partner) than over 3C... OBV can't sell out to 2S when the opps have a SURE fit. It's THE LAW.

[pclayton]

Many of you won't be surprised if I pass with this hand. Pard's still in if it gets passed back.

My pre/balancing style must be pretty different than yours then. I rarely pre/balance with more than 2 cards in their suit. It seems like you will frequently go -110 if you dont prebalance here.

 

I like direct action, I don't like having to stick my neck out after both opps know each others' hand.

 

(pre/balance = prebalance or balance)

 

 

I like Dbl better than 3♣ because 2♠ is less likely to be hacked.

Yep Noble it is. Here's why I'm not a big fan of prebalancing (especially with a double) - in no particular order:

 

1) Prebalancing automatically marks you with shortness in their suit, so pard's trump are always easy to pick up.

 

2) Its a live auction, and LHO is unlimited. Bidding gives LHO a fielder's choice.

 

3) Pard, even with length, understands the importance of not selling out at the 2 level. Prebalancers automatically assume that pard will not balance with length, but this shouldn't be the case.

 

4) Pard (in this case) couldn't take initial action over 1♥, so our chances of getting an 8 card spade fit are diminished.

 

Pre-balancing was pretty much unheard of before Bergen started advocating OBAR bids, but the bridge world has pretty much accepted this as gospel.

[neilkaz]

At MPs I make what I consider to be a weak 3♣ overcall. A passed PD shouldn't bury me at 5♣ without much distribution. I am pretty sure what suit I want lead and that is ♣.

 

I don't care to double here w/out 4♠.

 

I would pass at IMPs. .. neilkaz ..

[inquiry]

A double is too likely to encourage a spade lead from something we might not want to lead a spade from.

I don't see why a X which suggests all suits would suggest a spade lead. Partner will generally make his normal lead.

You maybe correct, but it seems to me after 1H-P-2H-X, if the contract is hearts, the opening lead is more often a spade (the one suit you "promised"). I could be wrong, but that is an easy bridgebrowser thing to check. I will take a look later to see.

[MickyB]

Pass looks absolutely routine. Why would I prebalance with a doubleton, both vul at MPs, when we are far from certain to land in the right strain?

[Halo]

3C

 

Why not? Not a lie. No more or less preemptive on the opponents than 2S from us.

[mr1303]

Pass every time. Put my K of hearts somewhere else (or even not in my hand at all) and I might consider it, but it's waste paper on offence, but might be useful on defence. Partner should play me for some values if it LHO passes.

[inquiry]

A double is too likely to encourage a spade lead from something we might not want to lead a spade from.

I don't see why a X which suggests all suits would suggest a spade lead. Partner will generally make his normal lead.

You maybe correct, but it seems to me after 1H-P-2H-X, if the contract is hearts, the opening lead is more often a spade (the one suit you "promised"). I could be wrong, but that is an easy bridgebrowser thing to check. I will take a look later to see.

1♥-pass-2♥-DBL, they play in hearts (less than 7)

 

Opening lead of a ♠ 52.9%, minor 40.1%

 

1♥-pass-2♥-Pass, they play hearts, (less than 7)

 

Opening lead a ♠ 29.9% of the time, a minor 58.2%

[whereagles]

I'm gonna bid 3♣ here. Not proud of it, but at matchpoints you have to act. I don't like dbl because if pard has 5 spades, he could have bid them already.