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P open 2nt pass or transfer?


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I would transfer.

 

The reasons to transfer are two:

 

1. Your hand is close to worthless in notrump, unless partner has a big fit. You have little realistic chance of establishing the s and then getting to your hand to run them. Yes, it is possible that partner has AKx and the side Q is an entry, but that is pretty specific. So your hand rates to deliver more tricks with as trump than at notrump. Add to this the control the trump suit gives you: say partner has AQx AKJx Qxx KJx and they lead s.. in notrump, they simply cash as many winners as they hold. In s, you ruff to minimimze the loss.

 

2. Partner may have a wonderful hand in s and be able to superaccept. If he holds AQxx AKxx Axx Kx, for example, passing 2N risks missing a pretty good game contract. Of course, this could backfire... you may reach a very poor game but that will happen only when partner has 4s, and even then, 4 -1 may well push or exceed the result in 2N.

 

The reason to pass is that partner may have a source of tricks in notrump and a poor trump holding. Qx KQ10x KQx AKJxx... you may make 2N while 3 fails.

 

I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

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Jillybean, you have bridgebrowser, so this one is an easy study. Select opening bid of 2NT, select partenr with a hand pattern with a five card major, no honor, and 5332 distribution with 0, 1, or 2 hcp. And see how 2NT versus 3 of the major faired. This search is easy and quick.

 

It is true, some good players will play 2NT when their partners pass and some poor players will play 3M when their partners transfer, but you can find thousands of such plays if you search across Bridgebrowser databases. My guess is not passing 2NT will be a clear winner.

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I transfer.

 

I also reach across the table and take the 4 card out of his bidding box.

Then I guess your partner super accepts too much :unsure:

 

I would be quite happy if he super accepted.

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I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

What I remember is from not so long ago. It was a comment in the MSC, and he said he tried guessing for a while, kept track of his results, and never got better than 50% when passing.

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I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

What I remember is from not so long ago. It was a comment in the MSC, and he said he tried guessing for a while, kept track of his results, and never got better than 50% when passing.

Bridgebrowser online is down right now (a rare occurance). Maybe new data is being added (I hope). When it comes back up, I will run a test. Opening bid 2NT with 20 to 22 hcp, next hand 0-2 hcp, 5332 with a five card major with no AKQ or J. How does pass 2NT result?

 

To do this, I will define the opening bid as 2NT with balanced or semibalanced and the indicated pt count range. Responder will be forced to have 5332 distribution, each minor suit either 2 or 3 cards long, a major headed by no more than the Ten, and from 0 to 2 hcp. We will see how 2NT fairs compared to the transfer.

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[hv=d=e&s=s109876hxxxdxxcqxx]133|100|(P) P (P) 2nt

(P) ?[/hv]

 

Do you pass or transfer to 3, is it close?

I thought I read somewhere where Hamman or Soloway or both said they always tfr with a doublton.

Wouldn't that be 100 % of the time they have a 5 card suit (unless you're implying they pass with a stiff lol).

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BTW Ben, I think 0 points is different than a queen.

 

With a queen you may have a game opposite a super accept (afterall a super accept should say "I think we'll make game on a lot of hands where you will pass 3S out").

 

On the other hand with a queen you may make 2N without spades, but with 0 points you will pretty much never make 2N so you need to transfer out and hope you catch a fit and get lucky and make 3S.

 

Different considerations.

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BTW Ben, I think 0 points is different than a queen.

 

With a queen you may have a game opposite a super accept (afterall a super accept should say "I think we'll make game on a lot of hands where you will pass 3S out").

 

On the other hand with a queen you may make 2N without spades, but with 0 points you will pretty much never make 2N so you need to transfer out and hope you catch a fit and get lucky and make 3S.

 

Different considerations.

^^^^

 

Ok I will do 2 pts.

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[hv=d=s&v=e&n=s432hajt64d72c653&w=st9876h972d93cqt2&e=skjhkq5dakqj4ck74&s=saq5h83dt865caj98]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 -     -     -     Pass

 Pass  Pass  2NT   Pass

 3    Dbl   3    Pass

 Pass  Pass  

 

H8 H2 HA H5

D7 DA D6 D3

SK SA S6 S2

D5 D9 D2 DK

SJ SQ S7 S3

D8 C2 S4 D4

C3 C4 CA CT

H3

 

After the hand my partner left after making a not so pleasant comment about going to the 3 level with 2 points ;)

Ruffing the looks like a good move here.

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Instead of complaining your (ex)partner should have concentrated on making the contract RHO gave him at trick 1. When North won A, it was over for the defence. If he ducks, 3 is 1 down.

 

No matter what, East had no reason at all to blame you. Your bid was fine, his declarer play was less than perfect.

 

Roland

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