When do you call, if ever

[paulg]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=saqxxht9xdakqctxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

You are South. Following partner's pass, East opens 1NT showing 12-14. Do you double?

 

If you pass, then the auction continues:

 

West......East

.............1NT (12-14)

2S (1)....2NT (2)

3C (3)....Pass....?

 

(1) transfer to clubs

(2) good club support

(3) I only want to play in clubs

 

Do you balance now?

[Guest Jlall]

I would have Xed 1N, but I admit I don't have that much experience against weak NT and maybe pass is right with a passed pard. It just seems like it's easy for us to get in and compete after I X, and we may still have a game. If I pass it will be awkward later. I think you have to pass now.

[Finch]

It's close whether to double or not over 1NT; with partner but not LHO being a passed hand I would pass.

 

If we believe the opponents' auction, I suppose I have to double 3C... we know partner is short in the suit with few high cards.

 

That is completely clear at matchpoints, red at imps it's rather less clear, but maybe partner has Kxxxx Q8x Jxxx x

 

FWIW, what would a double of 2NT have meant?

[paulg]

FWIW, what would a double of 2NT have meant?

Undiscussed as it's a one-off partnership for the weekend. Is there a standard meaning?

[pbleighton]

Yes, I double.

 

Now I pass. It's red at imps.

 

Peter

[Halo]

I'd pass throughout.

 

Double of 1NT is not unreasonable, but I may have to decide what to do when the openers agreements require him to redouble.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

if I ever bid, I dbl 1NT direct, if I dont do it,

I pass later as well.

 

I have no great experience with penalty dbl

vs. weak NT, so I would do it.

The main problem is, that partner wont sit the

double (how agressive do you open, ... unclear

since it is pickup partnership) and it may be hard

to find a safe place, so pass rates to be best.

 

At least you wont generate a big swing, since game

is remote.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[dake50]

Lionel type double: suggesting S+2nd is safe and effective here as immediate action. Then all to partner's decision(s).

[mikeh]

It is close: both over 1N and over 3♣.

 

My preference is to be a little conservative when partner's passed hand status tilts the odds against us, especially with such a sterile hand. Imagine doubling and watching the redouble come back at us (assuming their methods permit a penalty redouble sequence).

 

And over 3♣, I'm stuck: just because LHO rejected a game try doesn't mean he has no high cards.. he might have 7 or 8 and that gives our partner a hideous hand that might well be 4441. If so, there is no assurance, not even any real hope, that we will find our 4-4 fit.

 

Colour me yellow, but I pass.

 

At mps, I double since I doubt that defending 3♣ will get us a lot of mps... but remember that I live in strong notrump land, where the field will not have this auction, so I am competing in a different field than where the hand actually occurred (if I deduce that Congress means UK event).

 

If the auction may be common, then I might pass again.... too much risk of -200, and LHO will be quick to hit us if it is right to do so, just to protect his 110.

[skjaeran]

With a passed partner this is a clear pass of 1NT IMO.

I'll pass throughout red at IMPs. At MP and some other vulnerability I might act over 3♣.

[paulg]

I passed throughout and discovered that I'd missed a spade slam when partner held ♠JTxxx ♥AQxx ♦xxxx ♣-.

 

Finding it hard to blame any single call, we decided to take team mates to task for playing a different NT range :)

[the hog]

I passed throughout and discovered that I'd missed a spade slam when partner held ♠JTxxx ♥AQxx ♦xxxx ♣-.

 

Finding it hard to blame any single call, we decided to take team mates to task for playing a different NT range :)

Your partner is a total wimp for not doubling 3C.

[pclayton]

I hate to bid my pard's hand here.

 

He should know that the auction isn't moving over 3♣. His problem is no different if it goes 1N - p - 2♠ - p - 3♣ - p - p?

 

Yet, I still think its wimpy for me to pass. I'm looking at Txx of their suit when they hold a likely 9 or 10 card fit.

[SoTired]

North HAS to bid over 3C with any weak hand that includes a singleton or void. You very likely have game once you know the opps have not attempted game, you have a major 2-suiter, and partner's strength is sitting over opener's strength.

 

Personally, as North, I would have bid 3C over 2S, taking advantage of the transfer to show my 2-suited major hand.

 

Over 3C, North must do something. For South, it is not so clear. South might be turning an easy plus into a minus if you get to the wrong suit through a misunderstanding.

[Trinidad]

I would double 2NT. Opponents have bid and raised clubs. It doesn't matter that they used an artificial bid for it. My double is takeout of clubs. But since my shape is so poor, this is borderline.

 

However, I think that your partner should have doubled 3♣. After all, he knows that opponents have a fit and that the bidding will go 3x Pass if he passes himself. In that case you should be able to reach 4♠.

 

Rik

[foo]

Barry Crane used to say that if your flat hand was worth the top of the 1N they had opened, you should always X it.