Balancing (?) with 17 HCP and 6-card in opps suit

[helene_t]

MP, love all.

KT9xxx AQx Ax Ax

Opps are good players, not so good bidders. 1♠ is 12-16 and could be 4 but is "usually" 5 (not sure if I understand their style). P is intermediate. P would have overcalled or doubled according to a slightly-more-agressive-than-mainstream style if she could. 1N is slightly sounder than standard, 12-15. Stayman is on over 1N and 2N but transfers are not. Further no special agreements.

 

The field is small and intermediate. This is board 15 of 24 and so far we think the state of the match is one we would like to preserve.

[pbleighton]

What's the auction?

 

Peter

[Fluffy]

I bet it is 1♠ pass pass, I'd pass

[ochinko]

Tough. The systemic bid would be 2NT, but there's no source of tricks in our hand, and all the spades are behind us. So it's either 1NT, pass or double. With 3 Aces and a King it looks better to play in a suit, which points to a double. But I think I prefer the opener to lead, so 1NT finally. After all it's MP.

 

I reckon 1♠ is down one, but as I can't double for penalties, I'll try to make 1NT for +90 instead. That's more realistic than expecting to make 8 tricks when spades are trump bit only 1NT or less when the given hand is declaring.

 

Edit: Sorry, the systemic bid is double, and convert partner's bid to NT, but I still like 1NT best. From Helene's explanation it looks like LHO opened with ♠AQ108 and thanks to that we could be the only pair to stop at a part score and get a positive result, rather than go down in 3NT or 4♠ with 24-28 points in the line.

[pbleighton]

I bet it is 1♠ pass pass, I'd pass

 

If that's the case, I'd pass too.

 

Peter

[ArtK78]

At IMPs, I would pass. The chances of game are remote, and I am likely to go plus. The size of the plus doesn't matter.

 

At matchpoints, I double, intending to rebid 2NT. I am treating this hand like two of my spades were in other suits. The hand is not good enough for 2NT directly, which should show 20-21.

[helene_t]

oh sr, yes the auction is 1♠-p-p-?

[pclayton]

I think this is the easiest pass I've seen in a long time.

 

In 3N, we won't get spades established, and 9 tricks will be tough even if if pard has 8-9 points.

[Halo]

I doubled.

 

On this and a previous (similar) post there's a lot of support for pass. I'm mulling this over, but in the meantime I'm just crudely bidding away on these values.

[jdonn]

I think this is the easiest pass I've seen in a long time.

 

In 3N, we won't get spades established, and 9 tricks will be tough even if if pard has 8-9 points.

Ditto. The only way I imagine bidding would work out is if partner provides a lucky source of tricks, like KQJxx of a minor or QJ of spades. Anyway it's a really easy pass.

[skjaeran]

I think this is the easiest pass I've seen in a long time.

 

In 3N, we won't get spades established, and 9 tricks will be tough even if if pard has 8-9 points.

Ditto. The only way I imagine bidding would work out is if partner provides a lucky source of tricks, like KQJxx of a minor or QJ of spades. Anyway it's a really easy pass.

Ditto - very easy pass IMO.