Simple Question

[sheepman]

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=sj9xhqxxxdxcaq7xx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

 

Swiss pairs, 8 board matches, your currently nowhere in the field of 600 with only 4 out of 14 rounds gone.

 

Your playing in a casual partnership with a friend, an inexperienced but talented player. You play 2/1 15-17 throughout 5card majors.

 

You do not play Drury, that's not the point, deal with it!

 

EDIT: the auction is P-P-1S-P-?

[Finch]

I know this hand (and why the problem is being posted) - and 600 pairs is a bit of an overbid, but never mind.

 

When I was given the problem at the time, I said I would bid 2S if I was not playing Drury.

[Trumpace]

What is the question?

[Gerben42]

This hand is why you play Drury.

 

At teams I would probably try 2♣ (if partner has 4♠ only he was planning to pass whatever I bid and rates to be good), at MP that is no good.

 

2NT is out (no sure fit)

3S is out (possibly to high AND no sure fit)

 

Leaves:

 

1N and 2S.

 

I choose the bid that works :)

 

And I note that after the session we agree Drury please...

[Finch]

What is the question?

You are dealer. The auction starts

 

P P 1S P

 

back to you

[david_c]

When I was given the problem at the time, I said I would bid 2S if I was not playing Drury.

Same here :)

[mr1303]

Well, I value this as a 3 card limit raise, and without Drury as a passed hand I make a 2/1 then show spade support later (if there is a later).

 

So I bid 2C, depending on showing spade support later.

[sheepman]

2C is just bonkers, it's MP's +90 in 2C is not a good score when you have a spade fit.

[1eyedjack]

Well I'm bonkers. I went for 2C, planning to rebid 2S over 2D but otherwise push to 3S. I reckon partner is unlikely to pass, and if he doesn't then I feel well placed. If he does pass I agree it may be bad, but I don't see it as certain. I wouldn't have minded showing a minisplinter raise to 3S but sadly that is not available.

[Guest Jlall]

I would just bid 2S.

[skjaeran]

Looks like a simple raise to me.

Switch the ♠J to the ♣ suit, and it's an automatic 2♣ if not playing Drury (I confess I can't remember when i didn't play Drury - I think there was a time I didn't but it's so long ago...).

[mike777]

2s but close to bidding natural 2clubs, very close.

[Echognome]

Count me amongst the 2♠ bidders.

[Walddk]

Ink me in for 2♠. At MP I don't want to be left in 2♣ which will happen every time opener has a minimum with a 5332 pattern. He may want to bid 2NT with a doubleton club, but that will likely make things worse.

 

Besides, I don't think 2♠ is an underbid if agreed as constructive because of no Drury.

 

Roland

[david_c]

2C is just bonkers, it's MP's +90 in 2C is not a good score when you have a spade fit.

Oh, don't be silly. I happen to think 2♠ is best, but 2♣ is a perfectly reasonable alternative. And like Frances I know why you're asking, and you won't do yourself any good by trying to argue that 2♠ was the only sensible bid. The best you can say is that 2♠ is "normal". And the worrying thing is I can think of a couple of people who might describe bids as "bonkers" like you did, and if you've been listening to them too much (which wouldn't surprise me) you're going to be getting some very idiosyncratic ideas.

[pclayton]

Nice we are playing constructive raises - I think we've been dealt one here.

[ewj]

Is 2♠ really constructive by a passed hand? What would you do with a 6 count and 3 spades for instance?

[Finch]

John Armstrong, a very fine player indeed, bid 4S when given the hand as a problem.

[Walddk]

Is 2♠ really constructive by a passed hand? What would you do with a 6 count and 3 spades for instance?

1NT (forcing) followed by 2♠ if available. Either 5-7 with 3 or 6-10 with 2. I like 2♠ to be 8-10(11) with 3. We were told that the system is 2/1, not Acol where 1NT is NF.

 

I am inside the 8-11 range with 3, so I have no problem with a single raise.

 

Roland

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

3S, although I am not sure, what "mixed" means,

I want to invite, if it is preemptive, than 2S it is,

because thats what is left.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Finch]

Is 2♠ really constructive by a passed hand? What would you do with a 6 count and 3 spades for instance?

1NT (forcing) followed by 2♠ if available. Either 5-7 with 3 or 6-10 with 2. I like 2♠ to be 8-10(11) with 3. We were told that the system is 2/1, not Acol where 1NT is NF.

 

I am inside the 8-11 range with 3, so I have no problem with a single raise.

 

Roland

We're also told that 1NT is no longer forcing by a passed hand...

 

But I would make the same assumption as Roland that 1NT includes a weaker spade raise.

[han]

I think 2S is quite clear and 2C is the only alternative.

 

I'd say that 4S is bonkers if I used words like that.

[jdonn]

4♠ is a great answer in a problem. Either is works spectacularly well, or it works terribly and you say you were kidding, which is what everyone had assumed anyway.

[sheepman]

At the table i looked around for my 2 and a half spade bid, found someone had stolen it from my box so settled on 2S.

 

Pard made 2S, as in 2 tricks he should of made 3 but that's neither here nor there. Good board against 620, director is called and the opponents ask for it recorded, whilst muttering about psykes being legal and thinking they should be banned.

 

All is well and good.

 

Later in the round the director comes back and says it's been fielded and changes the score to 60%-30%.

 

I then have to waste half my lunch break waiting for the appeals committee to turn up.

 

When they do they decided it's no longer been fielded, but warm me if I bid 2S again it will be fielding.

 

Good ruling?

[jtfanclub]

Good ruling?

How can we possibly know that without knowing partner's hand?