comments on 3NT please

[sceptic]

As West, what do you think my actions should be, as my Experto partner shouted some crap at me a left in a huff

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=s85haj85djt974c75&w=sjthk62da63caq832&e=s76432h3dkq52ckt9&s=sakq9hqt974d8cj64]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 -     Pass  Pass  1♥

 Pass  2♥    Dbl   Pass

 3NT   Pass  Pass  Pass

 

 

H5 H3 HQ HK

CA C5 C9 C4

C2 C7 CK C6

CT CJ CQ S5

C8 S8 S2 H4

C3 D4 S3 H7

DA D7 D2 D8

D3 D9 DK S9

[helene_t]

The bidding is not terrible but consider this:

When E failed to open 2♠ he already denied a 1-suiter. Hence 2♠ could be agreed to show a flexible hand. Dbl should be more minor-suit oriented, ideally 3145/3154.

[ArtK78]

Your action opposite a passed hand was absurd. You should assume that your partner is making a shape double as a passed hand. 3♣ is sufficient.

 

However, it appears that your 3NT bid worked out fine, as you scored 9 tricks in 3NT. So what is the problem?

 

You should have bid 2♣ over the 1♥ opening bid. That would have simplified the later auction, but you would never have bid and made 3NT.

 

Besides everything else, NS is cold for 4♥. So, scoring up 3NT on the EW cards is quite a feat!

[mikeh]

I think the 'problem' was your inconsistent actions on rounds 1 and 2.

 

While there are hands on which a 1st round pass followed by a jump to 3N may be reasonable, they do not include the hand you held.

 

Partner's double, after passing, announces short hearts, so you should know that you have at most one stopper.. indeed, there is some basis, on the auction, for North to lead anything but a heart.

 

You cannot realistically expect to run 8 fast winners after winning an early heart trick. Yes, your clubs rate to be worth 5 tricks, assuming partner has the K or that he has length and the suit lies favourably, but partner's double will usually deliver values in spades, which in turn makes it unlikely that you can take 3 diamonds.

 

So much for the 3N.

 

While I appreciate that the suit is poor, I cannot imagine not bidding 2♣ over 1♥. You are almost assured of a heart lead against a club contract, which makes your heart King very powerful. You hold a sound opening bid, and you want to preempt both a 1♠ and a 1N response.. while, of course, paving the way to compete in clubs if LHO raises hearts. I would make the overcall red at imps, and here you are at favourable and passed!

 

Now, if you describe yourself as intermediate or novice, no 'expert' should be upset with you for either call. But I doubt that your sequence would appeal to an 'advanced' player and certainly not to a real expert, so your partner may have been disappointed if you claimed either status (and of course we have no idea how 'expert' your partner really was, himself). From what I have seen on BBO, there are a LOT of 'advanced' and 'expert' players who are exhibiting self-perceived rank inflation, so maybe (if you call yourself either) it is an unfortunate but acceptable defensive mechanism :)

[whereagles]

Bidding seems ok, eventhough I would bid differently (either a direct 2♣ or 3♣ over the dbl).

[sceptic]

Now, if you describe yourself as intermediate or novice, no 'expert' should be upset with you for either call. But I doubt that your sequence would appeal to an 'advanced' player and certainly not to a real expert, so your partner may have been disappointed if you claimed either status (and of course we have no idea how 'expert' your partner really was, himself). From what I have seen on BBO, there are a LOT of 'advanced' and 'expert' players who are exhibiting self-perceived rank inflation, so maybe (if you call yourself either) it is an unfortunate but acceptable defensive mechanism

 

 

I do put advanced on my profile, BUT and this is a big BUT, I did state at the onset with my Expert Pard, That I was a beginner at acol and expect mistakes as I am trying to learn the system

 

so whilst I agree advanced is an overestimation of my ability (I consider I am good intermediate at best) I have said before, it is very hard to sit at a table as an intermediate in the main lounge as you get rejected by an enormous amount of people that are not advanced or expert either (this is probably another subject on its own.

[jillybean]

Why not join the rank of experts, then none will be surprised at your bidding.

[hotShot]

Why did you pass over 1♥? I think your hand would be worth a 2♣ overcall, if that was available.

Your partner passed in 2nd seat, he should not have the values you need to make 3NT.

Opponents promised 12+ and perhaps 6-9 HCP, you hold 14, so there are 8- HCP left for your partner. You partner calculated the other way round and found that you have opening strength. So he expected you to have opening strength and ♥s (why should you pass 1♥ otherwise). He wanted you to know that your side has the majority of points (because he is maximum) and that he's not onesuited . He expects you to know that he's short in ♥, and wants you to bid your 2nd suit as low as possible.

 

These simple considerations have nothing to do with the system you play, and they should be automatic for advanced player.

[Hanoi5]

Didn't you make 3NT? What was the problem, then?

[Trumpace]

Didn't you make 3NT? What was the problem, then?

You are kidding right?

 

As others have pointed out, 3NT was an against the odds bid, which got lucky.

 

Off topic: It does seem like the "experto" might not have been a fake one:

 

1) He was very rude :)

2) He had his bids.

3) He left. Inspite of getting a good result.

[Guest Jlall]

I like your 3N bid, I don't see why you shouldn't have 8 runners once you win a heart trick. 5 clubs + 1 heart + 1D, +SA/DK, SAK, SAQ, DKQ, etc etc etc. All very possible. I mean you made opposite an 8 count, and partner could still have had 10 or 11. You don't always need the club suit anyways, partner may have Axxx x KQTxx xxx and you a finesse through the opener plus no Jxxx of diamonds off. Sure you go down sometimes, you took a shot at a game, whatever.

 

I would have overcalled 2C though.

[kenberg]

I might or might not it bid it that way but there is nothing to prevent experto from having 9xxxx instead of 7xxxx in spades. Then you need the heart ace onside or a heart lead, either one will do. I sure as hell have been in worse contracts. Often, actually. If your pard left in a huff I would say good riddance. I don't quarrel with his X but if you enter the auction on an 8 count sometimes you get too high. Big deal. Sure he is a passed hand. My partners have been known to pass a ten count in first position.

 

As to bidding 2C over 1H, since you are nv, I guess so. Vul I wouldn't consider it. So I guess experto would tell me off also.

[sceptic]

The funny thing is, I was playing acol (which I am at best a beginner at and I had 14 hcp, I wanted to bid 1NT, but I believe that 1NT shows 15-17 here(I could be wrong, I was not sure) , 2 clubs never even come to my mind (dumb, I know, but most of my posts are based on dumb things I do, sometimes, sometimes I know what I do wrong and just want verification, others, I have no idea what I do wrong, maybe I get brain block or something stupid)

[gwnn]

(...) I had 14 hcp, I wanted to bid 1NT, but I believe that 1NT shows 15-17 here(I could be wrong, I was not sure)(...)

You are right, 1NT overcall always shows 15-18 or something, as long as it's natural (and not Polish, for instance).

[helene_t]

This hand may (almost) be good enough for a strong 1NT opening but I agree it's too weak for a 1NT overcall.

[the hog]

Wayne, on this hand it doesn't matter whether you were playing Acol, Sayc or the Swahili modified diamond system. We are talking about defensive methods here. I don't mind your bidding at all. I dislike a 2C overcall on this hand and whether I bid 2C or not really depends on whom I am playing against.

 

Your 3NT bid is an overbid, but at Imps I would go for it with no hesitations. MPs I would be a bit more conservative because I don't want to discourage pd from protecting.

[Trumpace]

I think 3NT is an overbid even at IMPS, given the vulnerability. (But, I don't know squat about bidding...)

 

It is not a gross overbid (IMO), and is no reason for a random partner to leave. My guess is that "experto" left because of the advertised rating. My comment about him being a true expert was an attempt at poking fun at experts and fake experts at the same time... :P :blink: