Matchpoints All White

[jonottawa]

[hv=d=n&v=n&w=sj53h72dk982caqt5&e=sk642haq643da73ck]266|100|Scoring: MP

P - 1♥ - P - 1N (forcing)

P - 2♦ P - 2♥

P - P - P[/hv]

 

Not the most interesting hand this time. I told my pard in today's club game I'd post this here.

 

As far as agreements ... 2/1, 'normal' openers (not insanely aggressive or conservative.)

[mike777]

Great post for the vast majority of us bridge players. Very common bidding issue.

 

East needs to rebid 2nt over 2H.

 

100% East at IMPs

 

here at MP....a bit less blame. :rolleyes:

 

btw I think this is a great bidding teaching hand for Int level or lower players.

Very common hand, very common bidding issue.

[han]

Always a bit of a guess how to evaluate a hand with a stiff king. I think I would duplicate the auction.

[pclayton]

I think East might have opened 1N, but thats not everyone's taste. West could have rebid 2N or raised to 3♦, but 2♥ is OK.

 

The crux of the problem is East's pass of 2♥. Traditionally with a 16-17 count, you move over 2♥, in this case 2♠. Perhaps East was concerned that West is horsing around with a 4 count. Hands like this are an example of the pitfalls you face with ultra-light responses to one bids.

 

East gets 70% of the blame and West gets 30%. I am generous in giving points for bad luck or a systemic gap, but when you miss game with 26 combined points, something went wrong.

[ArtK78]

I have no problem with the auction. 2♥ could easily have been the right spot.

[jdonn]

I think west should rebid 2NT. No really strong feelings on either player's bidding.

[Apollo81]

I think both players took reasonable actions and reached a reasonable contract.

[Karma]

Where was the option to blame both?

 

West is not minimum and should have bid 2NT. The scoring is MP and 2NT beats 2H. The bidding up to this point suggests 2NT is almost as likely to make as 2H, but might not make 3H. I will take the small risk for the extra reward. After 2N by West, East has an easy raise to 3N.

 

East has extra values and should bid 2NT over the 2H preference. For all the same reasons described above. After 2N by East, West should find a raise to 3N.

 

At IMP scoring it should get easier because players look for plus scores. Here is a good IMP auction for these hands:

1♥ 1N, 2♦ 3♦, 3♥ 3N

[Guest Jlall]

Totally standard auction at MP. Is this such a great game anyways?

[jonottawa]

Thx for the feedback. I was West. Away from the table after the round pard said he thought I had a 2NT bid over 2♦. I was pretty sure that, while it's close for sure, I had made the consensus call at this form of scoring. So I told him I'd post it here.

 

He made 2 Hearts on the nose. I wasn't really paying attention (I seldom do when I'm dummy) so I'm not sure what the whole layout was. The matchpoints seem to indicate that game was touch and go, as expected.

 

430 7

400 5-

400 5-

110 3-

110 3-

-50 1-

-50 1-

-100 0

 

Since both players were uber-max for their bidding and game looks okay but not great, I really don't mind missing game here (if either player invites, his pard will accept even with a little bit less than what he held and then you'll be in a crappy game.) Usually the guy with 16 makes the move here, I think, but with stiff K (and godawful spots,) taking the low road seems eminently reasonable at matchpoints.

[skjaeran]

I think this was a perfectly reasonable auction. IMO west isn't strong enough to rebid 2NT, but that's a style issue - I prefer a weak opening style and would never consider 2NT with the west hand.

 

East admittedly has 16 hcp and is thus close to bidding on. However there's no fillers in his hand and it's hard to evaluate the singleton ♣K. Bidding is possible, but I can't fault passing.

[MickyB]

Yup, reasonable auction. On a good day, oppo will protect with 2♠...it is love all at MPs after all.

[david_c]

If this West hand is not a diamond raise, I want to change the system.

[MickyB]

If this West hand is not a diamond raise, I want to change the system.

I'd be tempted to bid 2♥ even if 2♦ promised four. +140 beats +130 :P

 

If this hand isn't a diamond raise, I want to change the system and the scoring!

[Echognome]

The West hand is probably a good bidding problem in its own right. I can imagine any of 2♥, 2♠, 2NT, or 3♦ as options. Although I don't imagine that they would all get significant votes.

[pclayton]

Seems everyone is rather sanguine about missing a game the field rates to be in.

[dicklont]

2♥ shows a weak hand, West must find an invite. I think he can choose between 2NT and 3♦ and since the opposition did not bid spades i would bid 2NT.

[Codo]

I think both are chickens.

I had bid 3 Diamond with Wests hand, not just 2 Heart.

And I had bid 2 NT after 2 Heart as east.

[helene_t]

Seems everyone is rather sanguine about missing a game the field rates to be in.

That's the field's problem.

[pclayton]

Seems everyone is rather sanguine about missing a game the field rates to be in.

That's the field's problem.

Helene - if you want to play tops and bottoms, go ahead.

 

Oddly enough with everyone content with the auction, perhaps 2♥ is the field contract :o

[whereagles]

Over 2♥, I might have tried 2NT or 2♠ with opener's hand, but certainly would not do that 100% of the time.

[Guest Jlall]

Who knows what the field will do on this board? Who cares? It is not complicated:

 

Passing 2H rates to be best. If partner is a complete max you may or may not have a game, if he is a minimum bidding on just gets you too high. Over the long run passing 2H will be fine.

 

The other decision (the 2H bid) is debatable, but it's certainly reasonable to think that staying low and playing hearts will often be a MP winner, and though you will sometimes miss a game opposite 15/16, sometimes that game won't make, sometimes partner will bid with 16, and usually partner just has a minimum range hand and staying low will be a winner. It is easy to think that 2H will be the winning action in the long run.

 

What the field will do with these 2 particular hands is not relevant, both players have wide ranges and both players are maximum for their auction and game is still marginal. The thing is, neither player knows the other player's exact hand during the auction, so neither player knows what the field will be in. I have no idea what the "field" bid is with the 2-4 reds 10 count, I'm sure some would bid 2H, some 2N, some 3D. I think 2H is the right bid so I will bid 2H.