Jump to content

Easy problem


Your call?  

48 members have voted

  1. 1. Your call?

    • Pass
      1
    • Dbl
      31
    • 1S
      7
    • 1N
      6
    • Lemurs
      3


Recommended Posts

1

 

My partner held this hand the other day, I swear to God. At least it was EXTREMELY similar. Same auction, too.

 

I responded 1.... '@#$@#%' and she then proceeded to bid clubs and spades, we ended in 3 -2.... and I was worried we'd missed 5.

 

This was MPs, of course. At IMPs maybe X becomes more attractive. But I really like 1 here.

 

Edit: Woops!! wasn't the same auction. Opener bid diamonds at the 1 and 2-levels. Minors were reversed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you could get into problems with double.

 

Of course you can get into problems with other actions too.

 

1 appeals to me if we eventually play spades or no trumps or hearts (usually the most important contracts) then we will probably be ok. Any other action and we are not sure - a 1 overcall may lead to a poor Moysian; a 1NT overcall may lead to 3NT without a decent club stopper and X may lead to a poor heart contract.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. Strong hand, strong suit, alternatives stink--perfect conditions for a four-card major overcall.

 

Second choice 1, but I don't like it. Why encourage partner or opponents to bid hearts?

 

Our most likely game is 3NT if partner stops clubs, followed by 4. 5 is not so likely.

 

Now if we play that 1NT is based on shape and values and is agnostic about stoppers (responder will inquire before going to 3NT if he lacks a club stopper) then 1NT looks fairly good, but may wrong side the contract if partner has a positional stopper.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you could get into problems with double.

 

Of course you can get into problems with other actions too.

 

1 appeals to me if we eventually play spades or no trumps or hearts (usually the most important contracts) then we will probably be ok.  Any other action and we are not sure - a 1 overcall may lead to a poor Moysian; a 1NT overcall may lead to 3NT without a decent club stopper and X may lead to a poor heart contract.

Very good analysis, Wayne. If spades is a poor moysian, it will be because they have the hearts and lead them. Bidding 1 may shut out the heart bid that makes it more likely for them to lead hearts, so at least sometimes we will steal it in a 4-3 spade fit when they lead clubs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you could get into problems with double.

 

Of course you can get into problems with other actions too.

 

1 appeals to me if we eventually play spades or no trumps or hearts (usually the most important contracts) then we will probably be ok.  Any other action and we are not sure - a 1 overcall may lead to a poor Moysian; a 1NT overcall may lead to 3NT without a decent club stopper and X may lead to a poor heart contract.

Very good analysis, Wayne. If spades is a poor moysian, it will be because they have the hearts and lead them. Bidding 1 may shut out the heart bid that makes it more likely for them to lead hearts, so at least sometimes we will steal it in a 4-3 spade fit when they lead clubs.

I don't think you will steal it that often. With these poor clubs even a club lead will only delay the force when a heart hits at trick two.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very good analysis, Wayne. If spades is a poor moysian, it will be because they have the hearts and lead them. Bidding 1 may shut out the heart bid that makes it more likely for them to lead hearts, so at least sometimes we will steal it in a 4-3 spade fit when they lead clubs.

Most people can show a 4+ card suit after 1 1 without so much as getting the level higher. 1 isn't even going to slow them down.

 

1NT has at least a little pre-emptive effect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To the other doublers, what do you do if it goes p-1H-p next?

1S, I think passing is too much of a view. Partner could have some 9 count, or some random hand with 4 hearts that is not very good that will bid 2S or 1N over 1S. Hopefully if he has Jxx Kxxx xx KJxx he will get NT in play but I'm sure that is wishful thinking. I'll take my chances in 4S opposite this rather than being in 1H though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I opted for 1, and the 'arguments' of the doublers haven't persuaded me otherwise.

 

Nothing is perfect, but:

 

1. I double and bid 1 over 1, the most probable response and certainly a response for which I have to be prepared. He will often overbid now, especially with xxx in spades, which he will think is great support for a suit that is always 5 good and usually 6+ in length.

 

What if he bids 2 (over the double)? Now, we have the values for game, altho we may not have enough tricks... and how do we resolve denomination issues over 2? Bid 2? Bid 3?

 

2. I bid 1. Worst case scenario is that he passes and we are in the wrong suit. It seems vanishingly unlikely that he will pass 1 with any hand on which 4 is good. He may pass when 3N from his side is best, or when we have a diamond partial... but double won't get us to the diamond partial when he also has 4 hearts. Even when 1 is 'wrong', the opps may rescue us, via a negative double, a 1N bid on our left or a reopening on our right (altho p p x leaves me awkwardly placed)

 

And if partner will bid 1N over our double, he will bid 1N over our 1

 

Now, admittedly, I would be (more) comfortable with my choice if we played transfer advances, because partner can advance to 2 red on weak hands with long suits: if he has 6+ hearts and a weak hand, he may well transfer and I will jump accept.

 

BTW, for me, 1 is the 4th choice: I place them as 1 100, 1N 80 double 70 1 60.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...