Hand Evaluation

[awm]

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=sq9xxxxhxxxxdqxxc]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

You are in first seat at IMPs. Feel free to open 2♠ if you want; otherwise if you pass partner opens a strong notrump (15-17). What do you do?

 

In your methods, stayman followed by 2♠ over 2♦ is not weak; it shows an invitational hand with five spades.

[han]

Transfer and pass for me.

[ochinko]

I voted for transfer and pass, but the hand deserves an invitation at IMPs. If the red Queen was part of a 4 cards suit instead of a three I would feel more comfortable with an invitation.

 

There's no way to inquire how many wasted values partner has in clubs, but I think chance for making a game would be on our side given that I have 7(8?) losers, and partner would have 6 or 7.

[whereagles]

transfer and 4.

[Free]

Stayman followed by 2♠

[pclayton]

I voted transfer and raise to 3. I would pull 3N to 4♥.

 

I've had a lot of invites and it has been right for the modest 6-4 to make a move and the 6322 not to. The void compensates for about another Q.

[Cascade]

The void compensates for about another Q.

... and increases the variance.

 

Partner can have a sub-minimum where game is cold.

 

♠ AKxx

♥ xx

♦ AKx

♣ xxxx

 

or a useless maximum

 

♠ xx

♥ AKQx

♦ xxx

♣ AKJx

 

etc.

 

For me I guess it seems about right to invite.

[jdonn]

Invite. Invites to me on this auction are about the playing strength of a bare minimum weak two bid, which I think the void brings this up to.

[awm]

This hand had two very different evaluations made in a team match. At one table, my teammate held this hand. She passed, partner opened a strong notrump, and she decided to stayman followed by 2♠ over partner's 2♦ rebid. Partner bid game and it made.

 

At my table, the auction was a bit different:

 

P - P - 1♣(1) - 1♥

P(2) - 2♥ - X(3) - P

2♠(4) - All pass

 

(1) Either natural or 16-21 balanced

(2) Wow!

(3) Takeout

(4) Double wow!

[Fluffy]

agree with Han.

[effervesce]

Depends on how lucky you feel on the day :) I'd transfer and invite.

[neilkaz]

Depends on how lucky you feel on the day :) I'd transfer and invite.

Me too, but passing unless a super accept (for me 4♠ and a decent NT opener or a good 3♠ cards, 17 HCP and a doubleton) is very close for me.

[rbforster]

I voted for transfer and pass, the conservative route.

 

It seems to me that transfer and raise to 3♠ is almost always worse than the 2♣...2♠ invite alternative. This is because the latter let's you find the 4-4 heart fit. Over 2♣-2♦-2♠ when opener has an acceptance, you'll end up in 4♠ in any event. When opener will decline, at least now you can stop at 2♠ some of the time (and pulling 2N to 3♠ the rest of the time).

[neilkaz]

I voted for transfer and pass, the conservative route.

 

It seems to me that transfer and raise to 3♠ is almost always worse than the 2♣...2♠ invite alternative. This is because the latter let's you find the 4-4 heart fit. Over 2♣-2♦-2♠ when opener has an acceptance, you'll end up in 4♠ in any event. When opener will decline, at least now you can stop at 2♠ some of the time (and pulling 2N to 3♠ the rest of the time).

Yes but some play 2♣ 2♦ 2♠ as a weak s/off..ie junk with 54 in majors

[skjaeran]

2♣ followed by 2♠ seems perfect.

 

I'd not be able to do that, since I play 2♠ as a GF relay over a 2red response. In my own methods I'd transfer and raise (if no super-accept).

[PassedOut]

I voted for 2♣ followed by 2♠. I can't tell partner to value diamond honors above clubs, but this sequence will focus partner on spade support and heart honors.