easy one

[gwnn]

xxxx

KTxx

xxx

xx

 

partner, a beginner, opens 1♠. you play sayc. unfavorable.

 

 

if you try pass,

there are no further questions

 

if you try 1NT,

it will go 1♠-p-1NT-3♣, 3♠-p-?

 

if you try 2♠,

no further questions

 

[rogerclee]

2♠, I support with support, and this gives us a much better shot at stealing than 1N. The playing strength of this hand is about that of a minimum 2♠ bid anyway.

[han]

1NT, I pass 3S.

[MarkDean]

I would bid 2S.

 

I do not get 1NT with four card support, especially when it is not forcing. Are we afraid 2S will excite partner too much (I happen to think this is a decent hand for spades), or that 1NT is better for stealing (by letting them come in a level lower?)?

[TylerE]

2♠ = 10

Pass = 8

1NT = 0

[pclayton]

1N. If you bid 2♠ with hands like this you haven't been around enough.

 

I pass 3♠. It might make 4 of course, but when I bid 1N I really didn't have any intent to participate with game tries.

[P_Marlowe]

2S.

 

The alternative being Pass.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[rogerclee]

If you bid 2♠ with hands like this you haven't been around enough.

Please justify this statement. Have you been keeping a record of what happens on bad hands with 4-card spade support?

 

I happen to be very happy with my record of bidding spades when I have spades.

[jdonn]

I would bid 2♠. Am I the only one not so pigheaded that I don't absolutely hate the bid I don't choose??

[rogerclee]

2♠ = 10

Pass = 8

1NT = 0

Pass = 8, 1NT = 0?!?!!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!!??!!? WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[pclayton]

If you bid 2♠ with hands like this you haven't been around enough.

Please justify this statement. Have you been keeping a record of what happens on bad hands with 4-card spade support?

 

I happen to be very happy with my record of bidding spades when I have spades.

SOP dude. Yeah, actually I have about ten recent instances where I have bid 1N with a weak hand with 4 (or 5) card support. It usually works, although its hard to measure the effectiveness sometimes against 2♠. Pass is for sheep btw.

 

What is your goal here? I have two:

 

1. There is an outside chance we have game. I've even heard about some people that open 1♠ with 10 tricks and a prime 24 :P

 

2. I want to 'buy it' at a low level if possible. This is what 1N frequently achieves.

 

3. I don't want my opponents to know how many trumps we have.

[pclayton]

I would bid 2♠. Am I the only one not so pigheaded that I don't absolutely hate the bid I don't choose??

What? Has the Venetian implemented sensitivity training all of a sudden?

[jdonn]

I would bid 2♠. Am I the only one not so pigheaded that I don't absolutely hate the bid I don't choose??

What? Has the Venetian implemented sensitivity training all of a sudden?

I'm not sure, if I ever work there I'll find out for you!

 

If they have math classes, I'll sign you up for that too :P

What is your goal here? I have two:

 

1.

2.

3.

[rogerclee]

If you bid 2♠ with hands like this you haven't been around enough.

Please justify this statement. Have you been keeping a record of what happens on bad hands with 4-card spade support?

 

I happen to be very happy with my record of bidding spades when I have spades.

SOP dude. Yeah, actually I have about ten recent instances where I have bid 1N with a weak hand with 4 (or 5) card support. It usually works, although its hard to measure the effectiveness sometimes against 2♠. Pass is for sheep btw.

 

What is your goal here? I have two:

 

1. There is an outside chance we have game. I've even heard about some people that open 1♠ with 10 tricks and a prime 24 :P

 

2. I want to 'buy it' at a low level if possible. This is what 1N frequently achieves.

 

3. I don't want my opponents to know how many trumps we have.

1. This has never occurred. Dude I was joking, I was logged in as kfay on BBO obv lol.

2. 1NT will not only allow the opponents to come in at the 2-level and have more space, but it will also give their interference more integrity. Coming in over 2♠ is less strongly defined than coming in over 1NT.

3. The opponents know how many trumps they have.

 

I understand 1NT, but I think the preemptive effect of 2♠ just has too much going for it. I agree that pass has absolutely no merit.

[P_Marlowe]

Just a comment, why Pass is not completly pointless:

 

The original post did mention, that opener is a beginner,

so choosing the book bid, cannot be complete garbage,

the given hand does not contain 6HCP.

... it may make partner feel more secure for the boards to

come.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Apollo81]

For the record, I agree with the raise to 2♠, and I don't hate a 1NT response.

 

Suppose you switched the suits around a little such that the hand was KTxx xx xxxx xxx. Does this change your opinion of the situation?

 

Suppose partner opened 1♥ and your hand was xx KTxx xxxx xxx. Does this change your opinion of the situation?

 

I would respond 1NT in one of the two above cases.

[Finch]

Playing with a beginner I think you should either pass (not enough to respond) or raise to 2S (4-card support makes it worth an action).

 

1NT is a lot more tempting when you aren't vulnerable. Yes, it works sometimes (I've managed +110 scoring up with +420 as well) but it's not something I think you should do with a beginner, particularly when I'm not toally convinced this is the right vulnerability for it.

[han]

If they have math classes, I'll sign you up for that too :P

Scary thought, Clayton in a math class. Brrr.

[cherdano]

I would bid 2♠. I average about +1.72 IMPs (+/- 0.6) when doing this with a weak hand with 4 weak spades.

[pclayton]

If they have math classes, I'll sign you up for that too  :P

Scary thought, Clayton in a math class. Brrr.

Yeah, he'd probably question everything :P

[kenrexford]

1NT, because that's my agreement.

 

If I did not play constructive or semi-constructive raises, 2♠.

 

This is really a stupid question. Anyone who provides arguments as to what he would respond based on an analysis of the pros and cons of the situation and the strengths and weaknesses of the hand is bidding like a friggin' moron. You either have agreed to constructive raises or you have not. If you have, you must bid 1NT. If you have not, you must bid 2♠. If you have an agreement and do something other than what your agreement calls for, you are dangerous and foolish. If you do not like your agreement because of this hand, for some reason, then feel free to change your agreement. But, don't argue like somehow this one is a close call or something. This is a simple crap raise and nothing more.

[han]

So if you don't play constructive raises then you raise on 3-counts. I disagree.

[P_Marlowe]

For the record, I agree with the raise to 2♠, and I don't hate a 1NT response.

 

Suppose you switched the suits around a little such that the hand was KTxx xx xxxx xxx. Does this change your opinion of the situation?

 

Suppose partner opened 1♥ and your hand was xx KTxx xxxx xxx. Does this change your opinion of the situation?

 

I would respond 1NT in one of the two above cases.

No, I would still raise, the alternative being Pass.

 

Of course I would be happy to have a forcing NT

available, which would allow me to bid 1NT.

 

If I play nonforcing NT, bidding NT feels like hogging

(spelling?) the hand.

Ok, I am playing with a beginner, but hopefully with

the purpose to improve his ability, and the best way to

do this to let him play reasonable contracts, 2m wont

be too bad, it will also tell him that it is fine to respond

with less than 6HCP, espesially if you happen to have

a good fit.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Edmunte1]

The original post did mention, that opener is a beginner,

so choosing the book bid, cannot be complete garbage,

the given hand does not contain 6HCP.

... it may make partner feel more secure for the boards to

come.

I disagree. If you're playing with a beginner, you should try teach him something. Bridge is primarily a game of suits, not of points. And this board should be a good example.

[P_Marlowe]

The original post did mention, that opener is a beginner,

so choosing the book bid, cannot be complete garbage,

the given hand does not contain 6HCP.

... it may make partner feel more secure for the boards to

come.

I disagree. If you're playing with a beginner, you should try teach him something. Bridge is primarily a game of suits, not of points. And this board should be a good example.

I am not against raising.

I prefer 2P over Pass, but Pass over 1NT.

More precise, I can live with either 2S and Pass, but in the

given setting 1NT is not an alternative.

..........................................................................................

Raising showes the fit, and the (9 card) fit is certainly

enough compensation for the missing high card power,

and I will be able to explain this to the beginner.

 

On the other hand bidding 1 NT denies a primary fit,

which means, the bid gurantees a certain amount of high

card power, since you cant yet rely on distributional

compensation, because you dont, if you have a fit or not.

 

Now tell me, what would a beginner learn from me, if I happen

to choose to bid a nonforcing 1 NT?

 

With kind regards

Marlowe