Balancing at Matchpoints 1

[vuroth]

The bidding goes:

1♠ P 2♠ P

P ?

 

What's the weakest hand you would bid on with:

 

♠ ?

♥ ????

♦ ????

♣ ????

 

or

 

♠ ??

♥ ???

♦ ???

♣ ?????

 

At the club yesterday, I pushed a pair to 4♠ by bidding once at the 3 level (!). It was unmakeable, so all was good, but I'm not convinced my bid was correct.

[mtvesuvius]

The bidding goes:

1♠ P 2♠ P

P ?

 

What's the weakest hand you would bid on with:

 

♠ ?

♥ ????

♦ ????

♣ ????

 

or

 

♠ ??

♥ ???

♦ ???

♣ ?????

 

At the club yesterday, I pushed a pair to 4♠ by bidding once at the 3 level (!). It was unmakeable, so all was good, but I'm not convinced my bid was correct.

1. Depends on opponents. If I am confident that they will not underbid, then I might bid on x xxxx xxxx xxxx :). However I think that is a losing strategy. I think at least 1 defensive trick is needed here.

 

2. I better be pretty good here. If I will balance with 3♣, it should have some playing strength... Maybe just under a 2♣ overcall?

[ArtK78]

With 1444 it is almost an automatic balance even red against white. Partner, with a reasonable hand, cannot act as partner has length in their suit. I might not balance with less than 7 HCP.

 

On the auction 1M - P - 2M - P - P - ?, you strain to balance. You rarely get an average or better score by letting them play in 2 of a major on that auction.

 

On the second hand, partner is not marked with as much length in their suit. So partner might have been able to act with a good hand or a long suit, but did not. So balancing is not as clear as the first case. But partner needs a good hand to act directly over 2♠, as opener is unlimited until he passes. And, again, you rarely get a good score by passing out 2♠ in this auction. So you still strain to balance.

[vuroth]

At the table, I bid 3 clubs with:

 

xx

Jxx

Kxx

QJxxx

 

I'm nearly positive that we were NV. Not so sure who the dealer was, though.

 

Somehow, this pushed opponents into a non-making 4♠. None of this gave me a clue whether or not my bid was right, aggressive, or insane.

 

Fwiw, this was my first game against serious club competition in over 6 years, and I was mighty intimidated. As it turned out, this particular pair might not have been A listers (nothing against them, but 4♠ took my by surprise for sure).

 

V

[JLOL]

With 1444 it is almost an automatic balance even red against white. Partner, with a reasonable hand, cannot act as partner has length in their suit. I might not balance with less than 7 HCP.

 

On the auction 1M - P - 2M - P - P - ?, you strain to balance. You rarely get an average or better score by letting them play in 2 of a major on that auction.

LOL

[mtvesuvius]

LOL

He's back... Thank god! ;)

[ArtK78]

LOL

He's back... Thank god! :)

Yes. His comments are so informative.

[Lobowolf]

Just out of idle curiosity, I'm going to see what my matchpoint score is on the auction 1M-2M (unopposed) over the next few months.

[y66]

Is 3C right, aggressive or insane?

 

I vote for insane. Not sure where the tipping point is for merely aggressive. Perhaps a king more and some spots, not vul.

[awm]

In each case I'd say it's about a king lighter than a direct action. So for a double with 1444 shape I need about 7 hcp and for a 3♣ bid (or double) on 2335 I need about 8 hcp with six clubs or 10 with five clubs.