vuroth Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 The bidding:1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ ? or 1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ P P? When do you compete to 3♠? Pretty much always? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtvesuvius Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 1. With a 3 card raise, or a 4 card Min. you can pass. With 3 Absolute Max. or 4 you can bid 3♠. 2. Keeping in mind the above, bid accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 It's hard do quantify the answer, but it's a whole lot less than "pretty much always". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Sorry, I guess that largely answers my question. Last week, I passed out the opponents balance (weak field?), and it got me a 0. I *think* I was short in their suit, though I may have had an extra bit of length in our suit - can't recall. Twice at the club yesterday, the balance was IMMEDIATELY bid over, raising to 3 of the agreed suit. I was starting to wonder if this was automatic or semi-automatic. I'll try again, though. Is this more or less a LOTT question? For example, what would you do with? 1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ P P? xxxxxxxxxxxx Clear pass because partner has 3 spades (didn't LOTT and bid 3♠) and decent hearts (implied), or clear 3♠ in case 3♥ makes. (Does vuln matter?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtvesuvius Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Is this more or less a LOTT question? For example, what would you do with? 1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ P P? xxxxxxxxxxxx Clear pass because partner has 3 spades (didn't LOTT and bid 3♠) and decent hearts (implied), or clear 3♠ in case 3♥ makes. (Does vuln matter?) Yes it is. I think I would pass, unless I have extras or good spots. Edit: At MPs, vul. does matter, NV I think 3♠ is a long term winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codo Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Outside the B/I section, there are many reasons why you should or should not compete with 3 over 3. But here, I would simplify it to: Follow the law. When you have an extra trump, bid one more. This is not the best rule, but easy to follow and works quite well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobowolf Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Probably your chance of a bad board has increased by virtue of the fact that 3♥ was bid, regardless of what you do now. If most people were allowed to play 2♠ for +110, for instance, if your options are +100 against 3♥ or -100 in 3♠, you're in trouble. The extra trump is a useful yardstick - it both helps on offense, and hurts on defense (increasing the chances that a potential spade winner will get ruffed). Also, the partner with the long hearts is usually better placed to make the decision - if those hearts are, say, 9xxx that argues somewhat for bidding on, as the hand is better offensively on splinter principles; if the hearts are KJxx, the hand is better defensively. This distinction is somewhat undercut, though, in that the balance doesn't guarantee a fit; it would be more useful in an auction where both sides' fits were disclosed. You might compete with 9xxx and then find out that the opponents were at the 3-level with a 6- or 7-card fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtfanclub Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 The bidding:1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ ? or 1♠ P 2♠ PP 3♥ P P? When do you compete to 3♠? Pretty much always? In IMPs, I almost never bid 3♠ as opener. I may lose an IMP or three, but not more than that. Part of the reason is because if I thought we had any shot at 4♠, I wouldn't have passed 2♠ the first time. So the hand is probably fairly marginal. If we do have a 9 card fit, their most likely fit isn't 9 cards, it's 8. So bidding on as opener is dangerous. As responder, if I have the extra spade and I would have accepted an invite, I'll bid 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike777 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I just remember what one partner with 10,000 mp told me when I had ten.....never balance..you are not good enough and you will never be good enough. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobowolf Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 You're never good enough not to balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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