headscratcher...

[matmat]

this auction came up today. it shouldn't have, but it did.

 

P - [1♠] - P - [P]

X - [P] - 2♦ - [P]

2NT - [P] - ?

 

you're sitting there, staring at something like Kx xxx QJxxx T98 trying to figure out what partner has and how to avoid a minus score, if at all possible... what call do you make?

[Finch]

The auction doesn't exist.

If partner had mis-sorted his hand and passed by accident on a strong hand, he'd just bid 3NT now to avoid this problem.

[TylerE]

2NT must be two places to play, no? 3♥

[mtvesuvius]

I bid 6NT: Punishment :)

 

Otherwise I'll try 3♣, maybe 3♥ at MPs, but I think 2NT has to be 2 places to play... 3♣ still leaves room for partner to bid 3♦ also. The only thing is that the opponents are known to have 24+ HCP combined, so passing and going -200 might be a good board... If the opponents couldn't bid now though, they won't over 3♣... I stick with my decision.

[MFA]

Who is partner? :)

I would expect some super-duper raise of diamonds with a spade card, presumably the A.

[jtfanclub]

Who is partner? :)

I would expect some super-duper raise of diamonds with a spade card, presumably the A.

Not possible- he's a passed hand.

 

It must be that he's 5-5 in Hearts and clubs, and he was hoping for the 2/3* shot that you'd pick one of his suits at the 2 level, rather than bid Michaels and be assured of being at the 3 level.

 

What else could it mean?

 

*OK, not really 2/3, but you know what I mean.

[MFA]

Who is partner? :P

I would expect some super-duper raise of diamonds with a spade card, presumably the A.

Not possible- he's a passed hand.

Plzzz.... :)

 

It must be that he's 5-5 in Hearts and clubs, and he was hoping for the 2/3* shot that you'd pick one of his suits at the 2 level, rather than bid Michaels and be assured of being at the 3 level.

 

What else could it mean?

 

*OK, not really 2/3, but you know what I mean.

 

For me this is not sensible. He could bid 2♥ now with 5-5. If he is 5♥-6♣ maybe the initial double needs inspection.

 

When a limited hand suddenly finds power to make a very surprising forwardgoing move, my initial thought would always be that he was encouraged by my bid. So here I would expect a strong fit for diamonds.

[Mud Reelo]

I have 6 points, LHO has at most 5 and partner at most 11. That leaves RHO with at the very least 18 HCP. If RHO is an unknown, I expect him to redouble with that strong a hand almost always. There's something rotten....

 

I think there's a very good chance that partner did actually forget to open :-)

[jtfanclub]

For me this is not sensible. He could bid 2♥ now with 5-5. If he is 5♥-6♣ maybe the initial double needs inspection.

 

When a limited hand suddenly finds power to make a very surprising forwardgoing move, my initial thought would always be that he was encouraged by my bid. So here I would expect a strong fit for diamonds.

So what would 2♠ have meant, then, after you made a 2♦ call? I play that as a suprising forwardgoing move, and I don't know anybody offhand who doesn't. Partner has a clear and obvious way to invite game. Why would he use 2NT, if it meant the same thing but a lot less clear?

 

I think you're right, X followed by 2♥ makes more sense with 5-5. Maybe he's 4-6. Maybe he's used to using X followed by 2♥ as a powerhouse and he's forgotten that as a passed hand he doesn't need the powerhouse bid any more. But I think 2NT can't be a diamond bid. Even if partner woke up and realized that he had an opening count and more, 2♠ is just too obvious to use 2NT for the same sort of hand.

[MFA]

For me this is not sensible. He could bid 2♥ now with 5-5. If he is 5♥-6♣ maybe the initial double needs inspection.

 

When a limited hand suddenly finds power to make a very surprising forwardgoing move, my initial thought would always be that he was encouraged by my bid. So here I would expect a strong fit for diamonds.

So what would 2♠ have meant, then, after you made a 2♦ call? I play that as a suprising forwardgoing move, and I don't know anybody offhand who doesn't. Partner has a clear and obvious way to invite game. Why would he use 2NT, if it meant the same thing but a lot less clear?

 

I think you're right, X followed by 2♥ makes more sense with 5-5. Maybe he's 4-6. Maybe he's used to using X followed by 2♥ as a powerhouse and he's forgotten that as a passed hand he doesn't need the powerhouse bid any more. But I think 2NT can't be a diamond bid. Even if partner woke up and realized that he had an opening count and more, 2♠ is just too obvious to use 2NT for the same sort of hand.

Whatever, I'm not about to discuss this silly problem forever.

 

My interpretation is a strong diamond raise (at least 5) with a spade card, since that is the only hand I can think of that I would actually want to bid this way. 2♠ would then typically show a small singleton or a void.

 

Feel free to disagree.

[matmat]

just to end this debate.

 

p wrapped up 2NT after I passed.

 

he held a 3325 11 count. let's just say I raised an eyebrow or two.

[Phil]

Life is too short to work on auctions that won't occur again, at least not with a rational partner.

 

I, however, make a living off of playing with irrational partners, so I have a heavier cross to bear :P

[benlessard]

for sure an offshape X with short D will bid 2H. So 2nt can only be that ive discovered an ace and ive got an opening hand with a super accept in D and half a stop. Not likely but no other meaning make sense.