Competing on 3 level

[mich-b]

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s732hakqt3dj9ca53]133|100|Scoring: IMP

1♥-1♠-2♥-2♠-

?[/hv]

 

Pass or 3♥?

And more generally , when do you compete to the 3 level with 8 trumps (playing IMPs)?

[Jlall]

3H

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

3H.

 

Since your question is basically a LoTT question, here a LoTT answer:

 

A corrolary of the LoTT is, that is ok to bid 3H over 2S with only 8 trumps.

 

If we have 8 trumps and they have 8 trumps, this means there are 16

total tricks out there, i.e. everyone will make their contract.

If you bid 3 over 2, this just means, that you will be -1, being green,

even if they double you, you would be better off (-50/-100 vs. -110),

being red you are -200 vs. 110, that is, if they double you, which at

IMPs is a risky business.

 

So at least the LoTT says, that you should "always" bid 3H, unless you

have lots of neg. adjustemnt factors, which would favor a pass,

adjustment factors would be strength in their suit.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[the hog]

Pass.

[shevek]

I wonder if you are playing some sort of Bergen, with 2♥ denying 4 trumps.

 

Anyway, 3♥ looks normal enough here with no spade honour and very high ODR (offence to defence ratio)

Give partner Ax, Jxx, xxxx, xxxx

and you will fail while they make 9 tricks.

Another useful card opposite could mean 9 for you and 8 for them.

[Hanoi5]

I'd bid 3♥ on the quality of my trumps and expecting partner to have only 2 spades (at most). I also have a maximum and being imp's I don't think they'll double me.

[se12sam]

A non-expert answer:

    1. If my suit/s are good, I bid one more (even with 8-card fit)

    2. If I hold Aces instead of Kings & Queens, I bid one more

I have never fully read the Bergen book, but this probably relates to adjustments for suit purity (or some such thing he talks about)

 

I bid 3♥ on this hand, especially because it is IMPs

[Fluffy]

3♥.

 

When do you compete at the 3 level with 8 trups?

 

When my ODR is high, by having all the strenght in my suit is the excuse this time.

 

Impossible on this sequence but if I had 4cards in partner's minor opening suit it would also be a good excuse.

 

Having a 54 with concentrated honnors also.

 

with any 55 I would normally try for game, not compete.

[ochinko]

Even a LoTT freak like me bids 3♥ here in order to protect his honors, as they are not worth much if ♠ are trumps.

[pooltuna]

I will let partner show me a 4th ♥. That being said I really have no qualms with the 3♥ bidders. LoTT and the ODR are definite reasons to go on. The V vs not is the main negative.

[mtvesuvius]

3♥ for me

[Phil]

3♥. This hand is just too pure and we aren't getting doubled at IMPs with these trump.

 

For pass to be right, both 2♠ and 3♥ need to be going down.

[Cascade]

The biggest problem i have had with competing to 3♥ with this sort of hand is when the opponents turn up with only three trumps and we have lots of spade losers.

 

Nevertheless I am a 3♥ bidder. Ordinarily the lack of spade values mean that partner's honours will be working for us.

[shevek]

The biggest problem i have had with competing to 3♥ with this sort of hand is when the opponents turn up with only three trumps and we have lots of spade losers.

 

Nevertheless I am a 3♥ bidder.  Ordinarily the lack of spade values mean that partner's honours will be working for us.

seven?

[the hog]

The biggest problem i have had with competing to 3♥ with this sort of hand is when the opponents turn up with only three trumps and we have lots of spade losers.

 

Nevertheless I am a 3♥ bidder.  Ordinarily the lack of spade values mean that partner's honours will be working for us.

seven?

Seven is unlikely, but certainly possible. Overcall on a good 4, raise on three and ruffing value. It's happened before and it will happen again.