MP's, mixed pairs

[Hanoi5]

First of all it is amusing how men are told to sit East/North and women West/South, hehehe, isn't that sexist?

 

So, I was trying to play 5-card Majors with weak no-trump and I think I blew two hands in bidding:

 

♠Jxx

♥KQ

♦AT

♣KQT8xx

 

I opened 1♣, got 1♥ from partner and should have rebid???

 

 

Later I held:

 

♠Kxx

♥Txx

♦Qx

♣QJ7xx

 

Partner opened 1NT (12-14) and RHO bid 2♥ natural, what's your action?

 

Another I couldn't handle properly:

 

♠KTxxx

♥KTxx

♦Qx

♣9x

 

Bidding goes:

1♣ 1♠ Pa Pa

3♣ Pa ???

[ArtK78]

1) 2♣ is certainly the normal action, although some might bid 1NT. Just because the 1NT rebid would show 15-17 is not a good enough reason to rebid 1NT if you would not have opened the hand a strong 1NT to begin with (assuming that you were playing strong 1NT). The hand has several obvious flaws for NT.

 

2) You did not provide vulnerability. My philosophy playing weak NTs is to get into and out of the auction as quickly as possible. My partner's 1NT opening put my RHO in a situation which few other pairs will face. There is no guarantee that RHO's 2♥ call will be good for their side, especially since I know for a fact that our side has at least 5, and possibly more, hearts. You could compete in clubs (using Lebensohl or any other method that you have) but I suggest passing in the hope that they have made a mistake. Competing could turn a plus (or a small minus) into a large minus.

 

3) 3NT seems clear.

[maggieb]

1) I think 1NT is much better than 2C. I guess I don't see Art's obvious flaws. 15-17 HCP? Check. No shortness? Check. No weak suit? Check. Playing notrump at matchpoints? Check. Not underbidding with 2C? Check. :ph34r:

 

2) I would compete at any vulnerability.

 

3) Gotta agree with Art here, 3NT seems clear.

[Codo]

1. You do not have the perfect shape for 1 NT, but nothing else seems to fit.

 

2. I pass, wrong shape for competion.

 

3. There is no third problem. Or did you want to double partner to show your majors?

[andy_h]

1) I'd rebid 1NT. The Jxx and A10 are nice holdings for a NT contract when the lead is towards your hand.

2) I pass because nothing else fits. Nothing is wrong in getting a plus score defending, right? We have a balanced hand and full of queens. I say let's defend.

3) I would have made a negative double the previous round because I was not prepared to penalty pass 1♠X. But now I bid 3NT.

[ArtK78]

I am going to change my response to question 1 from 2♣ to 1NT. I don't think it is quite as clear as some of the posters make it out to be, but 1NT at matchpoints is certainly a very reasonable call.

[billw55]

Generally agree with others. Except on 1, with good working honors in partner's suit I would consider 3♣. Maybe a stretch, but 1NT has its flaws as well. Not sure which I would choose at the table.

[pooltuna]

1) your choices IMO are 1NT and 3♣ with a preference for 1NT

 

2) since it is MP I would try a nonforcing 3♣

 

3)3NT

[jjbrr]

2♣

 

Pass

 

3NT

[cherdanno]

a) 1N, thought this would be uncontroversial!

B) Pass, assuming we are playing takeout doubles. Ok, maybe at w/w i would compete to 3♣.

c) 3N.

[Jlall]

2) I would compete at any vulnerability.

LOL

[Fluffy]

On the second one I am trying whatever you have for weak competition hand, 2Nt in my system.

 

The first 1 is 1NT, for the many reasons maggie suggester plus: it is mixed pairs!. And also because it might let you play in hearts if partner has 5 wich might sore 140 against 130.

[nigel_k]

1. 1NT. I don't like it all that much and minor suit partscores can be worth more matchpoints than people think. But you are between 2♣ and 3♣ and they probably can't run many tricks given their lack of bidding.

 

2. Pass. Partner will usually reopen with a doubleton heart and, if not, you are better off passing. If you do play 3♣, either they lead through partner's heart holding or your mixed pairs partner is declarer.

 

3. 3NT. Partner's failure to reopen with a double means that 3♣ may be distributional rather than having a lot of high cards, but still passing is too pessimistic with this hand.

[Gerben42]

First of all it is amusing how men are told to sit East/North and women West/South, hehehe, isn't that sexist?

 

Around here, men should sit North or West (screens!) and women can sit wherever they want. That's emancipation for you...

 

♠Jxx ♥KQ ♦AT ♣KQT8xx  I opened 1♣, got 1♥ from partner and should have rebid???

 

I would bid 1NT all the time. You are between 2♣ and 3♣ and besides, perhaps 2♥ is the spot.

 

Later I held:  ♠Kxx ♥Txx ♦Qx ♣QJ7xx  Partner opened 1NT (12-14) and RHO bid 2♥ natural, what's your action?

 

I pass, don't see any good action, 20 HCP doesn't mean we have to be active all the time.

 

Another I couldn't handle properly:  ♠KTxxx ♥KTxx ♦Qx ♣9x  Bidding goes: 1♣ 1♠ Pa Pa 3♣ Pa ???

 

I'm going to bid 3NT now but would have been happier if I had bid 1 round earlier.

[Mbodell]

1. 1nt

 

2. Penalty double if, like me, you play it (assuming MP), and pass if not.

 

3. 3nt.

[WesleyC]

1. 1NT

 

2. Pass

 

3. 3NT

 

All pretty clear-cut IMO.

[Hanoi5]

Well on the first hand:

 

♠Jxx

♥KQ

♦AT

♣KQT8xx

 

I just bid 2♣. I think this is one of the bids you do with the hope of surviving (i.e. partner won't pass) so that you can describe your hand better. 1NT or 3♣ would have also been good, my REALLY bad bid came afterwards when I responded 2♥ to 2♦ and passed partner's 4♥. She held:

 

♠AKQx

♥ATxxx

♦Qxxx

♣Void

 

And 6 was made for a good score via a squeeze (hearts behaved, ♣AJxxx and ♦Kxx were in opening leader's hand)

 

I lebensohled on the second hand:

 

♠Kxx

♥Txx

♦Qx

♣QJ7xx

 

For -200 when my partner had a not so fitting hand for the 3 level (she opened on 11). I'm still not sure it was a bad bid, though.

 

On the final hand:

 

♠KTxxx

♥KTxx

♦Qx

♣9x

 

I bid 3NT and went four down when South led from ♦AJxxxxx to her partner's ♦Kx. My partner held:

 

 

♠J

♥Axx

♦Tx

♣AKQJxxx

 

And I now think I should have doubled 1♠ looking for the heart fit. Maybe we would have gotten to the same contract, but still, my hand wasn't that good for penalizing 1♠.

 

On to the second round.

[Simplicity]

1. 1NT

 

2. would probably compete w/w, definately not red

 

3. 3NT

 

Having seen what partner had, why on earth would i want to be in 6♥ on #1? Think I'd be with much of the field in 3N.

 

On the third one clearly you've been unlucky, but doubling 1♠ would have been awful. Personally I'd have tried 1NT at your first turn which would have fetched 3NT from pard for the same result, shouldn't think you were alone in 3NT-4.

[MFA]

I lebensohled on the second hand:

 

♠Kxx

♥Txx

♦Qx

♣QJ7xx

 

For -200 when my partner had a not so fitting hand for the 3 level (she opened on 11). I'm still not sure it was a bad bid, though.

Down 4 was unlucky and certainly 1 or 2 more down than what you'll normally be.

[Jlall]

I lebensohled on the second hand:

 

♠Kxx

♥Txx

♦Qx

♣QJ7xx

 

For -200 when my partner had a not so fitting hand for the 3 level (she opened on 11). I'm still not sure it was a bad bid, though.

Down 4 was unlucky and certainly 1 or 2 more down than what you'll normally be.

Any reason you are assuming he is NV other than that it is absolutely insane to bid vul (I guess some people play weak NT only NV also)?

 

Bidding is awful, you have a totally defensive hand with THREE hearts (worst number ever). They are more likely than not to be in a 7 card fit. Even if they aren't, if you have 8 clubs and they have 8 hearts it will often be right to pass.

 

Sure if you have 9 clubs and they have 8 hearts it is right to bid, but that gives partner x2x4 and he is likely to reopen with a double with that shape anyways. And when hes 4243 he might reopen with a double anyways. And when he has 5 spades he might reopen with 2S which will be better than 3C.

[Echognome]

First of all it is amusing how men are told to sit East/North and women West/South, hehehe, isn't that sexist?

Can't see how it's any more sexist than having a mixed pairs event in the first place.

 

1. 2♣

 

2. Pass

 

3. 3NT

[MFA]

I lebensohled on the second hand:

 

♠Kxx

♥Txx

♦Qx

♣QJ7xx

 

For -200 when my partner had a not so fitting hand for the 3 level (she opened on 11). I'm still not sure it was a bad bid, though.

Down 4 was unlucky and certainly 1 or 2 more down than what you'll normally be.

Any reason you are assuming he is NV other than that it is absolutely insane to bid vul (I guess some people play weak NT only NV also)?

(...)

It was for that reason. I just don't like to write words like insane.

[skjaeran]

1. 1NT, playing 15-17 NT I'd open 1NT, see no reason not to rebid 1NT now.

2. Pass

3. 3NT, would have made a neg x earlier