Team Game - game decisions

[the_dude]

Team game:

 

Game decision #1

 

You are NV, Opps are Vul

 

x AKQJx Kxxxx Qx

 

RHO opens 1D, you overcall 1H, and it continues:

 

(1D) 1H (P) 3H* (weak)

(P) ?

 

Partner is very aggressive at this vulnerability. Is it worth a solid 140 to hope for a fitting black honor and no other issues?

 

 

Game decision #2

 

You are Vul, Opps are NV

 

xx AKQJx KQxx xx

 

You open 1H, LHO overcalls 2C, and it continues:

 

1H (2C) 2H (4C)* (weak)

?

 

Your methods are pretty standard over 2C, 3H would be weak, 3C a limit+ raise, etc ... 2H can include 4 trump, shortness, whatever, though partner is pretty aggressive with his cue bids.

 

Is this worth a shot at 4H?

[mich-b]

1. I don't think we are making game. Even if pd has a fitting black honor , and they do lead a ♦, when they return a trump will I have enough tricks?

I wouldn't push for this NV game.

2. I would bid game here - sometimes we are making legitimately, pd will often have a singleton ♣ - and quite often they will take the save anyway.

[han]

Bidding game on 1 seems considerably against the odds.

 

Bidding on the second is closer. You are not likely to get doubled, if you go down it might not be a bad score, and they might bid 5C when it is wrong. You need a pretty suitable hand from partner though, x AKQJx KQxx xxx would have been a better hand.

[nigel_k]

I would bid game on the first one and pass the second. No special reason, just gut feeling. Both are quite close though.

[mikeh]

The first one is a clear pass. yes, partner may have the club K or spade A and enough trump to establish the diamonds (while avoiding LHO getting a diamond ruff or two), but you're playing him for magic cards. Not a long term winning approach.

 

On the second, an equally clear 4♥. They can't double you....neither has a sniff of a trump trick and they have no idea that they may cash 2 clubs. Bid it in tempo. It may be cold, it may have no play. But when it has no play, they may make 4♣ anyway. The main reason not to bid game is that you may have no defence to 5♣ or 4♠ and they may be about to bid one of those. You can't worry too much about that....some of the time, they will be bidding their game even if you pass.

 

One could argue that one should help partner by bidding 4♦, but that's not only the best way to get doubled when going down, but also helps them in the bidding and the play/defence.

[MrAce]

1- I would pass in a split second.

 

2- I want to pass, but Han's and Mikeh's arguments convinced me that 4♥ is a good bid even when it is wrong.

[VM1973]

I'll pass both, but in my opinion hand 1 is closer to being able to bid on. There's just too much risk of partner's values being in spades where you need them least. If you knew, for example, that your partner held the ♦Ax you have a shot but the diamond honor rates to be with the diamond bidder.