Quick Poll

[mgoetze]

- And if you belong in 1NT, which I would say is probably your most likely contract at this point, will it really matter that you showed your shape so well?

- He might pass 2C when you belong in hearts.

I think these points are much more relevant at matchpoints and indeed I would unthinkingly bid 1♥ at matchpoints.

 

- Your comment could also be made if you had a 2 count.

Sure. However it wouldn't be quite as relevant - if I had a 2 count there wouldn't be any potential slam decisions coming up.

[straube]

I think 2C by a passed hand should show something like a weak two in clubs. it should emphasize the suit and less so the points. I played against two locals who were not on the same wavelength here. Responder bid. a four-card club suit to show she had ten points. She got to play in her 4-1 fit when 3N was probably making.

[aguahombre]

I am a bit surprised by the lopsided vote (with which I agree). I would have thought more posters would want to take alleged advantage of their passed-hand status and perpetrate a 2C response.

[straube]

I'm not surprised. I voted 1H, but my second choice would have to be 1N...which ought to infer at least 3 clubs. If partner has 4/4 in the minors, he can offer a choice for what should be an 8+ card fit. Responding 2C with KTxxx is very directional. I mean, I would never preempt this suit at the two-level so I wouldn't make a NFB with it now. Partner ought to expect something more like xx Kxx xx AJxxxx.

[han]

I suspect some 2C haters missed the fact that we are a passed hand, but I still think 1H is clearly right. You say that you will never be able to show your pattern if you start with 1H, but partner will not expect a 4-card major when you bid 2C. He'll be passing with all minimal 4-4-4-1's for example, and playing in 2C would look a little silly then!

 

Still, a useful question.

[rhm]

Simple bid 1 ♥. There's not enough points to bid 2 ♣ and reverse into ♥s.

 

A very wise old player when asked about his secret to success at bridge said "I don't do anything that I can be criticized for in the post mortem." Sounds sort of corny...

It is.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[lalldonn]

Why are you thinking slam already? If you are that concerned then you probably shouldn't play 2/1 game forcing since you have the same issue if you aren't a passed hand as well.

[Cyberyeti]

1♥ I think.

 

2♣ would just about be possible but an overbid as I play a Bourke type relay, I would have to bid 1♦-2♣-2♦-2N to show a minimum F1 2/1 with 4+ clubs 4 hearts, this might work too so no strong preference.

[mike777]

thought this was a 1h wtp?

 

same bid as if unpassed hand. same issues.

[WellSpyder]

A very wise old player when asked about his secret to success at bridge said "I don't do anything that I can be criticized for in the post mortem." Sounds sort of corny, but it's actually great advice.

Easier said than done! I find that what I can be criticised for can depend on the other hands at the table, so it is sometimes impossible to find an action that won't be criticised some of the time.....

[mgoetze]

Why are you thinking slam already? If you are that concerned then you probably shouldn't play 2/1 game forcing since you have the same issue if you aren't a passed hand as well.

As a matter of fact I do like playing 2/1M GF but 1♦-2♣ not GF. :P

 

Anyway, why not think about slam once in a while... they do come up now and then. The only question is how big is the risk of missing a game by bidding 2♣, and I guess I had a different estimation of that than most of the responders in this thread.