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First Call


han

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The alternatives are all flawed, which would be an argument in favour of playing the cuebid as invitational with no clear direction.
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If we define 1/N as 9-15 HPC , 5+cards ,primary concern of the partners to reduce their stakes - min or max.

I will say 2(short and forsig to 2NT).

If my P have 9-11(12) points , he may repeat his .Then i think 2will be a good contract.

So keep all options open....

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The call chosen at the table was 2C. I thought 2D was clearly best, but when I asked a good player their first reaction was 1NT.

I don't understand 2. I know there are some people who play that it doesn't promise a fit, but don't they play it as either a fit or a game-force? It seems unplayable to use it as an undefined hand of invitational or better strength.

 

When I first saw the hand, I thought 2 was obvious, but now that you mention 1NT I think that's better.

 

If 2 is forcing, partner may be forced to rebid 2 on a five-card suit, so we'll have to pass 2 if he bids it. If 2 is non-forcing, we will often play there, possbly in a 5-1 fit, and possibly with a 4-4 heart fit.

 

After a 1NT advance, partner will usually bid a second suit if he has one, or 2 if he has six, so we won't often miss a fit. We can happily raise 2 to 3. If he passes 1NT, he may have a club stop, or it may not matter that he doesn't.

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Andy, I don't quite understand why the overcaller should be less happy to have a chance to introduce his 4 card heart suit over 2 than over 1NT.

Because a non-forcing 2 bid will on average have fewer hearts than a 1NT bid.

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Change the problem a little to Ax AKxx xxxxx xx. What do you bid now?

 

I think that 1N suggests a stopper but doesn't promise a stopper. Bidding 1N leaves plenty of room for either partner to inquire about a stopper. It's less directional than a constructive/nf 2D call. I think 2D ought to suggest a better suit.

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I think that 2 is clear, and I am not convinced by the arguments in favor of 1NT.

 

Aside from the fact that we don't have a stopper in clubs, my values are all controls, which suggests playing in a suit contract. My diamond suit is not the greatest opposite a short holding, but at least 2 is a fair description of my hand and my values.

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I would always bid 1N. If partner passes either 1N or 2D I would imagine 1N is better, and 1N is more encouraging to partner to bid 2S or 2H (he will always bid 2S with 6 or 2H with 4 over 1N, he might pass with one of those over 2D especially if he has 2 diamonds or his hand is a pretty bad overcall/bad suits).

 

This is a well known sequence where 1N does not promise a stopper (the other one being 1N over a negative X), so I am not disturbed by having no stopper.

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Another way to put it is 2D places emphasis on diamonds. Our hand is clearly about getting to game in 4M or 3N and if we can't then getting to a playable partial. 1N cannot be such a horrible spot opposite a balanced 1S overcall, 2D could easily be poor in a 5-1 fit or even a lousy 5-2 fit. 1N accomplishes all of those goals, even wrongsiding NT is not much of a concern, LHO opened the bidding and if we have enough to play game it's unlikely to matter that it's not from partners side.
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My diamond suit is not the greatest opposite a short holding, but at least 2 is a fair description of my hand and my values.

 

Wouldn't you also say that a 2D bid is also clear on x Qxx KQJxxx xxx, and a fair description of your hand and values? Yes, if your "description" includes a huge range of values and suit qualities and orientation then 2D will be a "descriptive" bid with many hand types, but then it is useless.

 

1N seems like a pretty fair description to me, I have ~8-11 without 3 spades and no good suit to bid.

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I would always bid 1N. If partner passes either 1N or 2D I would imagine 1N is better, and 1N is more encouraging to partner to bid 2S or 2H (he will always bid 2S with 6 or 2H with 4 over 1N, he might pass with one of those over 2D especially if he has 2 diamonds or his hand is a pretty bad overcall/bad suits).

 

This is a well known sequence where 1N does not promise a stopper (the other one being 1N over a negative X), so I am not disturbed by having no stopper.

 

I think I prefer 1N now to a transfer advance and then a 2S rebid. A transfer advance can easily lose hearts and overemphasizes diamonds.

 

After 1H (1S) P what would you bid with

 

xx xxx AKxx Kxxx ?

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Wouldn't you also say that a 2D bid is also clear on x Qxx KQJxxx xxx, and a fair description of your hand and values?

Althou you convinced me 1NT is better, I don't buy this argument, you can make the same statement for x Qxx xxx KQJxxx, overloading 1NT with wide ranging and wide shape of hands.

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I think I prefer 1N now to a transfer advance and then a 2S rebid. A transfer advance can easily lose hearts and overemphasizes diamonds.

Well yeah if I have transfer advances then obviously I rebid 2 rather than 2.

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