unlucky or could have done better

[frank0]

Summer NABC 2nd fast pair qualify, board 27.

[hv=pc=n&s=sj65haq83dtckj976&w=saqt42h965dj743ca&n=sk97hktdk965cq854&e=s83hj742daq82ct32&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1c1s2nppp]399|300[/hv]

I sat North and the 2NT invitation end the auction, the spade was led, before I set up C defenders got 4♠2♦1♣ for down 2.

 

The bidding choice looks normal(but marginal) and the card play seems automatic but -100 was 10 out of 64(15.6%) for NS.

 

Any comment?

[Cyberyeti]

You got lucky in the play, they could have taken more diamonds with a J♦ switch.

 

We would have started 1♣-(1♠)-2♣ inverted F1 and would have had a coin flip as to whether we played 2N or 3♣, but our club actually shows 4+ of them and not a weak no trump.

[mcphee]

2NT is an over bid, especially at pairs. In days gone long past when an opponent over called and you bid 1NT it showed 8-11. Those were the days when you opened 13 counts. Now we have todays players opening 11 counts yet we respond 2NT.

 

Many times when a player over calls you find a decent suit plus an entry. Many times they are short in the suit opened, or hold a control card in that suit, say Kx for example. Perhaps your agreements are different, but the jump to 2NT shows 12-14 for me.

[aguahombre]

11 is fine, but not that 11.

[Mbodell]

This board feels familiar, I feel like I was West on this auction and play. I think 2nt is an overbid, but if you bid 1nt you may well play there when partner has a decent 14 count. But missing a 25 point game in pairs isn't the end of the world.

[SteveMoe]

Agree 2N is an overbid. Would consider 1N, 2♣and 2♠ as live possibilities (yes, a limit raise on 4♣s).

 

I would consider this a rich 1N but would make that choice as 2♠ would imply less in ♠. My normal 1N range here is 8-11. We like 2N = 12-13 given "light" initial actions and wanting to avoid being at 2N or above on less than 23. 2♣ seems wrong on strength and pattern. Note: If playing inverted minors, 2♣ here is not inverted.

[Cyberyeti]

Note: If playing inverted minors, 2♣ here is not inverted.

Speak for yourself, we've been playing our minors inverted in competition for years and it works well, but we play 4+ clubs for 1♣, and our inverted minors are not GF and don't deny 4M.

[nigel_k]

I disagree that 2NT is an overbid, and prefer it to 1NT. But I would bid 2♠ (good club raise). Four card support is fine for this since partner can always bid NT when they don't have real clubs. You'll play clubs when that is best, or NT from the right side.

[aguahombre]

Speak for yourself, we've been playing our minors inverted in competition for years and it works well, but we play 4+ clubs for 1♣, and our inverted minors are not GF and don't deny 4M.

There are more reasons than that to play inverted after an overcall, and certainly some reasons not to. Personally, we like 2C to show a stop in their suit and inv+ while 2 of their suit=LR+ without. It gets the stopper issue out of the way early.

 

But, a big plus for taking the person you quoted to task for flatly stating it just plain isn't inverted.

[ggwhiz]

Old fashioned in subtracting 1 pt for that shape. 1nt showa 8-10 but that's all this 11 is worth.

[Rossoneri]

Agree with bidding 1NT instead of 2NT.

[phil_20686]

I think its the modern style to play 1N as 8-11 at imps, but less sure at MP where there is sometimes a race to 1N when you have a flattish 6-7 count with spade values.

 

I play it as 8-11 even at MP, but that is not universal, so easy 1N for me. Depends a little on partners opening style. But if he opens 5431 ten counts you put him in a very tough spot bidding 2N on these hands.