light response?

[bftboy]

[hv=pc=n&s=sjt982hq32d7543c5&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1cp]133|200[/hv]

 

We lost a Swiss final because I didn't respond 1♠ with this hand. They did at the other table, and the subsequent auction kept our teammmates out of a making 3nt. Usually, when I respond 1♠ with this hand, P makes a strong rebid and we are down at 2nt or 3 o4 ♠. So, I am looking for any advice or guidelines on when - and when not - to respond to p's opener on sub-minimum values. thx

[kenrexford]

[hv=pc=n&s=sjt982hq32d7543c5&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1cp]133|200[/hv]

 

We lost a Swiss final because I didn't respond 1♠ with this hand. They did at the other table, and the subsequent auction kept our teammmates out of a making 3nt. Usually, when I respond 1♠ with this hand, P makes a strong rebid and we are down at 2nt or 3 o4 ♠. So, I am looking for any advice or guidelines on when - and when not - to respond to p's opener on sub-minimum values. thx

 

Rules for general application are tough. In this situation, though, the primary upsides to bidding are (1) not passing with a stiff in partner's potentially short suit, (2) you have a nice five-card major, and (3) 1♠ is a very preemptive call.

 

Additionally, you have decent shape. With this 5-4-3-1 pattern, you have only a 10-loser hand before looking at honors. If partner is expected to have a 7-loser hand to open, you expect to take 24-10-7=7 tricks. Thus, you would expect to make 1♠ if partner has a fit. So, you are not that far off a response, especially with Q-x-x possibly removing one loser.

[lalldonn]

Three things point to responding light with this hand. You have a five card major, you are not vul, and partner will hate your dummy in 1♣.

[nigel_k]

Definitely a 1♠ response. The worst that can happen is a 2NT rebid by opener on a hand where 1♣ would have made or you would have got a plus score some other way. But many good things can happen.

 

The idea that you need 6 HCP or even 5 HCP to respond has been dead for some time. Unfortunately it has never been given a proper funeral and burial and is now starting to stink up the place.

 

But don't take too much of the blame when it is your team-mates that missed the 3NT game. The converse of responding 1♠ on this hand is that, when opponents do it, you shouldn't take them seriously and instead continue to bid constructively if your hand warrants it.

[mikeh]

This thread reminds me of a board I played maybe 20 years ago against two enthusiastic younger players....my partner opened, I responded, and we each took 2 calls.....the opps finally balanced and we defended a partial. The opening lead was made and declarer said: They each bid twice....twice! and we have 27 hcp!

 

Sure, by responding bad things could happen, but so could great things. Imagine partner with AQxx AKxx x Axxx or any 4423 hand.

 

I could have just upvoted josh's post..he said it better, shorter.

[rmnka447]

It's definitely a 1 ♠ call.

 

It's true that if partner has a big hand you might get too high. But partner might fare far worst when playing 1 ♣ holding a 3-1 ♣ suit.

 

So with some points and shortness in a partner's possible short minor opening suit, you should tend to try to make a response if at all possible. Here you have a 5 card major with good intermediate cards backing an honor in the suit. That partially offsets that you hold only 3 HCP because you can tolerate playing in a ♠ contract.

 

If there is a ♠ fit with partner, your side might be able to find a decent contract to play, or make it difficult for the opponents to find the right spot.

[MrAce]

MikeH wrote my feelings much better than i could have.

[Codo]

Besides all the good reasons given already: I bet that in the long run you will make less undertricks in 3 ♠ then in 1 ♣.

 

So what may happen and can be real bad:

1♣ 1 ♠ 3 ♣ Yes, 1 ♣ had been easier, but at least partner has a real decent suit and whop knows, maybe you stopped them from bidding 3 in a red suit.

1 ♣ 1 ♠ 2 NT: Play 3 spade, will usually be not worse then 1 club or 2 NT.

1 ♣ 1 ♠ 3 NT (usually a better gambling minor) This is really really bad luck. But hey, maybe your queen of hearts and the spade stopper is all partner neeeds?

1 ♣ 1 ♠ 2♥: This is surely a much better contract then 1 ♣ but this is usually forcing. And you will pass. Partner must uderstand this.

1♣ 1 ♠ 4 ♠- You can make it.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I would pass, but if you want to respond, bid 1D, this keeps

the bidding alive, keeps maximal room for opener.

 

If partner showes up with 4 spades, you can raise.

 

This assumes, you dont play Walsh, were the seq.

 

1C - 1D

1S - 2S

 

may show a stronger hand, than the one you happen to hold.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[bftboy]

Yeah, I pretty much knew I had made a bad mistake when I pulled the green card. It was just dumb. You've all listed lots of good reasons to bid. I think I've just had a run of bad results from responding with sub-minimum values, and was trying to figure out whether there are any go or no-go general guidelines that might lead to more good results and fewer bad ones.