Jump to content

Pick your poison


  

24 members have voted

  1. 1. Your call:



Recommended Posts

IMPs, w/w, we play 5cM, 15-17, usually open 1 with 44m:

 

986

QJ72

T643

K7

 

1-(pass)-1*-(3)

dbl-(pass)-?

 

*Walsh

 

I would take a chance at MP and pass (its only 1 board) but the risk vs reward is so badly

skewed at IMPS I have to run. I agree with Winstonm

 

4d

 

seems like the best overall bet from a seriously flawed set of choices. P should not be using

x with 1444. There is this nagging feeling that 4c will be right more often than 4d (surely Kx is

just as good as xxx). If someone x 4c then smart money would be to run to 4d so a 4c bid has

one extra way to be a winner than an outright 4d bid. Overall I think of 4c as the pessimists bid

assuming the worst of everything. The downside of 4c is we might all too easily miss 5d that

way. The real problem with this hand comes if p bids 4h over our minor suit bid. While the

hand looks like it might play well in 4h we can easily envision having troubles pulling trumps

with our lack of entries even if we do get to ruff spade losers. If p proceeds to 4h over a 4c/d

bid it is probably best to bid 5c and let p decide which suit is best. This sequence is the main

reason 4d is better than 4c.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 -- not much choice.

 

If opener had a 4+ card fit and a big hand, then pard could have bid 4 .

 

Likewise, with a big hand and a long suit, pard could bid 4 .

 

With s well stopped and a big hand, 3 NT may be an option.

 

For me, Double in this auction can't be for penalties. Your 1 response can be made on even weaker values than you actually hold.

 

You have only 4 s and pard has denied 4 s, so a rebid is out.

 

So essentially by default, 4 .

 

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

interesting, I thought that 4 was better than 4, in clubs we have at least a 5-2 fit. but the concensus appears to be 4. Is it mainly because declarer's long clubs will be tapped when opps keep playing spades? Do you think a 4-3 fit in diamonds is likely to play better, or at least as well as, a 5-2 clubs fit?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

interesting, I thought that 4 was better than 4, in clubs we have at least a 5-2 fit. but the concensus appears to be 4. Is it mainly because declarer's long clubs will be tapped when opps keep playing spades? Do you think a 4-3 fit in diamonds is likely to play better, or at least as well as, a 5-2 clubs fit?

I chose 4 because I'm hoping partner has four diamonds. His typical, and most likely, shape is 1345. It would be a shame to make him struggle in 4 with something like x Kxx AKxx AQxxx.

 

If he's 1336 he may convert 4 to 5 anyway, or he might not have doubled in the first place. If he's 2335 4 may be horrible, but 4 might not be good either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Assume opener has 4 cards in diamonds.

The trouble with 4 is, that if 4 has a chance you will not play there.

No matter what you can make for your side, partner is unlikely to stop in time and you may well get doubled.

Total trumps looks like 17. If 3 is making your side is booked for just 8 tricks.

The law could be wrong or partner might have doubled with a void in spades, but the odds for bidding on look wrong to me.

I try my chances on defense. After all partner should not have a minimum opening.

 

Rainer Herrmann

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Assume opener has 4 cards in diamonds.

The trouble with 4 is, that if 4 has a chance you will not play there.

No matter what you can make for your side, partner is unlikely to stop in time and you may well get doubled.

If my partner raised 4 to 5 I'd be quite optimistic, with all of my high cards working. What sort of hand do you think partner needs for a raise to game?

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If my partner raised 4 to 5 I'd be quite optimistic, with all of my high cards working. What sort of hand do you think partner needs for a raise to game?

That all our points are working is no surprise. Otherwise Pass (or 3NT) would often be a stand out and you would not bid 4 in the first place.

Of course opener will have 4 cards for a raise.

Take your own example, which is certainly a good fitting one, x Kxx AKxx AQxxx.

I doubt that opener would pass just because you might be minimum. I at least deem it a sound strategy not to stop one below game when partners assets are unclear in a competitive situation.

Would you bid differently if your hand were

 

986

QJ72

QJT6

K7

 

Bidding 4 with Txxx scares me.

If opener bids 5 and next hand doubles with QJxx good night. In 3 declarer has still only 8 tricks on a trump lead and he could have only six spades at this vulnerability.

 

Rainer Herrmann

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a general rule, I tend to pass when partner makes a non-forcing bid, we have found a fit, and I am minimum for my previous bidding.

 

I also wouldn't make a non-forcing bid when I have 9 working hcp in partner's suit, and partner forced to the 4-level opposite a one-level response.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also wouldn't make a non-forcing bid when I have 9 working hcp in partner's suit, and partner forced to the 4-level opposite a one-level response.

986

QJ72

QJT6

K7

 

Calling that "9 working HCP" for a high level suit contracts, whose strain we have not found yet, is not my cup of tea.

But I understand that even good players often never progress beyond Milton work count, which was originally designed for notrump hands.

Anyway we have a very concrete situation.

 

If he's 1336 he may convert 4 to 5 anyway, or he might not have doubled in the first place. If he's 2335 4 may be horrible, but 4 might not be good either.

Tell us the "forcing bid" you would make (4NT???), on which opener will stop below slam when game just makes.

Please remember that you are essentially unlimited. Of course you could get very lucky, but I doubt it. It may work well if your partner is a very conservative bidder.

 

Rainer Herrmann

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QJ in a suit where partner has implied 3+ cards is worth a trick, and sometimes 1.5 tricks. That's 3 well working hcp no matter which level a suit contract you are playing it. Same for Kx in partner's main suit.

 

And yes, of course I would bid 4N for the minors with that hand.

 

Anyway, you should just say that you need less than the rest of us to double 3 to make your point - no need to add any insults.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A good (standard) agreement when pulling the double is to play 4 as slammish (over which partner can retry with 4NT, so 4 needn't promise the earth) and a direct 4NT as just asking partner to pick a minor with no slam interest.

 

Obviously we would drive game with nine Quilton's, but only after having noticed that they are likely to be working - it won't always be cold, but it can't be far off. And now partner should never bury us over either 4 or 4NT.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QJ in a suit where partner has implied 3+ cards is worth a trick, and sometimes 1.5 tricks. That's 3 well working hcp no matter which level a suit contract you are playing it. Same for Kx in partner's main suit.

 

And yes, of course I would bid 4N for the minors with that hand.

 

Anyway, you should just say that you need less than the rest of us to double 3 to make your point - no need to add any insults.

No I need not less, I just weigh the likely outcomes differently.

Sometimes one simply has to clench one's teeth and defend.

Always bidding on is not the solution.

Of course I would prefer to defend 3 undoubled. But this is not an option.

 

Rainer Herrmann

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No I need not less, I just weigh the likely outcomes differently.

Sometimes one simply has to clench one's teeth and defend.

Always bidding on is not the solution.

Of course I would prefer to defend 3 undoubled. But this is not an option.

 

Rainer Herrmann

 

I would think that if given the choice 100% of us would chose to defend 3S undoubled. <_<

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...