Balancing 2NT

[ArtK78]

This came up in an NAOP qualifying club game last night. I was playing with a semi-regular partner, but we don't have firm agreements in a lot of areas.

 

We are playing 2/1 GF.

 

1♣ - (1♠) - P - (2♥)

P - (P) - 2NT

 

How would you interpret 2NT?

[broze]

Club support, longer diamonds.

[benlessard]

Trap pass of 1S, since the 2 minors hand i would double. Its likely that switching around make more sense (X= trap pass of 1S) and 2nt both minors but i know nobody who play that way.

[gnasher]

I think it's normal to play double as a trap-pass that's also willing to defend 2♥x, and 2NT as the minors. Presumably that's 5-3, as you didn't bid 2♣.

[PhilKing]

Its likely that switching around make more sense (X= trap pass of 1S) and 2nt both minors but i know nobody who play that way.

 

 

Maybe you weren't listening.

[JLOGIC]

Its likely that switching around make more sense (X= trap pass of 1S) and 2nt both minors but i know nobody who play that way.

 

That is just a completely standard way of playing this auction for as long as I have played bridge

[ArtK78]

My partner had it right and I had it wrong. But that was fortunate for both of us. I passed 2NT holding xxx KJxx Kx Axxx, He held Jxx xx AJTxx Kxx. With a little luck (the 1♠ overcall was on AQTx) and a little misdefense we scored 2NT, while 3 of a minor had no play (diamonds were 5-1).

 

Having said that, assume that you held xxx KJxx Kx Axxx and opened 1♣, and the auction unfolded as above. What would you bid over 2NT?

[aguahombre]

Right or wrong, I always find a call in responder's chair after a 1S overcall with a 9-count.

 

So, 2NT after passing with JXX XX AJTXX KXX might be standard like Justin says, but I wouldn't know because we never get to that point. Would be a painful choice between double and 1NT on the first round, and whatever happens happens after that.

 

My guess for the delayed 2NT would have been X XX QJXXXX JXXX because we can't bid 2C with that one.

[gnasher]

My partner had it right and I had it wrong. But that was fortunate for both of us. I passed 2NT holding xxx KJxx Kx Axxx, He held Jxx xx AJTxx Kxx. With a little luck (the 1♠ overcall was on AQTx) and a little misdefense we scored 2NT, while 3 of a minor had no play (diamonds were 5-1).

 

Having said that, assume that you held xxx KJxx Kx Axxx and opened 1♣, and the auction unfolded as above. What would you bid over 2NT?

I'd bid 3♦, because 5-2 fits are generally better than 4-3 fits, and because I know that I have bad clubs but I don't know that partner has bad diamonds.

[jogs]

A 'bad bid'. If you couldn't bid over 1♠, don't bid now.

[Phil]

2N sounds like a 2 card difference in the minors notwithstanding what ther hater troll is saying in this thread.

[ggwhiz]

2N sounds like a 2 card difference in the minors.

 

I agree with all of the above in normal circumstances but expect warts of some kind. The overcaller has just passed a forcing 2♥ bid (I didn't see any alert) and we tend to pass those out on general principle and if fixed, so be it.

 

I may be calling for a forensic audit of the opps bidding before picking that 2nt call. Double should probably be "cards", not a big bunch rather than a pure spade trap and might give lho a big headache.

[Vampyr]

I agree with all of the above in normal circumstances but expect warts of some kind. The overcaller has just passed a forcing 2♥ bid (I didn't see any alert) and we tend to pass those out on general principle and if fixed, so be it.

 

I may be calling for a forensic audit of the opps bidding before picking that 2nt call.

 

Is a constructive, NF change of suit after an overcall really alertable in the ACBL?

[ggwhiz]

Is a constructive, NF change of suit after an overcall really alertable in the ACBL?

 

Negative free bids confusion here. I stand corrected it's on the convention card in black but I'll certainly look instead of the forensic audit.