To Bid or Not to Bid (fresh hands from Albena)

[Rado]

Hi all friends, here some interesting hands from our live Albena tournament - 6 boards team match IMPS:

 

1. Love all:

pass - ?

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

playing undisciplined weak 2's would you open this hand in 2nd pos, non vuln?

 

if pass then comes:

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

 

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

 

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

Thank you all in advance,

Regards, Rado

[luis]

Hi Rado,

Tks for playing interesting hands.

 

1. Love all:

pass - ?

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

playing undisciplined weak 2's would you open this hand in 2nd pos, non vuln?

 

Weak 2's? Nah!

I'd open 1h.

 

if pass then comes:

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

1NT. I'm interested in diammonds, if pd bids 2h or 2d my hand is a rocket. If he rebids 2s I can pass and if he rebids 2c I bid 2h. Now if he jumps I have to re-evaluate everything.

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

Pass, and 3h if they bid 2s and that is passed to me.

I don't like this hand....

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

1.a. No, I should have bid some flavour of 2NT

1.b. 3s where's the problem? The splinter is wrong because of the KQx in hearts.

[inquiry]

Interesting hands, all.

 

On the first one....

 

I love undisciplined weak twos and threes... when not vul, just NOT in SECOND SEAT. So, no, I will not open this yack 2Hs, and would pass.

 

1. Love all:

So I get your auction....

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

 

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

Here I will bid 1NT semi-force with confidence. Partner will a) not rebid 2S with a minimum and long spades, else he would open 2S in fourth seat with that hand.

:D will not rebid 2S with six and better than minimum, as he will bid 2 of a minor planning on rebidding 2S or wait to see if I bid 2S or 2NT. So... i expect the bidding to be...

 

P-P-P-1S

P-1N-P-2x

P-2H......

 

Now partner might stop and think. 1) why not 2H immediately? Why not 2H over 1S? I think he should get it right. 2H over 1S is more forward going. Not 2S, so singleton spade at best. All will be well if partner opens yucky hands with 6 spades in fourth seat 2S instead of 1. If he bids again over 2HEARTS it rates to be right for him to do so.

 

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

GACK... What I usually do with such hands is pass, but here opener, even with spades, may pych a pass of 2H's. Sure it is down 6 or 7, but at 50 pt an undertrick, not so good for you when you may easily score up 420, 450 or even more. I use DBL here to show the other suits and short in hearts (bleech).

 

Fortunately, I have a complete defense to multi-2D agreed to with some of my partners. We play multi-X versus multi in second seat, and Dixon in all other seats. So here, I can bid 3H's over hearts showing a very good hand and hearts. (Pass and then balance back in hearts shows not as good a hand as this). It is not clear that I have to be this STRONG however, but the reason you have to bid now is the potential pscyhic pass of 2Hs.

 

One hopes partner with a little something takes some kind of call, so I can get my diamonds in too. I would hate to see it go 2H-3H all pass and partner to have something useful like...

 

xxx xx Kxxx xxxx

 

But then, the opponents will not be able to stand it and they will bid 3S for you to show your diamonds... Hope springs eternal. :-)

 

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

1a/1b. 2C is ok. If 4D is splinter, don't use it, not with a five card clubs suit. If 3C or 4C are fit jumps, you are a little heavy for 3C, and while 4C might work, it seems ackward.

 

On

1S-2C

2S-?

 

Two choices come to mind. 4D splinter, or 3S set trumps and start cue-bidding. With such a broke club suit (no A or K), I prefer the splinter 4D bid. Partner will now know all he needs to about my hand.

 

1) five clubs.

2) spade support and at least mild slam ambition (or 4S)

3) short Diamond

 

Let him look at his hand and decide what to do. It is a partnership game after all, here I describe my holding accurately and give a good picture of my shape. He should know how to proceed. With

 

S-KJxxx H-Axx D-KJx C-xx he stops in 4S, with

 

S-KJxxx H-Axx D-Jxx C-Kx he pushes on to slam with blackwood of course.

 

Ben

[Codo]

Hi Rado,

 

nice questions:

 

1. Love all:

pass - ?

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

playing undisciplined weak 2's would you open this hand in 2nd pos, non vuln?

 

If I play a kind of Tartan I think about a 2 Heart opening and decline it. If I am in third seat, I surely open it.

But in second seat, no, I won`t open this hand.

 

 

if pass then comes:

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

 

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

2 HEart seems to be perfect for a passed hand.

If pd passes, I think we have play even opps. 5134.

And my hand is in heart about 5 tricks better then in any other contract. I doubt, that this is right about my pds hand in the other dominations too.

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

 

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

I would love to play 4 Diamond as showing strong D+H here, but I doubt, that I can.

So one possibility is to pass and hope for 2spade-pass pass and bid it then.

But I doubt, that that will happen. I fear: ...2Spade-pass-4Spade

Now a 4 NT does not sound so strong...

 

So I would bid 4 NT now, which must be a strong two suiter and take pds 5 club to 5 Diamond.

I doubt that I will get my hand bid if I start with just one suit.

The problem with this bid is not to make game, it is to avoid bad slams...

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

 

Tricky. I like to introduce long suits before I use jacoby or splinter. So I agree, but had accept my pds different view too.

 

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

2 NT or 3 Diamond (minisplinter..)

 

Kind Regards

 

Roland

[Rado]

Hi all friends, here are the real results from the Albena tourney:

 

1. Love all:

pass - ?

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

playing undisciplined weak 2's would you open this hand in 2nd pos, non vuln?

 

if pass then comes:

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

 

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

P's hand was:

J10xxxx

AQ10

x

AQx

 

at both tables were played Sp partscores for 140 - flat board (The so called "LAW OF THE MIRROR" for team matches LOL)

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

 

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

P had

AQx

xxx

xxx

Qxxx

 

I bid 4Di = 5+Di5+M F1

and played 4He DBLD (opps misbid) for +2 (790 non vuln). At the other table quiet 4He+1 for 450 and 6 IMPS for us

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

P had:

KJxxxx

Axx

x

Axx

 

I bid 4Di Spl and we quickly reached 6Sp for + 13 IMPS (other table bid just 4Sp) (strange 1-1 in Di with ops silent)

 

Regards, Rado

[Antoine Fourrière]

1. Love all:

pass - ?

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

playing undisciplined weak 2's would you open this hand in 2nd pos, non vuln?

 

if pass then comes:

pass-pass-pass-1Sp (from partner playing 2/1)

pass - ?

 

now? 1NT (semi forcing or forcing?) or 2 He ?

 

 

Playing disciplined weak 2's I would open this hand with two hearts in 2nd pos at IMPS at adverse vulnerability, so I probably should open three, but I will open only two. (Which is why I don't like the five-card weak two bid, unless with a five-five when you don't play Wilkosz.)

 

I do believe that shape far outweighs honor location, and that it is not a close decision at all.

 

If I mistakenly pass, I answer two hearts now, but I've misdescribed my hand.

 

 

2. Love all

2Di* - pass - 2He* - ?

 

Opps bids asf:

2Di was multi (weak 2 in Major only),

2He was pass or correct

 

x

AK109xx

AQJxx

x

 

propose your simple or "scientific" bids :-)

 

Pass followed by four diamonds should be OK. If opener passes two hearts with spades, I can't do much about it, but how is he to know that his partner hasn't a decent hand and that the deal doesn't belong to them in three or four spades? If responder now bids four spades, four notrump shows hearts and a minor, because there is one who has spades, and the other who seems to support spades but not hearts (yes, he could have muddled the waters with a weak hand and support for both majors).

 

 

3.

game all

1Sp:2Cl

2Sp: ?

 

(2Sp showing abt min strength 11-bad15, still 5+ cards)

 

AQ10x

KQx

x

QJ10xx

 

Playing 2/1 with enough gadgets

1.a. do you agree with 2Cl and what now?

1.b. other bids different from 2cl?

 

I would have preferred three diamonds, splinter or minisplinter if I played it. Failing that, even four diamonds seems better than two clubs (I want partner to reevaluate a singleton club because I have four trumps. I don't need club tricks.). Besides, how do I show diamond shortness if partner rebids two diamonds? (Well, maybe three spades now describes that type of hand.)

Still, over a limited two spades, four spades is probably enough. Opener needs four of the five missing key cards, because he won't bid slam with three key cards and club shortness, and we are more at risk to go down than to bid and make six.

[hrothgar]

I have a question about vocabulary:

 

Antoine stated that he considers

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

to be a good example of a DISCIPLINED weak 2 opening bid, and that "I do believe that shape far outweighs honor location, and that it is not a close decision at all."

 

My understanding is that "disciplined" weak 2 bids have a fairly precise definition:

 

6 card suit.

2 of the top 3 honors (some times 2 of the top 4)

No side suit void

No side 4/5 card suits.

 

Playing disciplined weak 2s, I consider a 2H opening to be an abomination.

The hand certainly has nice playing strength, but you are completely misrepresenting where your values are.

[luis]

 

I have a question about vocabulary:

 

Antoine stated that he considers

 

A

J98xxx

QJ10x

Jx

 

to be a good example of a DISCIPLINED weak 2 opening bid, and that "I do believe that shape far outweighs honor location, and that it is not a close decision at all."

 

My understanding is that "disciplined" weak 2 bids have a fairly precise definition:

 

6 card suit.

2 of the top 3 honors (some times 2 of the top 4)

No side suit void

No side 4/5 card suits.

 

Playing disciplined weak 2s, I consider a 2H opening to be an abomination.

The hand certainly has nice playing strength, but you are completely misrepresenting where your values are.

 

I don't know I just opened 1h on that hand :-)

[sartaj]

1. Would open 2H .

The objective of undisciplined weak 2 philosophy is to get a certain hand type out of the way as early as possible.

To look for excuses to not open an undiscp. wk2 goes against the philosophy behind that style

 

Would bid 2H over pd's 4th seat 1S. The most likely game is hearts and i need to show this hand. Long hearts, not enough high cards to open.

 

 

2. 4 Hearts.

I bid what i think i can make

 

3. a. With support for partner its important to immediately show it. I would call 2NT GF raise on the first round.

b. On second round, call 4D splinter and hope partner bids 4H when we can launch into blackwood.

 

Enjoy

[LukeG]

Hi Rado,

 

1. A, J98xxx, QJ10x, Jx

 

I would pass rather than open 2H. Maybe partner has something like xx, x, AKxxx, AKxxx which is an excellent 5D and with good breaks may make 6D. After partner's 1S opening bid, I would respond 2H.

 

2. x, AK109xx, AQJxx, x

 

I would probably bid 4H. But I don't play against Multi often enough to have spent a lot of time or energy devising a defensive strategy against it. I'm just glad the bidding didn't start 2S-p-4S to me.

 

3. AQ10x, KQx, x, QJ10xx

 

I would start with a forcing raise of partner's spades.

 

Luke