Would you balance here?

[case_no_6]

A lot depends on the strength promised by 1NT, the vulnerability, and the form of the game - all conditions that have not been specified.

 

At MPs, I would balance anytime I am not vulnerable. (Many will open 2H when not vulnerable, so there will be some level of field protection.) If vulnerable, I would balance if I think my opponents would be unlikely to double me or if I feel I need a board. Most opponents will not double (when it is right) unless I am vulnerable and they are not, so I am usually bidding unless red vs. white.

 

At IMPs, it depends on the size of the NT. With 15 to 17 or so, it is more difficult because partner could have a good 15 or 16 HCP and a heart fit with spade cards, making a game contract a reasonable proposition. But my gut says that I am generally passing when vulnerable and generally bidding when not. In general, our side is unlikely to make game - so the reward is a plus score at a part score contract - while there is considerable risk you could go for a large penalty if doubled.

 

With a weak NT, I am probably bidding. The chance of being able to make a part score is greater AND the chances of being doubled into game are also diminished quite a bit.

[jodepp]

I might pass if 'hot vs not', but I think Passing isn't bridge. This is a bid.

[jodepp]

I might pass if 'hot vs not', but I think Passing isn't bridge. This is a bid.

[wbartley]

On the first hand it seems like if you're making 2♥, there's a good chance you're beating 1N, so if this is IMPs, I'm passing because bidding only has a down side. Not so clear in MP scoring. It's not hard to imagine partner with a stiff heart and -200 undoubled when the opponents are struggling to make 90. Put me in the passing crowd.

 

On the second hand a 2♥ bid isn't going to fool anyone. I'm passing to get the lay of the land. It's likely I'll be able to show both suits and preempt later at an appropriate level.

[mikeh]

On the first hand it seems like if you're making 2♥, there's a good chance you're beating 1N, so if this is IMPs, I'm passing because bidding only has a down side. Not so clear in MP scoring. It's not hard to imagine partner with a stiff heart and -200 undoubled when the opponents are struggling to make 90. Put me in the passing crowd.

 

 

 

I would be astounded if we beat 1N based on taking any heart tricks. Partner is marked with strength and is very likely to have short hearts, even on layouts on which we make 2♥. Ax or Qx would be very useful to us on play but there is zero likelihood that he will guess to lead such a holding, and our hand doesn't offer much hope of an entry even if our telepathy is working.

 

I can understand passing, but not because we expect to beat 1N. To the contrary, I expect partner's lead to cost at least one trick against par most of the time.

[sstansmall]

The best hand to balance with over 1N is a weak shape hand in pass out seat as a passed hand. Switch spades with diamonds and I pass, but this hand is just right for a balance. Points are well positioned for our side with pard having more over the NT opener than me.

[dmatt]

I don't think the previous posters are asking the right question, which is - is there a danger that we might miss game? The answer is Yes. If partner has a good 13-14 points with Heart support and sitting behind the opener, 4H is probably making. This hand for my partner & I is an automatic 2H or multi two opener. So, having passed, this is definitely a 2H balance bid.

[helene_t]

We will probably make it and 1NT might well make as well since p won't find the heart lead when it would be right.

 

The only thing I would be a bit concerned about is that p might make a game try (or even jump to game) and it would be too high. But if we have a way of showing a two-suited hand and we would have preempted with a slightly better single-suiter, p will know that we have something like this.

[MrAce]

[hv=pc=n&s=s5ht7632da8652c87&w=sq74hkq4dkj9ckqj3&n=skt863haj5dqt7ca4&e=saj92h98d43ct9652&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=pp1npp]399|300[/hv]

 

Similar position from US Senior trials yesterday. Both tab;e opened 1 NT. Zia passed other table bid.

 

1NT +2 on ♠ lead

2♥ by N also +2

 

Sometimes pass can be pretty expensive http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

 

This "if we make something we can defeat their 1 NT" logic does not work well in the long run.

 

EDIT: I did not mean Zia made a wrong bid. At the time he passed he was leading by 50+ imps I guess and last thing he needed was to go for a number and give trailing opponents a life and momentum. Or he just passed because he believed that it is right to pass, idk, who am I to judge him. I just brought this hand because it is almost identical with the OP hand. A very weak but shapely hand, coming from pass and looking at 1 NT by LHO in pass out seat.

[jdonn]

I would also bid 2♥. Any time it goes 1NT P P and you have a singleton, you have to be very concerned that partner will lead a low card in that suit, so there is always a good case for bidding. I have even heard of players for whom passing the hand out there denies a singleton or void.

 

On the second hand, which I now see, I think I would bid 2♦, then spades (hopefully not more than 3) at my next turn. That way I can at least find out if we have a big fit, without putting myself in too much danger if we don't. Not vul I would more likely pick a suit and just preempt to the max.