Dubious stoppers

[apollo1201]

I recently encountered 2 hands where I decided to bid NT with dubious stoppers. Both ended well playing 3NT+2 and 4S= but I wonder if they were good bids (needless to say, partner and/or opps were shocked and I was a bit worried before dummy hit the table). What would you have bid (IMP context).

 

Hand 1, R/W, you open 1C (probably bidding 2NT or 2D next depending on partner's bid) but LHO preemps 3S and 2 passes follow:

 

K

AJx

AKT

KT9xxx

 

Hand 2, all red, RHO deals and opens 1D

 

Ax

AQxx

J9x

KQTx

 

Thanks for your valuable comments.

 

For post mortem partner had been conservative on the 1st hand (QJxx xxx xx AQJx) and might not have balanced on the 2nd (KJTxxx Jx Qx Jxx) had I passed.

[mgoetze]

Hand 1 is an obvious double. Hand 2 I can live with 1NT, pass is awful and double is also pretty bad. Honestly I would choose 1♥ over pass/double.

[WesleyC]

Double should be unanimous on Hand 1.

 

Hand 2, I like 1NT because it gets across your values and orientation in one bid and the 1D opening won't always be a 5C suit.

[Trump Echo]

I give credit to the OP on the 3 NT. The double seems obvious, but when Spades are led defending 3 NT, RHO is not likely to take it with the Ace. So the King wins. Point is, 3 NT might produce game, but a double likely will not.

 

Hand 2 - I'd have passed the first round...

[rmnka447]

I would double with the first hand. If responder passes, it looks like you'll take at least 6 tricks, possibly 7 if a ♣ holds up. 3 NT is a big gamble. It worked because LHO decided to preempt on Axxxxx(..). If the preempt had been made QJ10xxx(..), you better hope your partner has ♠ A or RHO opponent holds stiff ♠ A else 3 NT goes down a ton. You were also lucky to find partner with ♣ AQJx so there were 9 tricks available as soon as you got in.

 

On the second hand, double is out because there's a big problem if partner bids ♠. So the choice is between pass and 1 NT. I'd probably bid 1 NT and be ready with the old "Sorry, but I had a heart in with the ♦s" ploy if they a bunch of ♦ tricks at NT. With a very partner who is conservative about balancing, that is probably the best action. But I think partner has an easy 1 ♠ reopening bid even Vul.