Opponents open your suit

[VixTD]

It's love all, matchpointed pairs:

[hv=pc=n&e=sqt652hatdaj7ckq7&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1s]133|200[/hv]

Opponents play Acol, weak NT, four-card majors. What do you bid and why?

[Cyberyeti]

Do they play the style where you open 1M with 4M4m32 or 1m ?

[ggwhiz]

1nt and basically fold my cards and put them in my pocket. If I pass, often they were about to play in 1nt and +90 vs the -50 they would get there or -50 instead of -90 should they be able to make 1nt etc. is my target.

 

Unlike most, my partnership plays systems off if they double 1nt so we can run out to the cheapest possible spot.

[mycroft]

1NT and basically fold my cards [obviously not - ed]....

 

Unlike most, my partnership plays systems on if they double 1NT, so we can run out to the cheapest possible spot.

 

Oh wait, did I not mention that I play K/S? And that "systems on" includes "rescue system on"? Yes, I have played 2♣ (just in, +5 IMPs) after the auction 1♣-1NT-X-2♣ (anything else to play); p-p (forced)-p.

[ggwhiz]

Oh wait, did I not mention that I play K/S?

 

For a 1nt overcall? Very uncommon in my neck of the woods.

[PrecisionL]

Double. If I pass and bid later partner will never believe I am this strong and if they end up in 2♠ my next double is for penalty.

 

Edit Add: I play this type of double called a Power Double instead of over calling 1NT.

[VixTD]

Do they play the style where you open 1M with 4M4m32 or 1m ?

It wasn't the sort of game where you could ask that and get a sensible answer.

[ahydra]

I'll keep it simple - I have a balanced 16 count with a good spade stop, so 1NT. Double is somewhat crazy with a doubleton heart.

 

ahydra

[PhilG007]

It's love all, matchpointed pairs:

[hv=pc=n&e=sqt652hatdaj7ckq7&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1s]133|200[/hv]

Opponents play Acol, weak NT, four-card majors. What do you bid and why?

1NT for two reasons 1) The hand has the requirements for a 1NT overcall 15+ HCP and a double stop

in the enemy suit. 2) No other action is sensible.

[helene_t]

I chose pass as I think their system probably won't allow them to find their heart fit anyway, and if they are going to play spades or 1NT I am quite happy to defend even at this vulnerability.

[lycier]

1nt is my choice.

[vmsmith]

In 1936 S Garton Churchill said the correct bid is 2 spades.

He did not let conventions interfere with his ability to make the best bid.

[creatbid]

It's obviously 1NT. Why？A beginner will tell you because I have balanced 16hcp and stoppers on opp's suit.

[lycier]

It's obviously 1NT. Why？A beginner will tell you because I have balanced 16hcp and stoppers on opp's suit.

 

Even so, Helene_t's passing still is a good option, that is a expert bidding strategy, to be exact, that may be a tactics of trap style.

[StevenG]

I chose pass as I think their system probably won't allow them to find their heart fit anyway, and if they are going to play spades or 1NT I am quite happy to defend even at this vulnerability.

I don't really follow this. The auction might go 1♠-P-1NT-P-P-P, in which case we're likely to get +50 rather than +90, or +100 rather than +120, or even +150 when we have play for +400.

 

Or it could go 1♠-P-1NT-P-2♥ or 2♦-P-P-P, when they are almost certainly in their best spot.

[helene_t]

I don't really follow this. The auction might go 1♠-P-1NT-P-P-P, in which case we're likely to get +50 rather than +90, or +100 rather than +120, or even +150 when we have play for +400.

 

Or it could go 1♠-P-1NT-P-2♥ or 2♦-P-P-P, when they are almost certainly in their best spot.

Yeah, maybe you are right. I just thought that my hand screems defense with the QT of spades probably being worthless if I declare.

[oryctolagi]

I assume the hand illustrated is the South hand, not the East hand.

 

I might pass, and hope that the opponents (a) don't find a heart fit, and (b) get into a mess! This looks like a hand for defence.

[VixTD]

I passed, reasoning that I didn't have a great source of tricks, and that I was quite happy to defend 1♠X if partner can find a reopening double. I see I'm in a minority. It was passed out and beaten by one trick. It wasn't a good score, as partner had:

[hv=pc=n&w=sk9hq876532d963c9]133|100[/hv]

Thanks for your replies.

[Jinksy]

Yeah, maybe you are right. I just thought that my hand screems defense with the QT of spades probably being worthless if I declare.

 

They're not pulling their full weight, but I don't think they're worthless. RHO is unlikely to have all the outstanding honours, and with any one of them, your holding looks worth a trick or two. If LHO has any, he's quite likely to lead the suit and help you at least clarify the position to make sure you get all the tricks in the suit to which you're entitled.

[dave_beer]

1NT because it describes my hand.

 

If I have a two-suited hand and RHO opens the bidding in my longest suit and I have a strong hand then I can PASS and come into a live auction later by bidding my second suit. For example, 1♣-P-1♥-P // n♥-n♠ shows a good hand with ♠ and longer ♣. If my hand isn't good enough to do this then I either have to PASS or overcall in my other suit.

[dave_beer]

I passed, reasoning that I didn't have a great source of tricks, and that I was quite happy to defend 1♠X if partner can find a reopening double. I see I'm in a minority. It was passed out and beaten by one trick. It wasn't a good score, as partner had:

[hv=pc=n&w=sk9hq876532d963c9]133|100[/hv]

Thanks for your replies.

Seems like partner could have opened 3♥ and certainly should have balanced with 2♥.

[Phil]

I don't really follow this. The auction might go 1♠-P-1NT-P-P-P, in which case we're likely to get +50 rather than +90, or +100 rather than +120, or even +150 when we have play for +400.

 

Or it could go 1♠-P-1NT-P-2♥ or 2♦-P-P-P, when they are almost certainly in their best spot.

 

1N - p - p is the best continuation you can hope for because now you can x which is a great description. If you pass, the continuation you dread is 2x by opener which freezes you out.

 

I'm kind of torn between pass and 1N personally.

[gordontd]

In 1936 S Garton Churchill said the correct bid is 2 spades.

He did not let conventions interfere with his ability to make the best bid.

Things may have moved on in 80 years.

[mycroft]

Oh wait, did I not mention that I play K/S? And that "systems on" includes "rescue system on"? Yes, I have played 2♣ (for +5) after the auction 1♣-1NT-X-2♣ (anything else to play); p-p (forced)-p.

For a 1nt overcall? Very uncommon in my neck of the woods.

Sorry, I was riffing off your original statement. Obviously no, I don't play a weak NT overcall, even playing K/S. But we do play systems on *including our rescue system when doubled*, and the K/S bit was to try to explain that "why yes, we do have a reasonable rescue system".

 

Not sure why we decided to do that (probably because it was easier to remember, consistency, hobgoblin, etc.), but it is definitely to our advantage - we're in at least as much trouble after 1x-1NT (15+-18)-X as we are after 1NT (12-14)-X. Oh, and our rescue system allows us to play either 1NTx and 1NTxx when that's best as well.

 

Side note: we also play Keri, so we can get out in 2♦ after 1x-1NT-p, too. I play systems on playing standard (with other partners), not as a preference, but because that's what's "normal" around here (there are also those deviants that play NT systems on after 1NT-X-p; I have nothing to say to them, mostly because my eyes are rolled so far back into my head that my mouth can't open). I'd prefer Cuebid Stayman myself, because the chance of wanting to get out in anywhere is much higher after 1M-1NT-p than in 1NT-p; but nobody would remember that "only with me", so I follow the herd.

[ggwhiz]

I didn't mean to imply you overcalled 1nt with a weak one, just that playing the weak nt style run outs in this auction is unheard of here.