Too ambitious to bid?

[zenbiddist]

You're unfavourable in 4th seat playing IMPs, and it goes 2♠ weak, pass, pass to you:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s753ht5dak43cakqj&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=2spp]133|200[/hv]

 

If you bid, what do you bid?

[mike777]

I think my options are pass or a natural 2nt. I will try 2nt given east did not raise, risky.

[zenbiddist]

I think my options are pass or a natural 2nt. I will try 2nt given east did not raise, risky.

 

True - these seem like the main two options, and maybe pass is the common choice. Double is obviously going to lead to pard bidding 4♥ a lot.

 

Which games do you think you can make if any?

My first thought was how little I needed pard to have to make 5m (Qxxxx, an ace and a stiff for example).

Which bid gets you there, and leaves 3N in the picture?

I see a slightly obscure path: X, then if pard bids 4♥, bid 4♠. I'm convinced high level cues are best played as choice-of-games to find the right strain, which should be higher priority than slam try. Pard will hopefully figure out you would have passed 3NT, but are now offering both minors.

 

I like having that agreement for cue bids (strain is higher priority than slam try), not sure how common it is outside Australia. Does it seem obscure to others? Comes up a lot actually

[WesleyC]

I think passing is too big a risk at V vs NV as partner only needs a few scattered values for game to be cold.

 

2NT feels like the best chance. With RHO not raising spades, there's a very good chance partner will bring a spade stopper.

[P_Marlowe]

X

 

I dont like it, but what else.

 

Over 3H, I have 3S, asking for a stopper, if partner does not have

one, I have still the possiblity, that silent praying helps.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Zelandakh]

Even if we give partner a spade stopper, a rather likely scenario here is for East to have a weak NT with a doubleton spade, something like:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s753ht5dak43cakqj&w=saqj842h63d865c75&n=skthj9874dt72c932&e=s96hakq2dqj9ct864&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=2sppdp3hp3sp3nppp]399|300[/hv]

 

One hand obviously proves nothing but the dangers of unilaterally forcing to game seem to me to be too great. If we do double and hear 3♥, it would not surprise me if pass came above 3♠ in a simulation. But I think 2NT would beat double in practise most of the time.

[Manastorm]

I would probably bid 2NT, bad things can happen in many ways. I have extras to compensate no stopper, balancing position and no hearts. Partner could have 7-8 good ones too. Opponents didn't raise, maybe the spades aren't too strong. Where ever we land, we land with confidence - the next time as I probably had a longish think.

X is murky. If partner doesn't bid hearts, I am very happy. I pass, if partner bids hearts, and probably have to excuse myself from the table. I don't think I should make any effort to find 4-2 heart fit, which we avoid easily after 2NT or pass.

Pass is a bit negative, but if you don't see a stopper or hearts what can you do. 3minor is not totally outrageous from a balancing position, but I don't see myself doing it.

[Phil]

2N for me. In tempo. I would never pass with a 17 in the balance seat vul after a weak 2.

 

Lots of good things can happen. Partner has a stop. The suit blocks. But what rates to happen more these days is they stay off the spade lead altogether.

 

Double makes no sense to me whatsoever. I'd rather overcall 3C.

[ggwhiz]

This is a REALLY bad good hand.

 

1. Double is out as my partner will always bid a 4-card heart suit over a 5 card minor and a 3 spade bid doesn't appeal as per 2.

 

2. 2nt may find partner with a spade stop but with that entry disappearing at trick 1 finding 2 more winners over there and getting to them in time is too big a parlay for me.

 

So I'm in for the ugly 3♣ which may be a silly contract if partner has 3 spades, short(ish) clubs and is too broke to move but if they can bid or fit clubs I'll be fine.