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[hv=pc=n&w=st975h754d7642c83&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1sp]133|200|swiss teams all vul[/hv]

What do you bid here and why?

 

Will you bid different if you play 4 card majors and 2NT as 10+ with sup?

I don't do anything. Perhaps the opponents won't be able to judge their hands as well if they don't know we have a spade fit.
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I will pass of course.There are 10 losers,practically no ruffing values.If partner has a very strong hand,little short of 2 C opening he will definitely get an opportunity as these days very few opponents will allow you to play in 1 S.Pass is my answer to the 2nd question also.No question of fooling not only your opponents but your partner also.
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1NT is a pretty common tactic with this sort of a hand. Safer if you are playing 2/1 and even more so if your major opening is limited to 15 or 17. Even if it's a simple non-forcing 1NT, you have reasonable chances of stealing their hand.
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[hv=pc=n&w=st975h754d7642c83&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1sp]133|200|swiss teams all vul[/hv]

What do you bid here and why?

 

Will you bid different if you play 4 card majors and 2NT as 10+ with sup?

The short answer is No to both questions. With this collection of junk you have nothing to say. Partner

will have a difficult enough task if allowed to play in 1 spade(highly unlikely). Pass and let

sleeping dogs lie.

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Pass. 2 with 4-5 points, a fit and an honour in partner's suit, but not with this.

 

In rubber bridge (does anyone still play that?) there might be merit in aiming for a better part-score than 30 below, or completing a game where you are already 60 below. In such cases, and only then, I might go 2.

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what trouble do you think you're going to get into by responding? people who worry about this stuff are used to playing with bad players who double game because they've got 15 points opposite a response or who jump to 3NT on a flat 19 count.

 

taking 1NT as an example, if partner has let's say 18-19 balanced, you'll end up in 3S, which is not going to be a problem (i.e. if it goes off, the opps are making something).

 

if partner has an unbalanced game force, we'll end up in 4S, which will often make - you do have 4 card support and a ruffing value.

 

the 4th spade makes it essentially impossible for them to nail you for a fat penalty in partscore.

 

where you want to be opposite this minimum and pretty much balanced game force? [hv=pc=n&n=sakj65ha5d32cak32]133|100[/hv]

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what trouble do you think you're going to get into by responding? people who worry about this stuff are used to playing with bad players who double game because they've got 15 points opposite a response or who jump to 3NT on a flat 19 count.

 

Au contraire, this player is one who plays with very good partners and who got his bridge education playing club duplicate bridge against some top level players. There's one thing you learn quickly against that level of competition, if you try to get cute, you usually get your head handed to you on a platter. It's amazing how uncanny really good players can be in finding the right time to double you.

 

As for trouble, -500 against a part score, or -800 against an opponent's game are not likely to get you happy teammates. Against good competition, you ought to expect to see those with some frequency.

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As for trouble, -500 against a part score, or -800 against an opponent's game are not likely to get you happy teammates. Against good competition, you ought to expect to see those with some frequency.

 

I'm not sure how you think you're going to wind up with these sorts of results, but they don't seem all that realistic. It's pretty hard to double for penalties at low levels without trumps. More likely is your partner doubles a making game contract their way. On the other hand, bidding will often win the contract for a partscore or a small negative when they have a game on. Not advertising weakness is a good general principle when you know you have a fit.

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Yes, bidding could be the winning option, but there is a good reason why all systems and textbooks say you need at least a five count to respond (unless you have a very unbalanced hand). This is because your partner needs to have some confidence that you have at least some values in order to judge how to proceed; how high to compete, when to double, etc. If you respond on this sort of hand you will lose his trust and perhaps lose points on other hands. Another factor is that passing will escape team mates' criticism, whereas if you lose 1100 by responding, and this could certainly happen, will not endear you to them. Team matches are won by solid play, not flights of fancy.

 

Maybe NV vrs V, and needing to pick up points, a response might be a reasonable gamble. But vulnerable, never.

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I think that even if you play 3 as preemptive, this hand is too weak. Yes, it may keep opps out of game (or lift them into a not-making game) but then again, as Kaitlyn points out, it also gives away the fit.

 

I would be afraid that p bids 4, hoping for something useful, like a trump honour or singleton or maybe a useful queen.

 

I am not opposed to pass (which is obviously the normal call), but 1nt doesn't suggest quite as much playing strength for a spade contract as 3 does IMHO.

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I should add one caveat to my previous comments. If you are playing Bergan, and have an agreement that a raise does not show values, then I guess raising is ok.

I play Bergen. My raise to 3 is defined as "4 to 6 support points". Last time my partner made a preemptive raise, I had a powerful 1S opener and bid game and made it. I would not have made it opposite this hand.
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The trouble with bidding here isn't so much getting doubled in a partscore (won't happen) as it is getting too high when partner has a good hand. You have the spade suit, so you aren't likely to be shut out if you pass and await developments.

 

Bidding 3S (preemptive) immediately shows at least a King more than you have. If partner has a good hand, he'll bid 4S, and now you have traded +110 or +140 for -100 or -200.

 

Bidding 2S or 1NT(f) have the same drawbacks. You are likely to exchange a plus score for a minus score.

 

Instead, just pass the first round to show weakness. If the hand gets passed out, great; you probably can't make 4S.

 

If the opponents come in, you can bid spades at (even at the three level if necessary) at your next turn. Partner will then have a good idea of your hand.

 

Cheers,

Mike

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