A man with a fit

[Mkgnao]

White vs. red, IMPs, you hold in third seat:

 

♠96

♥KQ

♦AKQ4

♣QJ963

 

Auction:

 

2♦ - (p) - ...

 

2♦ is a weak two. Your partner's style in this spot (position and vulnerability) is anything goes. Often 5♦ and ranging from 0-10 HCP.

 

What would you bid? And more importantly, why do you bid it?

 

(For those contemplating 2NT, it asks minimum/medium/maximum + shortage, partner will respond 3♣ with a medium, 3♦ with a minimum, 3M with a maximum + shortage in the major and 3NT with a maximum + ♣-shortage or balanced.)

[steve2005]

0-10 isn't manageable. To actually have 0-3 is really low odds though. So I would assume 4-10

[sfi]

I'm sure it's right for them to bid game in a major if I bid 4D or lower, so I'll try 5D. They have to sort out whether it's right to double, bid at the 5 level or bid slam, so there are a couple of ways for them to lose.

[nige1]

White vs. red, IMPs, you hold in third seat: ♠ 9 6 ♥ K Q ♦ A K Q 4 ♣ Q J 9 6 3

Auction: 2♦ - (p) - ...

2♦ is a weak two. Your partner's style in this spot (position and vulnerability) is anything goes. Often 5♦ and ranging from 0-10 HCP. What would you bid? And more importantly, why do you bid it?

(For those contemplating 2NT, it asks minimum/medium/maximum + shortage, partner will respond 3♣ with a medium, 3♦ with a minimum, 3M with a maximum + shortage in the major and 3NT with a maximum + ♣-shortage or balanced.)

Over 2♦, using MKgnao's methods, I rank

• 3N = NAT. Gamble but pre-emptive and we can't check on a ♠ stop.
• 2N = REL. Then: if opener rebids 3♣/3♦ (presumably 0-6 HCP) then 3♦ or Pass; if opener rebids 3♠ (max ♠ shortage) then 5♦; otherwise 3N.
• Pass = NAT. But if opponents compete then they can probably make a major contract.
• 4♦ = PRE.
• 3♦ = PRE.
• 5♦ = PRE. But with so few aces, 5♦ seems far away.

[steve2005]

I'm sure it's right for them to bid game in a major if I bid 4D or lower, so I'll try 5D. They have to sort out whether it's right to double, bid at the 5 level or bid slam, so there are a couple of ways for them to lose.

I think your right. I thought 2N right but your just going to give opps a chance to bid a major. 4M may even be making.

[The_Badger]

I feel there's no need to panic to try to pre-empt the opposition out of making a bid. They're red, red's partner has already passed, and you've probably got the strongest hand at the table. I'm bidding 2NT.

 

Anyway, pre-emptive bids are made by weak hands, not strong ones. It's a case of the tail wagging the dog, in my view. Just because the opponents have some kind of major suit fit, it doesn't mean they're going to find it.

 

There's only one downside with bidding 2NT in my opinion: a possible 3NT contract could be played from the wrong side of the table, other than that it keeps the opposition guessing what sort of hand you have.

[sfi]

I feel there's no need to panic to try to pre-empt the opposition out of making a bid. They're red, red's partner has already passed, and you've probably got the strongest hand at the table. I'm bidding 2NT.

 

Anyway, pre-emptive bids are made by weak hands, not strong ones. It's a case of the tail wagging the dog, in my view. Just because the opponents have some kind of major suit fit, it doesn't mean they're going to find it.

 

There's only one downside with bidding 2NT in my opinion: a possible 3NT contract could be played from the wrong side of the table, other than that it keeps the opposition guessing what sort of hand you have.

 

How many defensive tricks do you think you have? It's more likely they will make slam than go down in 4 of their major fit, IMO. I'm happy if they let me out for -300 on this hand.

[The_Badger]

Deleted

[sfi]

Deleted - mods feel free to remove.

[Tramticket]

3NT our best chance of game and makes it tricky for opps to enter the auction.

[rmnka447]

2 NT seems right as it should inhibit some intervention by the opponents by implying a strong hand. It also may provide the appropriate info to pick a spot if partner gets to respond.