Long/Short Suit Invite

[mayoutu]

This problem is from this month's Bridgeworld.com Master Solvers' Club. IMP non vul.

 

♠AKQ87

♥6

♦KJ86

♣Q92

 

After 1♠-P-2♠-P, what do you bid? (See problem E)

 

https://www.bridgeworld.com/indexphp.php?page=/pages/msc/mscscoresforlastmonth.html

 

According to panel votes, 3♣ gets 100 points, while 2NT gets 0 point. I don't know why short suit invitation is wrong here, because textbook says it is used for unbalanced hands while long suit invitation is used for balanced hands.

 

Another question: I have participated in MSC for many years, are they really following the BWS?

 

Thanks!

[smerriman]

As far as I can see BWS doesn't use short suit game tries.

 

After a single raise:

(a) a reraise to three is preemptive;

(b) two notrump is forcing with at least game-invitational strength;

© a simple new-suit bid is a game-try showing length (or a suit where honor strength would be helpful).

[johnu]

Another question: I have participated in MSC for many years, are they really following the BWS?

In theory, panelists are supposed to use BWS when relevant. In practice, a lot of panelists don't know the applicable BWS agreements.

[mayoutu]

Oh, I didn't notice that. Thanks! I personally feel that short suit invitation is a good choice, because for an unbalanced hand like 5-4-3-1, telling partner the suit with 1 card includes more information than suit with 4 or 3 cards. If partner has no waste value in that suit, likely it doesn't matter how the value is distributed in the other suits.

 

As far as I can see BWS doesn't use short suit game tries.

[mayoutu]

I guess so. For problem H, BWS says "opening lead against no trump: (ii) Spot-card leads: fourth-highest; second-highest (but highest of equals) from a weak suit." I chose club to lead, and it should be ♣6 according to BWS. But Panel votes ♣9.

 

 

In theory, panelists are supposed to use BWS when relevant. In practice, a lot of panelists don't know the applicable BWS agreements.