which lie is best?

[luckyloser]

you are green vs red.

Matchpoints

P opens 1♦, you play better minor

rho overcalls with 1♥

 

you hold, what now?

♠ 863

♥ J85

♦ KJ8

♣ Q965

 

all possible bids tell a lie, which one do you choose?

Dbl promises 4♠

1NT promises a ♥ stopper but shows the distribution and strength

2♦ promises 4♦ but shows support and gives a clue if P is on lead

pass shows less than 7 HCP but does not promise anything

 

for me dbl is out but the other 3 choices are all sensible. at matchpoints it may be necessary to compete, also at this vulnerability there may be a save. on the other hand it is only a bad 7-count.

[Cyberyeti]

Pass, this is not making many tricks if partner can't bid again, and I'm happy calling it a 6 count. K&R takes an even more extreme view and assesses it at less than 5.

[TylerE]

Pass does NOT show "less than 7 pts"

[LBengtsson]

PASS. PASS. PASS. Pass does not only say "I have a poor hand ". It also can say "I have NO sensible bid to make" No bid, no lie.

[Cyberyeti]

Pass does NOT show "less than 7 pts"

 

I think OP means that to them, it shows less than 7 with this sort of shape, I think even he might pass with AKJ10x in overcaller's suit and out

[smerriman]

I think OP means that to them, it shows less than 7 with this sort of shape, I think even he might pass with AKJ10x in overcaller's suit and out

Maybe, but a *lot* of people think that pass in any situation denies values (I had an opening hand - I had to bid something!), so I wouldn't be so sure.

[shyams]

:) There's also the fast pass to show no values vs. the slow pass that shows a much better hand and asks partner to reopen with a double :)

 

BTW, I too fall in the PASS category.

[apollo1201]

Pass, wtf.

 

You have no points, no distribution, no fit, no stopper.

 

Maybe you could lie with X on a 3145 hand and a nicer honor structure, sth like Kxx x xxxx Axxxx to not overemphasize D, but with this trash...

 

Bidding isn’t over yet, partner can bid again and you might be in the balancing seat later on (although with nothing more to say!).

 

The real issue would be what to do with a Q more.

 

Some ppl play X as neg and 1S as 4+. Or the reverse to have a « transfer » sequence. You lose some precision to locate S fit, and sometimes you can’t catch up later, but it gives a way to express the « I have no attractive call but some points » hands. In all cases, the given hand doesn’t belong to this group.

[NickRW]

Pass, and it isn't even close decision.

 

Partner may bid again in which case it is just possible that this aceless, flat 7 count will start to look better than it does right now.

 

And pass isn't even a lie - a half decent partner will expect more cards and/or better shape for a response here. When the opps have intervened there is no pressure for opener's partner to dredge up a response "just in case opener has a massive hand"

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=s863hj85dkj8cq965&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1d(Better minor)1H?]133|200|luckyloser 'Matchpoints. Dbl promises 4♠. 1NT promises a ♥ stopper but shows the distribution and strength. 2♦ promises 4♦ but shows support and gives a clue if P is on lead. Pass shows less than 7 HCP but does not promise anything. For me dbl is out but the other 3 choices are all sensible. at matchpoints it may be necessary to compete, also at this vulnerability there may be a save. on the other hand it is only a bad 7-count.

++++++++++++++++++++

I rank

1. 2♦ PRE Pushy but might direct a safe lead.

2. Pass. NAT Sensible consensus choice.

3. INT. NAT, 2 down, undoubled will often show a profit. If opponents play the hand they might misguess some finesses.

[/hv]

[neilkaz]

Extremely clear pass.