A clear pass?

[pescetom]

I was surprised by this pass of GiB.

 

I can understand a disciplined pass after 1m with 14 HCP and majors 4-2, but after 1M with 4oM and not enough for 1NT?

Is partner expected to balance on this quacky 9 HCP?

Good method, just unlucky here?

[smerriman]

You mentioned being surprised - to clarify, was your expectation 1♠, 1N, or double?

 

I would pass myself (and probably double as South), but I've been known to make some silly balancing choices, so I have no idea what would be optimal. Probably a good ATB poll.

[sfi]

I suspect I'd be defending 1H here, although I might find a 1S overcall with North. But the most likely way for N-S to get into the auction is for South to balance with a double.

[pescetom]

From one of my partners I would expect double, promising opening (or very close) strength and 4 card spades, French style (Europeans tend to blame anything popular but dubious on a neighbouring country). I realise that is probably not how the average US player plays it, let alone in the times of GiB, but a pass with this hand still looks odd to me. I don't think stretching to 1NT is an option.

 

I'll poll it as two separate choices first and see what people would do.

[pescetom]

As a first check, I had a look at what happened at other tables (almost all Italian pairs, very mixed level).

At 32 tables, West always opened 1♥ and North bid as follows:

10 pass by robots

8 pass by humans

13 double by humans

1 1♠ by humans.

If North passes then E has a borderline decision, with robot passing.

At the 8 tables where North and East both passed, South bid as follows:

7 pass by humans

1 double by humans

(no robot got a taste of their own medicine).

 

So about 36% of these humans pass as North and 87% pass as South.

The only real expert in the room passed as North and his partner was the only one to reopen in South, which is food for thought.

[pescetom]

The results (only 25) are in for the poll about North's call:

72% pass

12% double

12% 1NT

4% 1♠.

 

So despite the limited number, a clear reversal of the results in tournament where only 36% (half as many) pass.

88% of those voting are from US/UK, suggesting that players there have remained much more firmly attached to traditional takeout double shape requirements than their Italian counterparts. Useful to know.

 

Maybe an admin could move this thread to the General Bridge (not BBO specific) forum, because it emerges that GiB is doing nothing unusual but the results are interesting all the same.

 

Now I'm polling for what people will do in the balancing seat (so far it's a clear pass).