6=0=4=3

[kgr]

As a side note, with that shape partner should bid 2C unless there is a huge discrepancy in suit quality

...right. Then he had 2=4=4=3

[mike777]

As a side note, with that shape partner should bid 2C unless there is a huge discrepancy in suit quality

...right. Then he had 2=4=4=3

GEEZ why not just bid 1nt with that shape and 10-11 hcp or so?

[Winstonm]

If 3 diamonds is the max, then +110 in spades is just as good and +140 will be better than all the +110s and +130s.  At matchpoints, I think it is right to emphasize the higher scoring spade suit and rebid 2S as this is about the only way to play spades if partner holds xx.

 

Should partner have a good hand, 2S does not end the auction and I can attempt to catch up later with a jump in diamonds.

Perhaps I misunderstood. Is not 2D at 10+ hcp a "good" hand? The 3S bid can always be passed in SAYC if pard only has the minimum for what he promised. Always have to operate with the understandings in the partnership ( or given in the problem)...

I would not consider Qx, KQx, Kxxx, xxxx a good hand, although this qualifies under the post - 10+ and 4 diamonds. So bidding 2S (under the posted methods)allows a pass by responder on the above hand, a raise with a slightly better hand, and a jump to game or a bid of a new suit with a better (good) hand.

 

And not everyone plays these sequences the same way. I just played a pair in the KOs a couple weeks ago who had this auction: 1S-2C-2D-3S-P!!!!. I about fell out of my chair - they made it on the nose.

 

So I was very much trying to answer with the posted requirements in mind. 2S, 2N, and 3D are all non-forcing according to the poster. I do not have a hand good enough to force to game opposite a minimum hand with heart wastage. Therefore, due to the form of scoring (mps), I chose to emphasize the higher trick scoring suit and rebid spades, knowing this could be passed but but probably wouldn't be.

 

IMO, this is the kind of dumb bid you have to make at MPs which is why I hate that form of scoring. If partner does have: Qx, KQx, Kxxx, xxxx, he isn't going to correct to 3S over 3 diamonds - he will pass (non-forcing according to the post.)

Making 3S beats 3D making 3 or 4. Making 2 spades ties 3D and beats the heck out of 3D down 1.

 

If over 2S, responder bids 3C or 3H, showing a game forcing (good hand), I can then support diamonds and get more excited about the hand. And with the 10 point minimum and a singleton spade, responder may well bid a non-forcing 2N to try to improve the contract after which I can still bid 3D.

 

The risk with 2S is playing the 6-1 fit instead of the 5/4. But isn't that Matchpoints in a nutshell (emphasis on the NUT, LoL). :D

 

Winston

[kgr]

As a side note, with that shape partner should bid 2C unless there is a huge discrepancy in suit quality

...right. Then he had 2=4=4=3

GEEZ why not just bid 1nt with that shape and 10-11 hcp or so?

1NT would promise 6-9 HCP in our system and we tend to stick to it. I really didn't like partner's pass after my 3♦, but I remember his hand was really minimal for his 2♦ bid... so maybe 1NT would have been better anyway.

His hand was probably something like:

xx=Qxxx=KQxx=QJ or Jx=Qxxx=KQxxx=Q

[han]

I think that it is safe to summarize the view of most posters here as follows:

 

- It is a good idea to play more forcing bids over 1X-2Y.

 

- It is a good idea to require slightly better hands for bidding a 2-over-1.

 

- Even if you stick to your agreements you should allow judgement in hand evaluation. The hands you give in your last post really don't qualify as 10-point hands. Devaluate hands with a lot of quacks, in particular with suits like QJ-tight or a stiff honor.

 

You can do something with these recommendations or not, it is your choice. The fact that you are posting here suggests that you are interested in improving your game.

[Elianna]

- It is a good idea to play more forcing bids over 1X-2Y.

Or you (addressing kqr) could just play that 2y promises a rebid, and thus ALL of opener's bids are forcing, as per SAYC.

[Double !]

Or you (addressing kqr) could just play that 2y promises a rebid, and thus ALL of opener's bids are forcing, as per SAYC.

Is a 2NT rebid by opener forcing in SAYC?

If the answer is yes, then what is the default rebid with a minimum hand and a 5-card major? I know, 2M, even on something like a Jxxxx suit. Somehow, such a default agreement (discussed forever on multiple other threads) seems to be such a distortion to me. Therefore, if it is indeed forcing in SAYC, I would like to show my 6-card major suit and then support diamonds, especially playing matchpoints. If responder can pass 2 spades, then I would support diamonds. I need to see what responder's rebid over 2S is before having a better idea about where this hand is going.

[kgr]

- It is a good idea to play more forcing bids over 1X-2Y.

Or you (addressing kqr) could just play that 2y promises a rebid, and thus ALL of opener's bids are forcing, as per SAYC.

SAYC:

- Open 1 in a suit with 12+pts

- 2/1 promises 10+ pts and does promise a rebid.

=>

If opener has 12 pts and partner has 10 pts then the bidding will go:

1M-2x-2M-2NT/3M/3x

1M-2x-2NT-3NT/3x...

1M-2x-3x-3NT/4x...

After 1M-2x; the probability that opener has only 12 pts and partner has only 10 pts is highest (..I think). So - certainly at MP's - this can not be the best system because you will often be too high?

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I agree that my initial problem shows that it would be better to have one of the 3 bids forcing. I would say to make 1M-2x-3x forcing, or would you rather propose any of the other bids (2M/2NT) ?

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A related problem that we have is (we play strong NT without 5-card M):

1M-2x-2NT/3NT: What should opener bid with 14 HCP?

- You can say he should bid 2NT, so that the bid of 3NT is reserved for strong hands.

- You can say he should bid 3NT, then partner is not under too much pressure with 11 HCP (to get to 25HCP: opener only has to add 1 pt to partner's minimum; partner would have to add 2 pts to openers minimum)