[cherdano]

Scoring: MP

(P)-1♦-(2♣)-?

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So, 2♥ is very non-forcing, like 5-9 points, 3♥ invitational, X-then new suit is game force. What is your plan?

(Leave the complaints about agreements for after the session.)

[inquiry]

(((COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT --- this bid is forced by wacky agreement I am playing in th problem. In real world, not bid this way.))))

2♥ is clearly out, too good for that.
3♥ is out, suit is too horrid for that.
2NT is out, you got to be kidding me.
2♦ is out, too strong for that
PAss? - with one club, is that really in the poll?


That leave double and 3♣ (not in the poll). So I go with double and then raise. If partner has 4♠ maybe 4♠ has a play, since I am short in ♣. If partner rebids 2♥, I will put him in game. If he rebids 2♦, I think I will mention ♥ on the way to supporting ♦.

[G_R__E_G]

System dictates X is the only choice. Any chance partner leaves it in?

[bigmax]

3♣.
If pd has ♣ stopper 3nt shd be ok and likely to score better then 4h. (If there is 0or 1 h loser you probably take same number of tricks, if 2 - 4h might not make)
If pd bid 3d you are ok with 3h.
Raise 3s to 4s ( or 4h if it is choice of games, not Quebid)

[mr1303]

Yes, bad hand for the methods this one. And this looks worth a game force (just about) so this calls for X followed by some number of hearts

[han]

Yeah, guess we have to double, although it is a bit of an overbid. I also suspect that a 6-3 heart fit plays better than a 4-3 spade fit.

I'm tempted to bid 3H so that I can later say to partner "see what you make me bid with this system of yours!".

[omeroj]

Lol your sistem tell: You can bid or dbl or dbl with this hand:)

The vote is forced... x:))

Omero

[mikeh]

Double.

This is not really a poll: more an advertisement for NOT playing negative free bids

I played them a number of years ago: did not like them. They work ok when you can bid, but they are hopeless when you have a single-suit big hand and the opps can bounce the auction. Take this one: what do you do over 5♣ by the opps? You could be cold for 7♥, yet how can you introduce that suit at that level?

I am sure that this is my imp bias coming through: NFB can help a lot on partscore battles: change the ♠K to a ♣2, and you'd like to bid 2♥.

[cherdano]

Ok, I doubled as well; maybe hindsight made me think it was more of a problem, because seconds later, it became even more of an overbid: LHO bid 2♠, passed around to me.

Do we follow through with our overbidding plan by 3♥?

Arend

[cherdano]

About the NFBs: I think they work much nicer if you play 2♥ as very encouraging, say 8-11, and 3♥ as single suited game force. X then new suit then shows game forcing hands with no clear direction, which can rather afford not to show their suit immediately. At MPs at least it seems a reasonable tradeoff.

I don't think the American standard treatment of X-then-new suit as weak, non-forcing, can win any prizes for beautiful auction either.

Arend

[mike777]

x and 3h

3h now

Yes, play your NFB a bit stronger...maybe 8-12hcp.

[awm]

What do people think about transfers in this auction? Then you can bid an easy 2♦ (showing hearts) and you get the best of both negative free bids and forcing free bids.

The main loss is the ability to raise diamonds to the two-level. If playing a precision version where 1♦ could be short, this is not a big loss. And 2♦ doesn't buy a lot of contracts anyway. Most of the time when you have a natural 2♦ bid, you also have at least a four-card major (might want to try to play there) or a bunch of clubs (partner will probably balance with a double) or enough diamonds to try bidding them at the three-level.

On the original problem I'd go with double and then 3♥, as most people seem to be suggesting. It's unfortunate that the suit is so awful, but six card suits deserve to be bid at some point in the auction.

[HeartA]

cherdano, on Oct 4 2005, 01:38 PM, said:

Ok, I doubled as well; maybe hindsight made me think it was more of a problem, because seconds later, it became even more of an overbid: LHO bid 2♠, passed around to me.

Do we follow through with our overbidding plan by 3♥?

Arend

sure, why not?

[whereagles]

Jlall, on Oct 4 2005, 04:49 PM, said:

Seems like my system forces me to X, not sure what else I can do. Count me out for negative freebids

Ditto Especially the freebids part.