[ochinko]

I was a sub at a MP tourney when I was dealt:

Kxx
xx
AKJxxx
K10

None vul

I often open off-shape 1NT but almost never outside of the 15-17 range. Being matchpoints, however, I decided it was worth opening 1NT here. LHO bid 2H, unalerted, so I assumed a natural overcall. Partner doubled, which should be for penalties, RHO passed. I thought that if 2H go down it won't be more than 1, maximum 2, and with partner stopping hearts we might make 3NT, so I just bid them, and all passed. Partner's hand was:

Axxx
Qxx
x
Qxxxx

The lead was Ace, King, and a small heart. Seemed pretty obvious that LHO had the CA, so my only chance were diamonds. They turned out to split 3:3 with DQ onside, so 3NT made. Was surprised and happy to see that we scored 100% but wonder whether I made the best decision, since the game looks less than 9%.

What do you think? Should I pat myself on the back, or it was pure luck?

Petko

[Trpltrbl]

Luck is part of the game.
And general rule that I use is that if nobody else bid it, it probably wasn't a good bid.

GBB

[Fluffy]

Pure luck IMO, don't liek any of your bids, only the result , but 2♥ seems to be 300 wich should score above 80%, so you risked for very little

[mr1303]

Yes, having partner pull my penalty double is one of the things that winds me up more than anything. Especially as this looks like 2 off is the best score they can make on a diamond lead.

Having said that, 1NT opening was ok.

[Al_U_Card]

If you pull because you "over-valued" your hand and are getting out, then fine. The parlay to make 3NT was an interesting analysis but in terms of partnership harmony, either leave in the double and hope your valuation was correct or bid 3D because the auction has "devalued" your holdings and bidding 3NT was just too unilateral.

[Codo]

I dislike subs, who come in and judge their hands just on their own.
I could live with an 1 NT opening in a frequent partnership, but would dislike pick up partners who do so. In my opinion, you should bid very accurate in cases like that.
I had not understood the X as penalty and, looking at partners cards, he did not either. So I had bid 3 diamond, after all he did bid a take out double....

But if it was a penalty, it was horrible to take out to 3 NT.

So like some other, I disagree with nearly any single bid you made.

[han]

I really dislike the 3NT bid. Partner knows far more about your hand then you know about partner's.

I would be a bit upset when you bid like this when playing with me.

[Kalvan14]

I have no problem with your 1N: ok, it may not be a classic, but it works. And your black suits kings are ok.
I would not have pulled the double, though (the double should be for penalty, IMO: there are other conventions which can be utilised in this kind of sequences to look for a fit). Oppos have (at best) 8 hearts, if not 7; our line has the majority of points; if partner leads ♦ (which is likely) declarer might loose control of trumps.
Why go for a 3N on a combined strength of maybe 23 HCP?