[Kalvan14]

Scoring: MP

East deals, and open 1H. Up to you.

---

Hard to believe, but this hand came out yesterday night.

[mike777]

Double, will rebid 2nt over 2d by partner if given the chance.

[mikeh]

I voted for double, intending to bid notrump as cheaply as possible should partner bid the expected ♦ suit.

If partner bids 1♠, then I guess I have to bid 2♠ just in case he has 2 Aces, altho I would expect a jump with 2 Aces and a 5th ♠, so at mps maybe I should pass 1♠.

I would also be tempted to pass 2♣: while he will hold 2 Aces more frequently after a 2♣ response than after 1♠, I am a long way from 5♣ and I don't feel lucky in 2N: too many Aces to knock out too often.

Other choices were 1♠ or 1N.

1♠ is just too weird and could well be the only contract that I can both reach and go down in

1N is closer to the mark: I am certainly not counting this hand as 20 hcp, but it is just a tiny, tiny bit too good to bid 1N.

[pbleighton]

Too strong for 1S.

Pass is WAY too clever.

1N - I don't think so.

Double. What else?

Peter

[cherdano]

This hand is truly odd. All of trick-counting, hcp counting, loser counting seem to hugely overvalue this hand despite four tens etc. Aren't aces great cards?

Arend

[han]

1NT is very tempting. If partner has 5 spades then I can superaccept the transfer and we may still get to game (just the diamond ace might be enough for 4S). Other games are far away, doubling may get us too high, and passing is waaay too deep a position.

At the table I would double, but I feel like saying something different.


[edit: Wow, I'm the third person voting for other.... means there are two more lunatics here]

[joker_gib]

Dbl and NT after

Alain

[whereagles]

joker_gib, on Nov 18 2005, 08:45 AM, said:

Dbl and NT after

Alain

Seems just about right to me too.

[bearmum]

HAVE to double --- and bid 2NT over expected 2D bid from P

IF he replies ANYTHING but 2♦ I will bid game in the suit he bids

[Winstonm]

Pass. All the outstanding values are in Aces and Kings and I know where at least 3 of those 5 are. If partner does have one of the maybe missing two card it rates to be in diamonds. And the auction already already sounds like a misfit is on the horizon.

With a defensive hand, I'll take my chances defending.

Winston

[Blofeld]

Voted for double, but with no aces and a singleton queen, I don't mind a 1NT overcall.

[Al_U_Card]

The only problem I have with dbl and NT (albeit my choice) is RHO has H and likely quite a few D. When pard bids D and he dbls for a D lead, they may take a few along with his aces. That being said, his aces ARE in front of My honors so they are less valuable in a suit contract.....go black suits!

[luke warm]

i don't like x then nt with only 3 controls... i think i'd overcall 1s

[Robert]

Hello MikeH

If partner holds five spades to the Ace, 4Ss looks good. If Partner holds A9xxx
4Ss looks really good.

After you double 1H if partner bids 1S you should give him a 3S jump raise.
Since you are showing @19-21 dummy points, he will often bid game with Axxxx
and any added shape or some other value.

Passing 1S is a very deep position. Partner will not jump with 2 Aces and a poor 4 card spade suit. You would likely make eleven tricks opposite his 1S bid.

Playing IMPs a 4S raise has a lot going for it. It gets you to game opposite Axxxx xx xxx xxx which should often make. If partner holds two aces and a poor 4 card spade suit, you will bid game and make an overtrick.

Regards,
Robert

[Robert]

Hello luke warm

Please remind me 'never' ever 'double' one of your overcalls.

When was the last time that you went down after making a one level overcall?

What is the normal overcall range that you list on your CC?

Do you ever reduce your HCP requirements with say a KQJ109 type suit for an overcall at the one level to less than 19 HCP? Or is this towards the middle/upper end of your range?

My overcall standards keep dropping. Years ago I promised a good 5 card suit
(AKJxx) and 12+HCP for a one level overcall. "Consider my overcalls as opening bids showing a good suit, described my style.'

Now I am lucky to hold KJ10xx and a side Ace for one of my one level overcalls.

I also try to somewhat narrow the range of my simple overcalls by often making weak 2M type opening bids with many/most six card major suits. I also make a weak jump overcall(at the two level) with many(most) six card major suits.

My two level overcalls still tend to show a 6 card suit and 12+HCP. I can hardly wait to see what one of your two level overcalls looks like.

Regards,
Robert

[luke warm]

it's true that the hcp is right for x then nt... and maybe 1s is overly conservative here... would you open that hand 1C if the bid promised 16+ hcp and 5 controls?

[Robert]

Hello luke warm

1C*=16+HCP and promises 5 controls. I would not open 1C* with that meaning because this hand is a 'just a little short' of having 5+ controls.

I do promise 1C*=16+HCP, however, I do not promise 5+ controls.

I downgrade certain hands, but a four loser 19HCP 4414 doesn't open IC* in your system methods?

What do you open with this hand? A 11-15HCP non 1C bid or some 4441 showing 11-15HCP shape showing two bid?

Maybe that two way 2D opening showing 16+ any 4441 'or' a weak 2H bid?

Does anyone still play the original Roman 2D* opening with either a 16+ or 17+ range and any 4441?

If you play a forcing unbalanced 1D* opening, I can fully understand your system not opening 1C*=16+HCP and promising 5+ controls.

If you play a 'forcing' 1D opening, why not play it with a weakish 1C*?

I did play Roman Club several decades ago. Unfortunately, I am not from Italy and was not playing in the heyday of the Blue Team and Roman Club powerhouse teams.

My system bids 1C-1D-2D...
1C*=16+
1D*=0-7HCP
2D*=19+HCP any 4441

A Roman 2D bid on steroids! Well, maybe a little bigger than the 17+HCP version.

I would not mind downgrading this 19HCP hand, however, I did post that it has a 'good' play for 4S opposite Axxxx and out. It is also has a 'pretty good' play for 4S opposite A9xxx

I hate to have partner make 10 spade tricks 'without taking any hooks or having favorable suit breaks needed' in a 1S contract.

Regards,
Robert

[Kalvan14]

My partner double the 1♥ bid, and, over my 2♠, went to 4♠.
Net result: 2 down (A♥, hearts ruff; ♣A, hearts ruff, and the ♠A). Before you ask, my hand was:
Q9xx, xxx, AJ9xxx, x

So the final contract was the choice of the infamous unlucky expert: 3 losers, which become 5 (and you cannot even blame bad splits ). Obviously 3 NT make 9 or 10 tricks. The room was in 4♠ - mostly - with different results: at my table LHO choose A♥, I suppose that at other tables W might have led x♦.
No one was in NT. The single ludicrous exception was a table were they played 1♥ by W (1 down).

I was not exactly excited by the double of my partner. I do agree that pass might be a bit too clever (and then, if E passes and S does not have the strength to bid, what do you want to play?). My first gut choice was for 1NT - off-shape, and stronger than promised, I agree. IMHO, not a single ace is a significant minus, and the 4 honors in hearts should make one think.

Mind, maybe it was just an unlucky hand; otoh, I do hate playing 4♠ down 2 when 3NT cannot be lost

[luke warm]

Robert, on Nov 19 2005, 12:54 AM, said:

What do you open with this hand? A 11-15HCP non 1C bid or some 4441 showing 11-15HCP shape showing two bid?

2C

[Robert]

Hello luke warm

I collect systems/conventions.

What does your 2C* opening show? Basic shape/range is fine.

My 2C bid shows 6+ Cs(side suit is possible), 11-15HCP.

Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Well, if you were a 'lucky' expert, you would be short in hearts and nothing bad would have happened.

I really like to balance, however, that xxx hearts, the 1H-p-p- auction and the 7 HCP 6-4 hand shape do suggest that 'strange things' might happen if I balance here.

I do not think that a 1H-p-p-2D-p-3NT auction is too far out, if you chose to balance with 2Ds.

The combination of partner 'passing' this hand and a 'hearing' a 2D balancing auction that gets you to a good 3NT is from a fairy tale starting, 'Far away and long ago...'

Sometimes you just have to take your lumps.

Regards,
Robert