[Echognome]

Scoring: IMP

(1NT!) - P - (2♣) - P!
(2♥) - P - (3♥) - X
(P) - P! - (P)

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As is typical with online junior bridge (I think things are much more sane f2f), we had an interesting auction. I was the joker East. (If that was given in the problem, I'm sure it would have changed the choice for many of you.) I was trying to test out Rosenberg's theory of opening 1NT and then carrying through on the psyche. That is to say, not passing a forcing bid.

I can understand why North bid the way he did. It's not easy to show his big hand. I thought South's pass was almost as crazy as my 1NT opening. They ended up gaining 1.5 imps though as 500 was better than their game.

[MickyB]

Of course, I could not muppet the defence, then we get 800 instead...

If you subscribe to the theory that pard has a S/D 2 suiter, pass isn't crazy IMO - your black suit holdings scream defence.

[Echognome]

MickyB, on Jan 22 2006, 01:46 AM, said:

If you subscribe to the theory that pard has a S/D 2 suiter, pass isn't crazy IMO - your black suit holdings scream defence.

I disagree. I do not think pass is an option UNLESS you think one of your opps have psyched. They have a somewhere between 22 and 25 points. The weaker options having responder with more shape and the stronger with opener having bad shape. You know trumps are splitting. If you get a spade ruff, it could very well be with a natural trump trick. You would need partner to hold both black aces t begin to think about defending and there really aren't enough points in the pack. I think that pass is only a viable option IF you think one of your opps has psyched. Hence why I posted the question. I don't think many thought it though.

[Winstonm]

It is obvious that I am an English junior player at heart - with a name like Winston what else could I be? And we English always understood Holmes so well and his little 7% solution problem......

Untangling the meaning of this bid should go a long way in fortifying the well-earned "seriously weird" handle.

Winston

[mike777]

When I have had the pleasure of being asked to play against these English juniors, I know I need to play penalty doubles very often and good defense. .

Do not have to worry about my play of the hand since I rarely will buy the contract. .

[MickyB]

Echognome, on Jan 22 2006, 03:55 AM, said:

MickyB, on Jan 22 2006, 01:46 AM, said:

If you subscribe to the theory that pard has a S/D 2 suiter, pass isn't crazy IMO - your black suit holdings scream defence.

I disagree. I do not think pass is an option UNLESS you think one of your opps have psyched.

If the opponents haven't psyched then partner is off his rocker

[FrancesHinden]

The difficulty is that I wouldn't dream of passing over 2C with partner's actual hand.

[MickyB]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 23 2006, 12:49 PM, said:

The difficulty is that I wouldn't dream of passing over 2C with partner's actual hand.

Yes, I didn't like it too much at the time as you might imagine...but what else? Double would probably have shown clubs in a pick-up, and 2♠ sounds weaker - possibly just for the lead.