[whereagles]

Matchpoints, intermediate field, none vuln

♠ KQ9
♥ A9xx
♦ AQT
♣ xxx

Pard RHO you
pass..3♦....??

Before you think "this is a no-brainer: pard, short in diamonds, will balance whenever we have game", let me add that pard is a bit lacking on the technical department and underbids. She will have passed most 11 counts 1st seat and might very well not dare balancing 3♦ despite shortness. As for RHO, she has only started playing a few months ago, but sure can play cards.

So, under these circumstances will you pass or bid?

[hotShot]

The information you gave about your partner does not matter. Your hand is strong enough for a move and with that ♦ of yours 3NT is my choice.

[paulg]

I'd just bid 3NT without thinking about it too much, it just feels right. And I'll soon know I've done the wrong thing when LHO doubles, so not too long to wait.

One of the reasons to bid 3NT is that partner may not be short in diamonds.

p

[david_c]

I'd pass. The hand just doesn't seem strong enough opposite a passed partner, even with these well-placed diamond honours.

[Poky]

This is a clear cut pass. If we have game, partner will probably act with some 9-11 HPC. Else, we will beat them one trick or two.

[P_Marlowe]

3NT, the information you gave, just makes it clearer.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pbleighton]

3NT, regardless of partner. Pd may not be short in diamonds, or (more likely) have long clubs and bid 4C.

Peter

[Free]

Poky, on May 5 2006, 12:34 PM, said:

This is a clear cut pass. If we have game, partner will probably act with some 9-11 HPC. Else, we will beat them one trick or two.

Ofcourse, but didn't you read that partner will NOT act, despite ♦ shortness and maximum values for a pass?

Normally I'd pass, but since I have to bid 2 hands, and it's MP, I'll take 3NT and hope I can take advantage of opponents' weakness.

[luis]

I think I would pass, even with the information you give me I can't try for 1400 based on pd's inabilities

Luis

[Poky]

Free, on May 5 2006, 01:49 PM, said:

Poky, on May 5 2006, 12:34 PM, said:

This is a clear cut pass. If we have game, partner will probably act with some 9-11 HPC. Else, we will beat them one trick or two.

Ofcourse, but didn't you read that partner will NOT act, despite ♦ shortness and maximum values for a pass?

Normally I'd pass, but since I have to bid 2 hands, and it's MP, I'll take 3NT and hope I can take advantage of opponents' weakness.

If my p is so weak then he probably thinks my double should be for penalty. So, in given circumstances even double is better than 3NT.

Anyway, I would pass no matter who my partner is. A plus score is always a plus score.

[mikeh]

I bid 3N, although I think it is very, very close. With an aggressive partner, I would pass at mps, settling for a small plus measured in units of 50.

I would not be the least bit surprised to hear that pass worked. But there are just so many 8-9 counts opposite that make 9 tricks that I can't bring myself to pass (of course, there are lots of 12-15 counts on my left that run ♣ and then switch to ♥, and I am down 5 or 6 doubled)

[pclayton]

3N looks fine, although its very close. So close that I might pass without the 10D,

[whereagles]

Well, it's of course a guess. In this case LHO had the axe waiting:

AJTx
JTxx
x
AJTx

3NT gets doubled and goes 2 down. 3♦ will be passed out for a couple down and a good score.