[Al_U_Card]

bid_em_up, on May 22 2006, 10:18 AM, said:

I can certainly understand why your partner would think that.

Wouldnt 3S suffice? You are not forced to bid here. So 3S should show a hand with values, and only promising 4 spades, allowing partner to further describe his hand.

Not that I am all that thrilled with the original X, but partner could just as easily have been on a 3 card spade suit for his original X, and 4S still may not be the best spot. On this auction I would expect spades to break 5-1 (if on a 4-3 fit) at a much higher frequency than normal.

After 3C I would be more cautious about showing my values over the 3D intervention. The double sequence convinces me that all of pard's values are working and if his shape is just 3 spades then we will take the tap in his hand. When he pulls to 4C I will raise to 5.

[jdonn]

Phil....well if it's standard, that's news to me!

No one would deny ELC gains in frequency, as do your replies to me apparently

[pclayton]

Friggin Blackberry!

Grrrrrr.....

[Limey_p]

whereagles, on May 22 2006, 05:56 AM, said:

Playing ELC you can double. Otherwise 3♣ seems better.

ELC = equal level conversion

converting 2♠ to 3♣ isn't equal level ... once again mentioning the name of a convention is not sufficient. We need an agreement.

AP

[whereagles]

Yeah, you're right. It's not equal level in this case.

Dbl + suit = strong if it's a jump over the opening.

DPSSIJOO, for short. LOOOOOOL

[jdonn]

whereagles, on May 22 2006, 01:07 PM, said:

Yeah, you're right. It's not equal level in this case.

Dbl + suit = strong if it's a jump over the opening.

DPSSIJOO, for short. LOOOOOOL

Uh....wouldn't LLC for lowest level conversion have been easier? hehe

[whereagles]

Not sure LLC fits because

(1♣) .. dbl .. (pass) .. 1♠
pass .. 2♦

isn't diams + hearts, but diams strong.

[foo]

Al_U_Card, on May 21 2006, 08:42 AM, said:

Dealer: East Vul: N/S Scoring: MP

♠ Kx ♥ AQxx ♦ K ♣ AJxxxx

RHO opens 2♦ in first seat. Just a club game against one of the better pairs. This is the penultimate board and you are in the lead (60%). How to proceed?

I agree w/ Roland that this hand is not good enough to X then bid C's.

Give Opener all of the remaining D values: AQJxxx
There's 6HCP for a 1st seat WvsR 2D opening.
Assuming a 5-10 HCP range, the average Weak Two by a disciplined pair will be ~ a Q stronger.
{if the Weak Two in question has a range stronger than 5-10, this hand is no problem.}

SA, HK, and CK are likely to be out. GOP rates to have 1 of them and another 50% of the time.

SQ, SJ, HJ, and CQ are the "filler HCP" likely to be out. GOP rates to have 2 of these cards.

That means our hand is good for 10 tricks ~50% of the time.
{Opener could also have a maximum Weak Two, in which case the 3 level is likely to be the limit of the board.}

If We have a H fit, we have a very real chance of missing 4H here.

OTOH,
a= if We do not have a H fit, GOP needs significant extras for Us to make 5C.
b= 3N seems like a very long shot, and
c= "The Rabbi", the stiff K, does not rate to be a good holding on offense but is likely to take a trick on defense.

...and some say natural weak 2D bids are not effective. Certainly has given us a problem here!

3C is the safe alternative that unfortunately has a decent chance of Us missing a game. Especially if we have a H fit.

if 3N is =not= To Play and instead shows H+C, =and= you feel like taking the risk, that is another possible alternative.

Pick your poison based on things we do not know here in the forums.

[han]

This hand clearly demonstrates the disadvantages of playing ELC here. While equal level conversion often works well when partner makes the cheapest bid and you can correct, it becomes more difficult when partner has extras and jumps, and can be disasterous when the opponents raise and partner has to guess at a high level.

Phil is absolutely right that the frequence of these hands is higher, you will be doubling on more hands. The advantage is that overcaller will have a comfortable bid on a larger number of hands, the disadvantage is that any take-out double is less well defined.