[whereagles]

Matchpoins, adv field. Adv but random pard, int opps. System is 2/1.

V vs NV, you hold:

♠ J7654
♥ 96
♦ A876
♣ 75

Pard RHO you LHO
..1♠...2♣...2♠...3♣
..3♦..pass..??

You didn't bid 3♠ 1st round because of the bad shape and because pard overbids. But now he comes in with a 3♦ bid for which you have no other agreement than "natural", although you recall vaguely to have discussed something called "long suit trials" with pard. Obviously, you have no clue what pard's standards for trials are, even if this is one such bid.

At IMPs you just bid 4 and think about it later. But this is matchpoints, so... 3, 4 or a non-compromising (and undiscussed) 3♥?

[Free]

I'm afraid of mirror distributions and losing 4 quick tricks. Bidding 3♥ may be helpful, but it depends on what kind of hands partner will accept: Qx is no help, but he may accept...

Since it's MP, it also depends on what the field does. Many just bid 4 when they have a 10 card fit, especially in low level events. So you might want to follow the field.

On average I'd probably just end up in 3♠, since I'm a bit pessimistic in MP events.

[mike777]

I can understand not bidding 4s because of the poor shape but not why we did not bid 3S the first time. Why bid 2 levels below LOTT? Partner will never play us for 5 spades and an outside Ace.

[whereagles]

mike777, I told that above: no 3♠ because pard overbids.

[kenrexford]

I think partner is 5341. 4♠.

[bid_em_up]

If 3♠ is preemptive, it doesnt matter if partner tends to overbid or not.....

[kenberg]

I bid 4S. I expect to lose 2 clubs and either 1 or 2 hearts. No way to tell which. Might depend on how the opponents cards are placed.

However, though you didn't ask, I think not bidding 3S because partner overbids is a bad idea. If you don't plan on playing with him again then of course nothing much matters, pour a drink and relax, but if you envision another game with him then you bid what you think right on your cards, he bids what he thinks right on his cards, afterwards you discuss it and see if you have a meeting of the minds or whether you should go your separate ways.

[whereagles]

hum.. well, this isn't about the 2♠ bid. It's about bidding 4 or not, given the circumstances. With this particular pard, 2♠ is ok because that's the way he thinks the hand should be bid (no points, no shape = min bid for him).

[kenberg]

Ok. Anyway, I bid 4S. One argument: If either of your two doubletons had been stiff you would have bid 4 right off (or at least the other tables would), and while that's a semi-preemmptive call it also often makes when you have a bit (as you do here). Now he has bid on and hit your suit. That's enough to make up for having a doubleton instead of a stiff.
I certainly think it's a guess, but 4S is my guess.

[pbleighton]

Bidding can be a complicated and difficult sometimes. There are ways to reduce complexity. For me, always bidding 4M in the third seat after pd's 1M with 5+ trumps and less than invitational values is one of them. I don't think it's necessarily better than the alternative, but I'm sure it's not significantly worse.

I would have bid 4S the first time, and that is what I bid now.

Peter

[cherdano]

If 4♠ here is wrong, then MP is too difficult for me.

[the hog]

Partner has asked for D help. I have 4D to the A. If you don't bid 4 on this you have no faith in partner's bidding.

[whereagles]

Thx all. Hands were

Scoring: MP

Pard RHO you LHO
..1♠...2♣...2♠...3♣
..3♦..pass..??

---

4♠ is an easy make.

How would you bid pard's cards? I'm wondering whether short suit trials aren't better...

[cherdano]

whereagles, on Sep 17 2006, 09:56 AM, said:

Thx all. Hands were

Scoring: MP

Pard RHO you LHO
..1♠...2♣...2♠...3♣
..3♦..pass..??

---

How would you bid pard's cards?

3♥ instead of 3♦. Of course. Is this a trick question?

[Free]

Agree with cherdano, 3♦ is asking for trouble while 3♥ asks to bid game...

[the hog]

3H looks right, just in case pd raised on a 3 card S suit and has a 4 card H suit as well. In that case I'd rather play in the 4-4 H fit.