[paulg]

Scoring: IMP

(1♥)-Pass-(2NT)-?

1♥ - Acol, 4+ hearts playing a weak 1NT
2NT - 4+ hearts, limit raise or better

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Is it automatic to bid here?

[hrothgar]

cardsharp, on Nov 20 2006, 04:56 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

(1♥)-Pass-(2NT)-?

1♥ - Acol, 4+ hearts playing a weak 1NT
2NT - 4+ hearts, limit raise or better

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Is it automatic to bid here?

I might bid, however, I hardly consider this automatic...

The main problem is that 3♥ - your most descriptive call - could potentially push you to a 4♣ contract.

[inquiry]

No. It is not too dangerous to pass. You hold 12 hcp and your opponents have an expected minimum of 23, giving your partner 5 at the most. And if they bid game, he rates to have even fewer.

They are not vul, are we really thinking of taking a save? It could be phantom if partner has the just the heart Jx and the club ACE is in dummy (we might score 1S, 1H, 2C). And we still get a second chance to balance if we want if it goes pass by us and 3H by WEST and all pass back to us.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I would prefer to be 5-5 at least,
since I maybe rquired to play on
the 4 level.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: It may be a good idea, to change
the method, to allow you to play at the
3 level.

[Halo]

West can have a 4432 strong NT range hand at this point, leaving me -800 in three spades. So I will pass.

If the hand is passed back to me in 3H at least I know that the opponents have a 54 fit and surely max 22 points. I would bid 3S and not be too worried at losing the club suit.

Worst case it comes back in a preemptive 4H and there is a double game swing. This is a real risk, so I wouldn't criticise anyone who judged to bid 3H/3S immediately.

[Blofeld]

Switch the red suits and I bid.

[helene_t]

Bidding might be right, but if you do so, partner will expect a much more distributional hand. He will save when he shouldn't.

Pass is automatic. If opps are older than appr. 20 years it isn't that risky.

[MickyB]

I'd pass this hand. If my hearts were xxx then I'd probably bid 3♠, and it would be clearcut to do so if the opponents had promised a 5-4 heart fit IMO, but the heart queen greatly reduces the chance that it is right to compete to 4♠.

[neilkaz]

This hand is the one of the finest passes ever dealt to anyone. You need better distribution and a stronger suit to expect to be doing anything more than gambling here.

Maybe the opps stop short of game but it makes, maybe the opps go set in game (noting they may need to find the Q of ♥) if PD can contibute some defence.

If you bid, PD will expect more offence and may take a bad save in 4♠ or worse yet, 5♣.

I would be quite upset if my PD didn't pass here.

.. neilkaz ..

[pclayton]

Have to pass. We might have a nice spade fit, but we are outgunned. I kind of like our defense prospects against 4♥.

If they stop in 3♥, we can always change our minds and balance.

[cherdano]

I have to admit some sympathy for 3♠. Could be a double game swing, and opponents might not figure out to double us in 3♠. (Since 2N isn't GF, opener probably can't double with a weak NT. Then, is responders double pure penalty, or "please pass with weak NT"?)

[whereagles]

There's some chance that..

1) 4♥ doesn't make.
2) They don't bid it anyway.

Not really a time to bid, but it's possible that dbl or 3♠ are the winning bid...

[Halo]

cherdano, on Nov 20 2006, 12:41 PM, said:

I have to admit some sympathy for 3♠. Could be a double game swing, and opponents might not figure out to double us in 3♠. (Since 2N isn't GF, opener probably can't double with a weak NT. Then, is responders double pure penalty, or "please pass with weak NT"?)

Bear in mind opener hasn't got a weak NT. He has 4 hearts and 15 plus high card points, or 5 hearts and 11-n points.

[Apollo81]

Bid could work, but with no clear lead preference, length in your opps' suit, and only a mediocre hand, pass seems very clear.