[BebopKid]

Scoring: IMP



SAYC

I played North.

Bidding goes
1♥ 2♥* 2NT Dbl
Pass 3♠ All Pass

*Michaels

---

This makes 5 Spades losing only the red aces.

Was my 2♥ bid out of line?

What did my partner's double mean?

Was my 3♠ bid out of line?

What was the proper way to get to game in Spades?

Thanks.

[mike777]

My monthly rant against Michaels being overused and abused. Easy 1 spade for me.

[glen]

"Was my 2♥ bid out of line?" - If you have not discussed the styles allowed for this bid, better not to bid it with an in-between hand.

"What did my partner's double mean?" - I would take it as value showing, does not expect 2NT to make.

"Was my 3♠ bid out of line?" - Yes, since partner has shown values, you do not expect 2NT to make either - pass the double.

"What was the proper way to get to game in Spades?" By showing extra values for your 2♥ bid, first by passing the double. However before you arrive in 4♠, have you considered how much you can damage 3♥ doubled?

[pbleighton]

""Was my 2♥ bid out of line?" - If you have not discussed the styles allowed for this bid, better not to bid it with an in-between hand."

To elaborate on what Glen said, a common approach to Michaels and U2NT is that they are made only on weak and very strong hands.

Not everyone agrees with this (I do), an example being Mike Lawrence.

I agree with the rest of Glen's post.

Peter

[kenrexford]

There are so many problems with this auction. I'd suggest sending it out for analysis to www.poorbridge.com.

1♥ (presumably strong NT, so good start)
2♥ (tweener, so probably not right, but I'll accept this so far)
2NT (red-on-red 2NT for what, precisely???)
X (not sure what 2NT was described as, not sure if X has a conventional meaning, but, assuming penalty, a tad aggressive if 2♥ was the weak variety, as it seems)
Pass (good call #2)
3♠ (suppressing the minor to rebid a broken 5-card spade suit, not leaving partner with good info when he holds a stiff spade, not expecting the game that the X strongly implies; but 3♠ might be right if it shows a maxi with diamonds -- 3♣/3♦ weak/3♥ str♠♣/3♠ str♠♦?)
Pass (not quite enough to bid twice on this hand)
Pass (probably worth bidding 4♠)
Pass (good call #3)

I may be a tad unfair with some of these assessments, but I dislike the whole mess. Admittedly, my only problem with Opener was his choice of partner.

[inquiry]

BebopKid, on Feb 10 2007, 07:22 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP



SAYC

I played North.

Bidding goes
1♥ 2♥* 2NT Dbl
Pass 3♠ All Pass

*Michaels

---

This makes 5 Spades losing only the red aces.

Was my 2♥ bid out of line?

Absolutely not. You are on the top end of you dbl for the no strong hand I guess, however, so 2♥ or 1♠ are fine. But note, you are vul, so the minimum "weak" michaels version goes up in requirements, making this a fine 2♥ bid.

What did my partner's double mean?

They are not making 2NT. This is a psyche exposing bid.

Was my 3♠ bid out of line?

Let's see. You told your partner you had 10 cards in spades and diamonds and you could be weaker than you are. You have described your hand, so pass is clearly indicated. Poor EAST will run to his 3♥ contract, exposing the psyche nature of his bid. 3♥ doubled would be down three even if they guess the singleton heart king, down 4 or 5 if they didn't. Since they are vul, you will score +800 or more.

What was the proper way to get to game in Spades?

If yuo choose to let them off the hook, the correct way is for you to pass 2NT and when RHO bids 3♥, I guess your partner will have to bid 4♠. I prefer 3♥x

[blackshoe]

inquiry, on Feb 11 2007, 01:04 AM, said:

You told your partner you had 10 cards in spades and diamonds

He did? I coulda sworn he told his partner "spades and a minor" and then never mentioned which minor.

I play with a couple of people who think "stolen bid doubles" is the best convention ever invented, so it occurred to me that the double here might have been intended as "show me your minor".

[whereagles]

North, holding a good hand, might have cued 3♥ instead of bidding 3♠.

South, holding a good hand as well, might have showed support with 3♥ instead of doubling 2NT. He might have taken a shot at game after 3♠ as well.