kgr, on Feb 14 2007, 05:26 PM, said:
Bidding starting with East (RHO):
(1H)-p-(2H)-2S
(3H)-???
Opps play a standard 5-car M system.
DBL by you is still take-out oriented, but doesn't really show a fit.
If you DBL, should partner always bid 3S with a minimal hand.
What do you consider miinimum to bid 2S at MP's?
The problem, such as it is, is not what the opponents play so much as does your partner subscribe to the theory of OBAR (opponents bid and raise). According to this theory, your partner will bid anytime he has the right distribution as a "pre-balance".
If the opponents ahve huge fit and values for game, his bid makes littel difference, they will simply bid game. If instead you have points, you may not have the hand to "balance" with. (as this 3-4-3-3 shows).
If you do not play OBAR, forcing to game is clear cut, and in fact, you may well have a slam. If you do play OBAR your partner may have already bid everyone of your points and managed to push them to 3
♥ rather than let them rest peacefully in 2
♥.
Playing OBAR, I would think a minimum for a frisky partner, not vul, might be something like...
♠KQTxx
♥x
♦xxx
♣xxxx.
At MP, if we were VUL, I think I would bid 4
♠ figuring partner would not risk bidding crazy where -200 for us could be death. If we were not vul, I would consider both pass and 3
♠. I maybe the only one considering pass. IF opponents play "constructive" raises, I think I would pass if they were vulnerable. If partner has something, we might set them two when we can't make 4, and if he doesn't we don't we might go down a couple doubled. If they are not vul, I would bid 3
♠. The reason being, they might take the push to 4
♥ over 3
♠ and WEST is more likely to be pushing with 3
♥ at t this vulnerability. IF they don't promise "good values" for 2
♥ raise, I would compete to 3
♠ with some reaonsable worries.
If we do not play OBAR, I will bid 4
♥ over 3
♥ as a mild slam try.