[jillybean]

(P) P (P) 2nt
(P) ?

---

Do you pass or transfer to 3♠, is it close?

[sceptic]

I would transfer as what ever pard has he must have 2spades with my 6 cards and that has to be better than pass IMHO

[Walddk]

You only have five spades, Wayne, but I would still transfer. However, there is no guarantee that 3♠ is a better contract than 2NT.

Roland

[inquiry]

Transfer, and it is close.

[mikeh]

I would transfer.

The reasons to transfer are two:

1. Your hand is close to worthless in notrump, unless partner has a big ♠ fit. You have little realistic chance of establishing the ♠s and then getting to your hand to run them. Yes, it is possible that partner has AKx and the side Q is an entry, but that is pretty specific. So your hand rates to deliver more tricks with ♠ as trump than at notrump. Add to this the control the trump suit gives you: say partner has AQx AKJx Qxx KJx and they lead ♦s.. in notrump, they simply cash as many winners as they hold. In ♠s, you ruff to minimimze the loss.

2. Partner may have a wonderful hand in ♠s and be able to superaccept. If he holds AQxx AKxx Axx Kx, for example, passing 2N risks missing a pretty good game contract. Of course, this could backfire... you may reach a very poor game but that will happen only when partner has 4♠s, and even then, 4♠ -1 may well push or exceed the result in 2N.

The reason to pass is that partner may have a source of tricks in notrump and a poor trump holding. Qx KQ10x KQx AKJxx... you may make 2N while 3♠ fails.

I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

[han]

I always transfer.

[pclayton]

I transfer.

I also reach across the table and take the 4♠ card out of his bidding box.

[inquiry]

Jillybean, you have bridgebrowser, so this one is an easy study. Select opening bid of 2NT, select partenr with a hand pattern with a five card major, no honor, and 5332 distribution with 0, 1, or 2 hcp. And see how 2NT versus 3 of the major faired. This search is easy and quick.

It is true, some good players will play 2NT when their partners pass and some poor players will play 3M when their partners transfer, but you can find thousands of such plays if you search across Bridgebrowser databases. My guess is not passing 2NT will be a clear winner.

[whereagles]

Transfer. This is one of the hand types transfers were meant to.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Feb 27 2007, 10:28 AM, said:

I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

What I remember is from not so long ago. It was a comment in the MSC, and he said he tried guessing for a while, kept track of his results, and never got better than 50% when passing.

[inquiry]

cherdano, on Feb 27 2007, 12:15 PM, said:

mikeh, on Feb 27 2007, 10:28 AM, said:

I read, long ago, an article by Larry Cohen (if memeory serves) in which he said that he always transfered if the decision would seem to be close. That way, because he had a rule, he didn't ever engage in second-guessing himself or risk zigging when he should be zagging. He'd thought about it and decided that transfering was best, so he didn't have to think about it again. I have adopted that rule and never regretted it, even when pass would have been better on the actual deal.

What I remember is from not so long ago. It was a comment in the MSC, and he said he tried guessing for a while, kept track of his results, and never got better than 50% when passing.

Bridgebrowser online is down right now (a rare occurance). Maybe new data is being added (I hope). When it comes back up, I will run a test. Opening bid 2NT with 20 to 22 hcp, next hand 0-2 hcp, 5332 with a five card major with no AKQ or J. How does pass 2NT result?

To do this, I will define the opening bid as 2NT with balanced or semibalanced and the indicated pt count range. Responder will be forced to have 5332 distribution, each minor suit either 2 or 3 cards long, a major headed by no more than the Ten, and from 0 to 2 hcp. We will see how 2NT fairs compared to the transfer.

[mike777]

jillybean2, on Feb 27 2007, 10:27 AM, said:

(P) P (P) 2nt
(P) ?

---

Do you pass or transfer to 3♠, is it close?

I thought I read somewhere where Hamman or Soloway or both said they always tfr with a doublton.

[SoTired]

mike777, on Feb 27 2007, 12:23 PM, said:

I thought I read somewhere where Hamman or Soloway or both said they always tfr with a doublton.

I agree... I never transfer with that 5333 pattern

[inquiry]

Jlall, on Feb 27 2007, 12:29 PM, said:

BTW Ben, I think 0 points is different than a queen.

With a queen you may have a game opposite a super accept (afterall a super accept should say "I think we'll make game on a lot of hands where you will pass 3S out").

On the other hand with a queen you may make 2N without spades, but with 0 points you will pretty much never make 2N so you need to transfer out and hope you catch a fit and get lucky and make 3S.

Different considerations.

^^^^

Ok I will do 2 pts.

[kenrexford]

I'll transfer......but I'm not redoubling.

[the hog]

Transfer and no, it is not close. This hand is near worthless. The S can be a source of tricks in a S contract.