[whereagles]

MPs, V vs V. Who should have bid what?

Scoring: MP

West East
1♥ 2♥
(all pass)

Result: E/W +110

---

In the end East said he would have taken a push to 3♥, which goes the obvious 1 down (this declarer would not have guessed trumps).

Should South have bid 3♣ vulnerable?
Should North have reopened 2♠?
Was it just bad luck?

[inquiry]

North could have reopened, not with a 2♠ bid, but rather with a double. The sad news is after the double, if EW take the push to 3♥ THEY ARE MORE likely to guess the hearts right. And getting to 3♣ vul is not bed of roses. You don't show the diamond 8, if EAST has it, they have 2♦ tricks (after ♥A and diamond 9 switch, and without it, EW take a diamond ruff instead of two top diamonds. To go along with the ♠A, ♣A, ♦A, and ♥A so 3♣ is down at least (and probably only) one, but at matchpoints a good chance that one would be doubled, and vul.

The fact that NS got a bad board is due to the conservative and lucky bidding of only 2♥ with EAST hand that included 4 card support, two aces, and a club ruffing value and a useful jack. I think the bidding was fine... sometimes they get you, here they did.

[awm]

I would balance 2♠ with the north hand. Coming into this auction as south is way too dangerous with a balanced hand and dubious values. But north is in the passout seat -- he knows opener is not sitting in wait with some huge hand. He has singleton heart in a fit-showing auction. Double will win when passing out 2♥X is right, but north's hand is very light on defense and south may well pass out a making 2♥X. Ignoring the (relatively small number) of times when you actually want to defend 2♥X, 2♠ is a standout bid. This can't be a "self-sufficient suit" since north passed over 1♥, and south will know to pull to 3m with an unsuitable dummy for spades.

[jdonn]

I don't think either player should balance. This vul is bad for declaring, and it's plain to see 2♠ is getting creamed on a heart lead with any competent defense. Alternatively they will bid 3♥ and are much more likely to guess hearts now for an even worse board.

Agree with Inquiry, the reason for the bad board is east didn't make a limit raise. Probably most were in 3♥ going down.

Agree with AWM that if north were to balance, 2♠ is clear over dbl.

[inquiry]

2♠ is down one on perfect play as well. It can make if the defense slips, and it can be down two if declarer slips. Again, at mp, it also risk a double, and down two would be an unhappy situation even without the double. The correct line after ♥ and ♥ ruff is to pull trumps, despite the control problems with repeated heart forces... with careful play he will eventually win 4♠, 1♦, 2♣.

I am also skeptical of the claim that the declarer will only make 2 ♥. 2♥ by WEST actually has a chance for two overtricks. For example, a diamnod lead give away the overtrick at trick one. After a spade start, declarer is playing for 8 or 9 tricks depending upon guess in hearts. It seems a spade lead will be made. If declearer makes a discovery play in spdes, and finds five with north to souths 2, he at least has a chance to get hearts correct.

[jdonn]

inquiry, on May 25 2007, 12:42 PM, said:

2♠ is down one on perfect play as well. It can make if the defense slips, and it can be down two if declarer slips.

You are right, 2♠ is down 1 I was wrong at a glance. Although this is only because spades break and no one has a singleton in a minor. In any case even -100 will be bad when most NS are plus against 3♥ The spade lead against that seems automatic, and then there is no reason they would guess hearts right. And the balance could still lead to 2♠X or 3♥ with a correct guess. I still don't like it.

[han]

If anybody should bid it is north imo. South has a clear pass.

[Apollo81]

I'm sure I wouldn't come in on the South hand.

[Foxx]

It is not South's place to act with a balanced, aceless hand when West could still be strong. North has a routine reopening action, and double and 2♠ both have merit. I would bid 2♠ if it were clear that a 3♣ removal by South meant that a scramble was on. Otherwise double.

It is curious that North's reopening action will come back around to get him, since East goes on to 3♥ and then West can use the clues from the bidding to make it and get an improved score. Only a 3♥ contract reached without any activity by N/S should go down.

[whereagles]

Thx all. Not clear-cut to me who should bid what, though I see there's a tendency to put the onus on North.

[Codo]

I think too that south has a clear pass and north a 99 % 2 Spade bidwith the reasonings Adam and Justin gave.

[helene_t]

If North doesn't bid 2♠ with this hand, with what hand would he?

South has absolutely no reason even to think about bidding.

[Halo]

I think it is up to North to bid - 2S for me. I would bid at IMPs and MP.

[Edmunte1]

2♠ in MP's is pretty obvious for me. Leaving them in 2♥ won't get us usually a good score. I wouldn't have balanced in IMP's in red.