[Gerben42]

1. This was my partner's decision. He passed (I agree). The field bid 2NT here, raised to 3 on a 4333 17-count. I must have made 2 tricks more than the field (+210 is a rare bird), which was worth about zero.

2. Partner had a singleton ♦ and the trumps naturally didn't produce 3 losers (that wouldn't be a suit for a vuln. preempt usually)... and the field bid this one, figuring that partner promises 6 tricks and they have 4. Addition is a bit tricky in this case, but as the cards were, it worked well.

3. This was in the last round and I had the feeling it was close at the top at this point (which was a correct assessment). I passed out 4♠ deciding that the LOL declarer might give us the tournament on declarer play rather than gambling 5♣. Guess what: 5♣ would have been right AND there was no way to mess up the hand.

One of the toughest things in MP for me is to make these kinds of decisions. Either bid what you think is wrong but the field thinks is right and hope there is something to the play, or bid what you think is right after all and hope that it works out better than what the field thinks is right.

[Apollo81]

I'd have raised on the first one but it's a hairline decision.

I'd have replicated your decisions on the other two.

[pclayton]

1. I treat my 14's and 17's the same as you. We also downgrade 4333 soft 15's too. At MPs, I'll pass.

2. 4♥. Guessing. We could be cold for 5 or go down in 3. Partner's heart intermediates are very important. They haven't led a diamond yet.

3. 4♣ and pass 4♠. 5♣ is a 'please double me' call.

[Fluffy]

Gerben42, on Jun 18 2007, 01:55 PM, said:

One of the toughest things in MP for me is to make these kinds of decisions. Either bid what you think is wrong but the field thinks is right and hope there is something to the play, or bid what you think is right after all and hope that it works out better than what the field thinks is right.

What I hate is to decide between my real odds (10-30%) or hope for an opponents mistake, and there is no way to judge if you made the right decision after the board .

[P_Marlowe]

Gerben42, on Jun 18 2007, 08:55 AM, said:

1. This was my partner's decision. He passed (I agree). The field bid 2NT here, raised to 3 on a 4333 17-count. I must have made 2 tricks more than the field (+210 is a rare bird), which was worth about zero.
<snip>

Hi Gerben,

I dont play different strategies at MP and IMP,
thats why i am losing at both, but I believe (and I am
pretty sure that you as well), that pass is antifield, I wont
comment on the merits of passing, better player than
me have recommended it, but I take it that your declarer
play was way above avg. with regards to the field, so
2NT is quite clear.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[skjaeran]

1. Raise to 2NT. Passing would be a killer (for us) in Norway.
2. Pass
3. 4♣ then pass.

[jdonn]

1) I would invite, I don't let mps stop me from playing bridge. I think if partner makes exactly 1 then we weren't usually getting a great score anyway. I admit it's possible I'm not considering the style strongly enough, since I upgrade less often than you seem to.
2) 4♥, it could just be cold or just be down, I hope for the best or maybe a wrong lead.
3) 4♣ I guess but I'm nervous, I'd much sooner bid 3 than 5. Obviously bidding 3 or 4, then bidding 5 next round is stupid.

[helene_t]

P_Marlowe, on Jun 18 2007, 07:15 PM, said:

but I take it that your declarer
play was way above avg. with regards to the field, so
2NT is quite clear.

But that's what you should not factor in at matchpoints, at least not to the same extent as if it were imps.

If Gerben makes nine tricks while the field makes eight, you have a top anyway even if you don't bid game.

[awm]

(1) I would pass. I think at MP inviting is overrated. If partner has a minimum you could easily be too high in 2NT, and yes 1NT making beats all the pairs in 2NT-1. Even if partner has a maximum, I have eight points with no five-card suit and lousy spots. 3NT is likely to be iffy, could be around 50 percent but you don't have to bid those sorts of games at MP. I understand taking the "field action" to let partner shine in the play, but I don't see why raising is necessarily the field action here (of course you know this field better than I do).

(2) I would bid 4♥. Perhaps my preempting style is different from yours, but I would view xx KQJTxxx xx xx as a very ordinary 3♥ opening (not some sort of maximum). This hand makes four hearts routinely. It's certainly possible that partner has a two-loser suit (I wouldn't open three with a three-loser suit at vulnerable) but even then partner can have singleton diamond or a diamond card (say x KJT9xxx Kxx xx) or opponents can fail to lead diamonds.

(3) Seems like 4♣ is okay. I don't necessarily agree that it's "always wrong" to preempt and then bid again -- that course of action gives partner the opportunity to penalty double 4♠ (for example) before committing to a sacrifice and also gives us the chance to see how much LHO/RHO agonizes about his bid. But here my hand is very much the expected 4♣ bid so I would bid it and then pass.

[whereagles]

Jlall, on Jun 18 2007, 06:09 PM, said:

I don't think automatically upgrading when you have a decent 5 card suit is standard even though I see more and more people taking this approach. For me Axx Qxx KQJxx Qx would not be a 1N opener despite the nice 5 card suit and no jacks outside.

Well, I must confess I'm way more aggressive. I'm happy with upgrading a 14 count with suits like AQxxx or KQTxx to 1NT. KQxxx I find just short.

[jgo]

1. Pass
2. Pass. 4H is optimistic. 3NT is insane.
3. 4C seems about right.

[cherdano]

I don't believe the 3-loser comments either, KQ98xxx is a GOOD suit for a preempt at both vulnerable.

[mike777]

Gerben42, on Jun 18 2007, 02:22 AM, said:

Okay, I came second by a stunning margin of 1.6 matchpoints (0.8 MP if you are using USA counting). Here are some interesting bidding decisions (MP)

1.

Pass Pass 1NT(15-17) Pass
?

Scoring: MP

---

Do you Pass, invite (bid 2NT) or bid 3NT directly?

If it matters for you, 17 with a decent 5-card minor is considered too strong, 14 with same thing considered strong enough. Downgrading ONLY in case of doubletons with two honors in them.

2.

3♥ Pass ?

Scoring: MP

---

Do you Pass, bid 3NT or bid 4♥? Our style all vulnerable is middle-of-the-road

3.

Pass 1NT ?

Scoring: MP

---

A. 3♣, and over 4♠ Pass Pass?
B. 4♣, and over 4♠ Pass Pass?
C. 5♣?
D. Some other strategy?

Just wanted to say congratulations on a very fine showing, well done.