[helene_t]

1: 2N
2: Doesn't 2N show this hand? Or could it be Lebensohl or natural? Otherwise 3♦.

[bid_em_up]

deleted

[mike777]

jdonn, on Aug 1 2007, 11:15 PM, said:

Second one, I can not fathom passing this double. It seems like just a prayer, I have 4 small trumps! I would run to 2NT with the understanding that it is not natural on auctions like this.

Hand two is a wonderful problem.

I am going to assume that Jdonn would not have doubled for penalties directly over 2s if he is not going to sit now that partner has reopened.

[mike777]

cardsharp, on Aug 1 2007, 03:35 PM, said:

1.

Scoring: IMP

(2♠) - ?

Your call?

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2.

Scoring: IMP

(2♠) - ?

Your call?

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I hope you can post the full deal of hand two.

[paulg]

I don't recall the second hand precisely, but it was something along the lines of ...

Scoring: IMP

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[FrancesHinden]

mikeh, on Aug 2 2007, 01:26 AM, said:

While it is unlikely that partner will commit us to 4♥ on a 4 card suit, it remains possible, especially if LHO bumps to 3♠ (partner with 1=4=(53) may well decide that 4♥ is better than risking either a responsive double or bidding a 5 card minor and thus missing the heart fit altogether.

And I would still be worried even if he holds 5 cards in the suit: one of my favourite rules (I am not big on 'rules') is Burns Law of Total Trump: never play in a contract in which the total number of trump held by the opps exceeds the total held by your side.

I would bid 2N: I would far rather do this than bid either double or 3N. When I jump to 3N over a weak two, I am making my contract (most of the time ). I am not announcing the equivalent of a balanced 20 count: with that, I double first.

Fully agree.
I bid 2NT, and I don't think it is an underbid, just the top end of the range.
I don't believe this will miss a making 3NT contract; it might play in 3NT with a minor suit slam cold, but that's a different issue.

On the second, I bid 2NT scrambling.

[mike777]

mikeh, on Aug 1 2007, 11:14 PM, said:

Double !, on Aug 1 2007, 10:49 PM, said:

Just a little question about hand 2:

Why did this hand not open 1 diamond in the first place?

DHL

Wild horses couldn't get me to open 1♦.

I have zero rebid problem in a purely constructive auction (after 1♣), and I will take the risk of having problems in a competitive auction in order to not distort my shape. I am only embarrassed if the opps bid spades, and my holding 4 of them diminishes that risk.

I am one of those who are very strong in the view that 4=5 minor hands are opened 1♣ (I'd make an exception for, say, x AJx AKQx xxxxx)

But I would be willing to bet that even those experts who often open 1♦ on 4=5 mostly wouldn't do it here.

This deal is very interesting. I sent it around as an email.

one said modern expert bidders open one club with 4-5 almost always, including this one. The other said bid your best suit open 1D. Most said they open one club.


We then sent it on to the current LM pairs holder, he said he opens 1D.
He was worried about 1C=(1s)=2h