[jdeegan]

I have been watching the high level competitions on BBO vugraph for a year or so, and I noticed that many top experts were opening bad 11 counts and continuing to bid with them. Sometimes they 'stole the pot' when the opponents let them play a part score going down when they had a game. Last week it happened to me.

Scoring: IMP

1♣-Dbl-1♦-P
1NT-P!-2♦-P
3♦!-P-P-P

---

I had the south hand. It seemed right to double on the first round, since I had enough to double, then bid spades. When RHO (a veteran pro who plays a top level game) bid 1NT, at this point it looked to me like a part score hand, so I passed (was this so wrong!!) since I had a good lead versus 1NT. LHO bid 2♦. If that floats to me, I have an easy 2♠ bid.

But NO. RHO bids 3♦. So, I pass as does everyone else. At this point RHO comes out of his chair yelling at his partner that her 2♦ bid was forcing stayman, and his reply was conventional .... aargh.

Needless to say, 4♠ makes our way and did so at the other table: 'lose 11'

Does anyone have any tips about how to adjust ones game to deal with this?

[SchTsch]

I don't get it.

Why wouldn't you double 1NT?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

Bid your suits, and accept that close decision turn out
the wrong way sometimes.
Oh yes, sometimes opponents partly dont know, what
they are doing, and still achieve a great result.

I am not saying the first double is wrong,
it could have worked, it is close, several people
would have choosen 1S, which would have
worked better.

Passing 1NT is certainly not wrong, and chances
for game are remote.
Since the 1D bidder is still unlimited and given
the fact that you are red vs. green bidding 2S
direct is risky, and doubling 1NT can also backfire.

Over 3D you are dead.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[helene_t]

N should probably have doubled 1♦. S should probably have bid 2♠ (or doubled) at his second turn.

It is a mistake to think that "opps promised each other 13+6 points so p must be broke". First, opps are notoriously unreliable. Second, opps finding a diamond fit makes South's hand even better.

[cherdano]

If you double planning to bid later, then you have to bid later.

[mike777]

Why not just overcall one spade planning on rebidding your heart suit next.

[SoTired]

1. I don't like the dbl. I would overcall 1S
2. North should bid 1N over 1D
3. South should bid 2S or dbl 1N

Conclusion: N/S bid so poorly and timidly, it is not evident that even if East passed, NS would find the right contract. Over a 1S opening bid, West might have bid 3D fouling up NS bidding, anyway.

[Free]

I wouldn't double 1♣, this is a clear 1♠ bid... The rest is just a problem you created for yourself

[blackshoe]

1♠ for me too.

[jdonn]

Given that you have doubled, you must bid 2♠ at your second turn. I mean think about it, you doubled with a strong hand planning to bid again, then didn't bid again, and you wonder why you got stolen from!

[han]

I would also bid 1S instead of doubling, and I agree that having doubled, you really have to show your strong hand next.

[whereagles]

That's an horrible 11 hcp. Better to pass or open a 9-11 NT

[pbleighton]

Quote

That's an horrible 11 hcp. Better to pass or open a 9-11 NT

You don't know what system they're playing - if it's a strong club this is a reasonable hand to open, provided you've agreed to open these kind of hands.

In a standardish system, even one which opened > 50% of 11 counts, I agree this is a pass.

Peter

[han]

pbleighton, on Sep 3 2007, 06:18 PM, said:

Quote

That's an horrible 11 hcp. Better to pass or open a 9-11 NT

You don't know what system they're playing - if it's a strong club this is a reasonable hand to open, provided you've agreed to open these kind of hands.

In a standardish system, even one which opened > 50% of 11 counts, I agree this is a pass.

Peter

No, it's a horrible hand to open 1C in a strong club system too.

[pbleighton]

Quote

No, it's a horrible hand to open 1C in a strong club system too.

LOL. I should never post after dinner.

Peter

[han]