[gwnn]

1. xx xx KTxxx AKxx

all red mps, rho deals and opens 2♦, multi. it goes:

2♦*-p-2♥*-p
p-?

do you bid 2NT for the minors?

2. AJx AJx K9xx Axx

all white mps

LHO deals opens 2♦, unalerted

pd asks "what is 2♦?"
now rho goes into an uncomfortable 5 second pause and says "natural, weak 2" without much conviction. pard thanks her and passes. now rho goes into the tank for about 5 seconds, apparently thinking of bidding something and still not knowing what 2♦ meant.... she finally passes, shaking her head.

your action?

[kfay]

1) Yes. An uncomfortable 2NT for me.

2) I don't understand this question. Are you presuming that opps do in fact play multi-2♦? How can the partnership be unsure what this 2♦ opener is? That seems strange to me. It appears you're implying that partner has 4(/5?) diamonds and that's why they had to ask what an unalerted bid means.

Anyways I'll bid 2NT. If they indeed don't know what they're playing then I'm going to make the bid that I have... I'm not going to presume that opps know what sort of hand to bid with whether it be really weak or strong. And I'm not going to try to double this to let partner convert when I don't really have a double.

[gwnn]

I am not implying anything. I'm just recounting the whole situation, exactly as you would have seen at the table, asking what you would do at the table.

[ArtK78]

Don't they have a convention card?

[inquiry]

gwnn, on Nov 26 2007, 03:49 PM, said:

1. xx xx KTxxx AKxx

all red mps, rho deals and opens 2♦, multi. it goes:

2♦*-p-2♥*-p
p-?

do you bid 2NT for the minors?

2. AJx AJx K9xx Axx

all white mps

LHO deals opens 2♦, unalerted

pd asks "what is 2♦?"
now rho goes into an uncomfortable 5 second pause and says "natural, weak 2" without much conviction. pard thanks her and passes. now rho goes into the tank for about 5 seconds, apparently thinking of bidding something and still not knowing what 2♦ meant.... she finally passes, shaking her head.

your action?

I will start by stating that I play multi-versus-multi.

On hand one, I have a clear 2NT bid now, showing both minors. I can't double as that is takeout, I can't bid either minor as that would be four cards in spades and the minor bid (a side effect of multi-versus-multi, i can't have a weak hand nor a good hand with just a minor).

So yes, i bid 2NT for the minors.

Hand 2, if 2♦ is not alerted, it is not multi. Simple as that, multi requires an alert. I am too good for an immediate 2NT, so I will double and then bid 2NT (or 3NT should partner show signs of life).

[lorserker]

1) I would bin 2NT

2) I would pass. The fact that the partner of 2♦ wanted to bid shows that she has points, so pass becomes now a good option in case they indeed forgot their system or in case we shall go down in what we bid. Is this kind of reasoning unfair?

[ASkolnick]

I am actually one of those dumb people who play something which makes much more sense to me.

I play Natural for the suits. Double is takeout, about 1NT+ level, 2NT for the minors.
And, yes, the one time I have a 5 or 6 card suit, my opponent has the same 5 or 6 card suit and my partner can't move the contract, I lose. But my partner knows what I have first.

But here are the advantages against multi,

1) It is less preemptive. I can now bid 2H over a theoretical 2S bid.
2) I can show both minors which I couldn't before.
3) If I have that weak a hand and essentially multi is forcing I can always double for takeout later.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 I cant, 2NT would show a strong NT
with hearts stopped
But assuming 2NT shows the minors,
I still would not do it, the guy behind
may just be waiting
2H does not deny strength, it just denies
interest in game oppossite a weak two
#2 2NT, what else?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[P_Marlowe]

lorserker, on Nov 27 2007, 04:37 AM, said:

<snip>
2) I would pass. The fact that the partner of 2♦ wanted to bid shows that she has points, so pass becomes now a good option in case they indeed forgot their system or in case we shall go down in what we bid. Is this kind of reasoning unfair?

No, you can draw conclusion, ...
at your own risk.

Means, if you miss game, because you
did not bid 2NT, dont call for the TD,
because you have a clear 2 NT bid.

With kind regards
Marlowe