[rbforster]

As South, you're in last position.

Scoring: MP

(1♥)-P-(2♥)-?

---

You've got great shape and would really like to compete, especially knowing that partner with heart length is unlikely to act. But what can you do without overpromising your (lacking) values? Comment on the vulnerability if it would effect your actions.

[awm]

I'll bid 2♠. Partner will cut me some slack when the opponents have shown a fit and I have shortness in their suit (i.e. he's looking at length). And in any case, I do have seven losers and two quick tricks.

[gwnn]

2♠ promises just spades and lack of hearts. That I have, so I bid.

[mike777]

Rob F, on Dec 10 2007, 01:45 AM, said:

As South, you're in last position.

Scoring: MP

(1♥)-P-(2♥)-?

---

You've got great shape and would really like to compete, especially knowing that partner with heart length is unlikely to act.  But what can you do without overpromising your (lacking) values?  Comment on the vulnerability if it would effect your actions.

Great question. If you play OBAR and bid 2s on anything then how can partner ever know you have a real hand.

I choose to play OBAR and bid 2s...this may mean partner plays me for competitive hand not a constructive hand.

With 4 spades and an invite hand pard can choose to bid 3h here, with less pass or straight 3spades.

[Halo]

2S

We might win the contract, we might beat their contract at the three level.

I think that maybe this outweighs helping oppos to to bid more accurately or place the cards in the play.

[FrancesHinden]

ummm. I don't really play "OBAR" i.e. I don't prebalance. But this just looks to me like a normal 2S bid - what's light about two aces and two 5-card suits?

[P_Marlowe]

2S or X, I dont know, which one I
would choose.

Most likely 2S, but I voted for X.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Edmunte1]

I'm not an OBAR fan also, but 2♠ seems the normal bid. It easily can be a double game board, so i don't want to be shut off

[kenrexford]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 10 2007, 04:29 AM, said:

ummm. I don't really play "OBAR" i.e. I don't prebalance. But this just looks to me like a normal 2S bid - what's light about two aces and two 5-card suits?

My thoughts as well. So what if partner bids aggressively? I have my seven-loser hand.

[Fluffy]

requeriments for 2♠ on this position is having 5 cards.

[neilkaz]

This is an auto 2♠ for me at any vul. 5-5 in Blacks and two aces heading those reasonable long suits.

It is so important to get in ♠ over the opp's ♥.

.. neilkaz ..

[pclayton]

Edmunte1, on Dec 10 2007, 05:52 AM, said:

I'm not an OBAR fan also, but 2♠ seems the normal bid. It easily can be a double game board, so i don't want to be shut off

Agree with these sentiments.

[rbforster]

Well, that was a pretty one-sided result. I guess 2♠ can be a lot more wide-ranging in that position than I had thought. Of course this will cause problems for partner when opener raises 3♥ to him and he has to guess between 3♠ and 4♠ with no space for an invitation, but lots of good things can happen besides that so it seems 2♠ makes sense even as a light overcall.

[cherdano]

Rob F, on Dec 10 2007, 12:47 PM, said:

Well, that was a pretty one-sided result. I guess 2♠ can be a lot more wide-ranging in that position than I had thought. Of course this will cause problems for partner when opener raises 3♥ to him and he has to guess between 3♠ and 4♠ with no space for an invitation, but lots of good things can happen besides that so it seems 2♠ makes sense even as a light overcall.

If you are really worried about that, then play doubles as game try in this sequence. In any case, it is matchpoints, how can we pass here when partner may pass it out with a hand where bidding 3S over 3H could be right.

[gwnn]

move a small spade to hearts and maybe u get some discussion

[FrancesHinden]

Rob F, on Dec 10 2007, 07:47 PM, said:

Well, that was a pretty one-sided result. I guess 2♠ can be a lot more wide-ranging in that position than I had thought. Of course this will cause problems for partner when opener raises 3♥ to him and he has to guess between 3♠ and 4♠ with no space for an invitation, but lots of good things can happen besides that so it seems 2♠ makes sense even as a light overcall.

I think your hand evaluation is different.
Along with some of the other respondants, I don't think that 2S is particularly wide-ranging here - that is, I think it is a constructive call (not "any hand with 5 spades"), but I have no problem with bidding on this hand which has a lot of playing strength.

[FrancesHinden]

cherdano, on Dec 10 2007, 08:00 PM, said:

Rob F, on Dec 10 2007, 12:47 PM, said:

Well, that was a pretty one-sided result.  I guess 2♠ can be a lot more wide-ranging in that position than I had thought.  Of course this will cause problems for partner when opener raises 3♥ to him and he has to guess between 3♠ and 4♠ with no space for an invitation, but lots of good things can happen besides that so it seems 2♠ makes sense even as a light overcall.

If you are really worried about that, then play doubles as game try in this sequence. In any case, it is matchpoints, how can we pass here when partner may pass it out with a hand where bidding 3S over 3H could be right.

Well, I admit I don't really like game-try doubles at all, so I may be biased... but I would always play partner's double as penalty in this auction.

[rbforster]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 10 2007, 02:18 PM, said:

I don't think that 2S is particularly wide-ranging here - that is, I think it is a constructive call (not "any hand with 5 spades"), but I have no problem with bidding on this hand which has a lot of playing strength.

Sure, I agree the original hand is better than just "8 HCP," but do you really have any other bid other than 2♠ on a hand like this?

---

I guess my point is just that unless people are X'ing and then bidding 3♠ with only some extras and a 5 card suit, you don't really have another call with pretty good hands and 5 spades. This means there's a pretty wide range of hands on which 2♠ is getting bid in this situation.

FWIW, I also agree that partner needs a penalty double if they raise to 3♥ in front of him. Maximal doubles are nice and all, but save them for situations where we've been able to both agree on a suit .