[ochinko]

MP, both vul

You're dealt

AKQ97
-
AQ102
QJ42

In third position after two passes you open 1♠. LHO overcalls 2♦, two passes follow, and it's your turn again.

[helene_t]

Hmmm what kind of opps do I have? If they are like one of the partners I had in an indy yesterday who overcalled a vulnerable 2♦ on Kxxxx then I pass and go for the 200.

Against more sane opps it's closer but I think I still pass. Don't want anyone to bid hearts.

[brianshark]

Pass seems right.

[jtfanclub]

I agree that pass is probably the right call.

Nonetheless, I would X, because I'm stupid.

The possibilities here are...

1. Partner is very weak. I have an 18 count, so that's possible, but only barely.
2. Partner has long clubs, but not enough strength to show them.
3. Partner has a penalty pass, hoping I'll X and so he'll leave it in.

I'm betting it's #2. Unless he's ridiculously weak, he doesn't have spades or hearts, and it sounds like he doesn't have diamonds. So he has clubs, but 3 clubs is forcing and 4 clubs across a nothing is crazy.

Partner doesn't need, anything outside of clubs. xx xxx xx AKTxxx makes what, all 13 tricks? Something like that. And that's a hand that would pass over 2♦.

If partner is weak, I'll regret bidding, because they'll be at 4♥ in no time. And while that is possible, it seems like the less likely possibility to me.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

X is out, this would just catch a heart response
from partner.

It is either pass, 2S (which would most likely show
a 6 carder) or 3C.
I am not sure, I would think about Pass (given the
vulnerability and the scoring most likely best), and
I would most likely go with 3C.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pclayton]

Such an obvious pass. They have buried their heart fit and they are vulnerable.

I expect lots of 100's here and game is very far off in any strain (it's probably clubs opposite pard's 1=5=2=5).

[pclayton]

jtfanclub, on Apr 29 2008, 06:17 AM, said:

Partner doesn't need, anything outside of clubs. xx xxx xx AKTxxx makes what, all 13 tricks? Something like that. And that's a hand that would pass over 2♦.

Do you think the opponents are bidding this way with 10 hearts?

[TimG]

jtfanclub, on Apr 29 2008, 09:17 AM, said:

The possibilities here are...

1. Partner is very weak. I have an 18 count, so that's possible, but only barely.
2. Partner has long clubs, but not enough strength to show them.
3. Partner has a penalty pass, hoping I'll X and so he'll leave it in.

4. Partner has hearts, but not enough strength to show them.

[han]

Pass is obvious.

[jdonn]

Of course pass. And if you were to bid, of course 3♣. I can't believe double even got a mention, much less a vote. This is why democracy hasn't been working well for our country lately, votes like that.

[Free]

Pass wtp?

[jtfanclub]

TimG, on Apr 29 2008, 10:52 AM, said:

jtfanclub, on Apr 29 2008, 09:17 AM, said:

The possibilities here are...

1.  Partner is very weak.  I have an 18 count, so that's possible, but only barely.
2.  Partner has long clubs, but not enough strength to show them.
3.  Partner has a penalty pass, hoping I'll X and so he'll leave it in.

4. Partner has hearts, but not enough strength to show them.

We're below 2♠, so partner needs what, a 5 count to double if he has 5 hearts? Something like that. So long hearts goes into #1. It shouldn't take any more strength than bidding 1NT in response to 1♠ in an uncontested auction, intending to rebid 2♥.

I know I would X, and I would bid 3♣ over 2♥. I know that experts have two billion ways to show hands that are short in overcaller's suit, and no bids to show length in overcaller's suit. For poor mortals like me, though, this auction shows strength, spades, and clubs.

Random meaningless example hand:

---

Opps have a 10 card fit, but this is still the normal auction assuming that they aren't playing ELC.

[pclayton]

Another random meaningless example hand:

---

[jtfanclub]

pclayton, on Apr 29 2008, 12:59 PM, said:

Another random meaningless example hand:

So if I double and then bid 3♣, we'll end up in 5 clubs, which will make if partner has some decent club spots in spite of the 4-0 split. What's wrong with that?

Or was this not a counter-example?

[Apollo81]

Pass since I can do better by defending than declaring a partscore our way. There's no assurance we have a game here. THEY might even have a heart game.

[jtfanclub]

Jlall, on Apr 29 2008, 02:11 PM, said:

Passing is the mature bid

I'll have plenty of time to mature when I'm dead.

Seriously, I agree that, in a forum, the best bid is to pass. Is everybody here going to claim that they pass this at the table?

This is an "I should have" hand. I actually had one opponent who, had a chance to pass a hand like this when he partner doubled (I was the 2♦ bidder) and had a chance to pass almost the identical situation undoubled the very next hand, and pulled both times. Nonetheless, she insisted on saying over and over that she should have passed it like it was some kind of threat. Yeah, lady, when you start passing these, maybe I'll strengthen my red overcalls against you.

Maybe experts really do pass these guys at the table.
Maybe that's what makes them experts.

I'm not giving advice here...I already said that I X because I'm stupid. But am I truly alone in my stupidity?

[cherdano]

jtfanclub, on Apr 29 2008, 03:50 PM, said:

Seriously, I agree that, in a forum, the best bid is to pass. Is everybody here going to claim that they pass this at the table?

Yes, I certainly hope so.

[655321]

jtfanclub, on Apr 29 2008, 04:50 PM, said:

But am I truly alone in my stupidity?

Yes, I certainly hope so. This is a WTP pass.