[1eyedjack]

Scoring: IMP

N...E...S...W
P...1♥..1N..P
2♥..P...2♠..P
2N..P...3♠..P
4♠..P...P...P

---

1N was routine 15-17, perhaps a poor 18, perhaps a very suitable 14.
2♥ was a transfer to Spades, which can be superaccepted
2N was natural, non-forcing and invitational
3♠ declines the game try and shows preference for 3♠ over 2N
4♠ is therefore ill-disciplined, but justification is claimed on the grounds that the hand improves in the knowledge of the fit.

I was the ill-disciplined North, and we landed in a great spot. Sure, if things work out badly there is room to go down, but the odds certainly justify bidding it, and nothing bad happened. Still I felt uneasy about the route taken.

So, in addition to the poll questions:
1) should North force to game?
2) should South accept a game try?
3) would you take a different turn at Matchpoints? (I think it is a good game to be in even at MP, but I can see how I might be more tempted to pass 3♠ then)

[neilkaz]

I voted routine and think your explanation and reasoning at the table were very good.

N doesn't have a GF here and S is min for his actions. But once S shows 3♠ by preferring 3♠ to 2NT I think your hand is now looking good enough to give 4♠ decent chances.

[Winstonm]

IMO, North has enough to force to game in this auction - when the high cards are placed by the opening bid, game can invariably be made on lesser strength than normal.

[helene_t]

The 1NT overcall was "inspired". Not my style but ok.

North bidding was fine.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 No, especially if you even allow 14HCP for the
1NT overcall
Withouth knowing about the spade fit, would you
force to game? The jacks are overvalued, certainly
the Jack of hearts.
#2 I would say no, but you can certainly make a case
for accepting given the purity of your values.
#3 No, ... I would of course stop in 3S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[han]

I don't like the 1NT overcall.

[gwnn]

1NT should never look like that (no stops, no spots, ugh, aces and spaces). It should also never be made on balanced 14 counts, with all the tens and tenaces in the world.

[cherdano]

I would force to game with North's hand.

[jtfanclub]

Jlall, on May 3 2008, 02:19 PM, said:

South shouldn't accept, his hand is upgraded after a spade fit but it still was a very minimum 1N overcall that already has a 4 point range.

Why shouldn't South accept? Sure, he's got 15 points, but it's a 7 freakin' control 15 count, which kicks butt in a suit. In addition, the Ax of diamonds looks golden in a spade contract, which in fact it was.

I really don't think this hand is minimum anymore once North has shown 5 spades. I would be darned tempted to bid 4♠ directly over 2NT, though I certainly wouldn't super-accept the transfer.

P.S. Besides, we're vulnerable, and it's IMPs.

[pclayton]

I really love this bidding - most of it anyway. Its a good example of getting to a pushy game that turns out great because its a nice fit.

Not a good hand for a 1N overcall? What is the alternative? Like the invite on the North hand, but I think in context, the South hand is better than a minimum and should plow it into game.

[matmat]

I am too lazy to dig it up, but there is a thread on here somewhere about the responder of the 1n bidder raising to game after first just showing a balanced invite with 5 in a major (i.e. precisely what we have here).

[cherdano]

I also didn't think the hand is getting better opposite a fit. Your spade suit is certainly playable in NT opposite a doubleton, and you have a stopper help in hearts, meaning you have a good chance to have a double stopper. In fact I would give partner the option to play 3N with three spades, if my system allows that.

[matmat]

Jlall, on May 3 2008, 11:33 PM, said:

matmat, on May 3 2008, 11:05 PM, said:

I am too lazy to dig it up, but there is a thread on here somewhere about the responder of the 1n bidder raising to game after first just showing a balanced invite with 5 in a major (i.e. precisely what we have here).

It's certainly possible, but I don't think this is the hand for it (because I think it can GF in NT as well). I don't disagree with the evaluation to play game opposite a fit, I disagree with the evaluation to play 2N opposite 15 or 16 with no spade fit. And yes, partner will pass with like 80 % of his 16 counts if you invite (the way I play).

I was referring mostly to this:

Quote

4♠ is therefore ill-disciplined, but justification is claimed on the grounds that the hand improves in the knowledge of the fit.

not necessarily claiming this was the hand for it :/