[AlternaG]

Scoring: IMP

(1♥)-P-(2♣*)-2N
(3♠)-??

*GF

---

Scoring: IMP

(1♥)-P-(2♣*)-2N
(3♠)-??

*GF

---

Scoring: IMP

(1♥)-P-(2♣*)-2N
(3♠)-??

*GF

---

[cherdano]

1. 5♦. Usually these hands are very much a guess but here there is really no reason to bid more or less.

2. Pass.
Edit: Misread the problem, I bid 4♣.

3. 2♥. Bidding 3 could be a disaster if opponents know how to pass responsive doubles.

[rogerclee]

1) 5♦ is likely to buy the pot, so I'll do that. Anyway, I am not sacrificing over 5♥.

2) 4♣. This may buy it, or this may cause them to judge incorrectly. The chances of this getting penalized are not large.

3) 2♥. 3♥ is just too risky. If they own spades, I'm not gaining on a huge number of hands. If they don't have a fit, 3♥ is going down a million over nothing.

[vuroth]

1. I like 5♦, but it's a shot. The real question may be what do you bid next time it comes around.

2. Pass. Partner's allowed to bid for down 3 opposite an averge club holding. It looks like I might have 3 tricks. Ergo, I don't really want to bid any higher.

3. I hate pass, and can't decide if I prefer 2♥ or 3♥. My hand might not be worth all that much as a dummy. Then again, it might not be worth all that much on defense, either.

V

[neilkaz]

1) 2N is a funny bid when 2 suits are bid. Does PD mean minors, inspite of the 2♣ GF response ? Or is PD showing an unbalanced hand 5-5 or more in the pointed suits ? Anyhow, if we don't have 11 ♦"s I'll be shocked. We are White they are Red..so this is a quick 5♦ from me, hoping the opps guess wrong competing to 5 level, miss a slam if all we are getting is my ace etc etc.

2) PD may have only a 6 carder in 3rd seat in spite of my KQ. He also may not have a card that can help take and outside trick. I really don't see how we can take more than 3 tricks vs a major suit game. I have tried the passive approached with this hand and the opps bid 3M raise to 4M on a hand where at some other tables, 4♣ kept them out of game, but I've also seen where after 4♣ LHO stretched a bit into the cold game. I'll trust good opps to sort this out more often than not, and inspite of my being 33 in the Majors, perhaps the opps can pick the worng one after 4♣. Anyhow...inspite of having no chance in 4♣X, I lean towards trying to jam the opps a bit more with 4♣.

3) Can I bid 2 1/2♥ ? Flip a coin for 2 or 3 for me.

[AlternaG]

In (1), partner's 2N shows 5+/5+ in the unbid suits -- not the minors. You choose 5♦. LHO bids 5♥, and RHO bids 6♥. Back to you.

In (2), I think I underestimated the value of 4♣, and for me it was a decision between passing and 5♣. I figure I contribute one defensive trick, and partner has at most one trick outside of A♣. I bid 5♣, and we went for 500.

This thread got me to thinking about the value of 4m preempts, though, at IMP games. With some distribution going on, it might be hard for opps to hit 4m from a risk-reward point-of-view, so making them make a 4-level decision early may be a pretty good thing. I like 4♣ on (2) now as well. Thanks.

In (3), I liked 2 1/2 ♥ as well .

[vuroth]

AlternaG, on May 15 2008, 02:47 PM, said:

This thread got me to thinking about the value of 4m preempts, though, at IMP games. With some distribution going on, it might be hard for opps to hit 4m from a risk-reward point-of-view, so making them make a 4-level decision early may be a pretty good thing. I like 4♣ on (2) now as well.

I may be way off base, but I have a very hard time with 4m.

In this case, I'm not expecting to make, so I'm preparing to go negative. What are the outcomes I'm trying to preempt?

1 - they have game in a major, and would have bid it anyways. I didn't do much here.
2 - they have game in a major, but would not have bid it. 4m may push them into this game, which is a huge loss for me.
3 - they have game in a major, but I've now shut them out of it. I win. Still, I dont' expect this to happen too often.
4 - they don't have game in a major, but bid it over the preempt. On the surface, I win. Am I guaranteed a better result than if I'd passed 3m, though? At NV all, maybe not.
5 - they don't have game in a major, and pass over 4m. I win if I go -1 not doubled (vs 3M making), break even if I'm down 1 doubled, but if I'm down 2 or more, I lose.

I'm no expert, and I may be way off base, but I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with the risk/reward on 4m.

[AlternaG]

I see your point.

What about something like:

Scoring: IMP

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This looks like a 3♦ opener to me. But, is there a case to be made for 4♦ at IMPs?

[655321]

1) 5♦
2) 4♣. If we were not a passed hand I would prefer 3NT, but when 3NT is known to be weak it just gives them more room.
3) This is a 3♥ WTP for me.