[dcvetkov]

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12 tricks are of course trivial, and 6NT is best in MP. But how do you get there after 2♥ preempt?

This was the bidding

N E S W
1D 2H X Pass
3C pass 3H Pass
3NT all pass

You may not agree with the bidding, and seems both partner have excess power.
Do you agree with Neg X? is 3♥ better?

North maintaines that South should bid 4NT, quantitive and that 6NT will be reached. But South does not see slam with some minimal opener with North. Take away A or K of ♦ from North, and now 10 tricks are in jeopardy.

[mike777]

dcvetkov, on Sep 18 2008, 12:17 PM, said:

---

12 tricks are of course trivial, and 6NT is best in MP. But how do you get there after 2♥ preempt?

This was the bidding

N E S W
1D 2H X Pass
3C pass 3H Pass
3NT all pass

You may not agree with the bidding, and seems both partner have excess power.
Do you agree with Neg X? is 3♥ better?

North maintaines that South should bid 4NT, quantitive and that 6NT will be reached. But South does not see slam with some minimal opener with North. Take away A or K of ♦ from North, and now 10 tricks are in jeopardy.

Strongly prefer 3h now:

1d=(2h)=3h
4h!=4nt!
5c!=5s!
6D

4h=rkc for d
4nt=1-4
5c=queen ask
5s=KS and QD.

[TylerE]

Strongly prefer 1NT to 1♦. Looks like 15-17 balanced to me.

[mikeh]

I am sure many will suggest 1N by North, despite the shape. I honestly can't say what I would have opened.. as is so often the case, it is impossible to be sure that I am not being influenced by seeing the two hands.

In favour of 1N: right point count (super-max due to controls and 5 card suit), and stoppers in all 4 suits, and difficulty catching up after many forseeable sequences, even without interference: 2/1 has the greatest difficulty, in constructive auctions, when both partners are about a King heavy.

Against: the suit nature of the hand.

As it is, I dislike the negative double... this could easily lead to a silly contract. We have diamonds, and a good hand. I'd bid 3♥... limit or better (and since we are forced to game or 4minor, a GOOD limit or better).

Opener has an interesting choice over 3♥.... he has enough values that 3N will be a clear underbid... I think he should cue 3♠... yes, this gives up on 3N, but maybe we can stop in 4N (not if we are keycard fanatics with no kickback/minorwood) and maybe, since we rate to have only one stopper in notrump, 5Minor, if we have no slam, scores as well as 3N.

If North cue bids, then I think that all reasonable roads led to slam.... altho that slam may well be 6♦.

If N opens 1N, then in all likelihood, there is no interference and S will drive to slam simply on values, altho the exact path will vary amongst differing partners.. some will use minor suit stayman, others a direct blast, and still others a forcing stayman or relay approach... most will be a little worried about the heart suit, but will bid slam on a percentage basis.

[jdonn]

I disagree with 1♦, double, and 3♣. Seriously as north just open 1N, you make things sooooooo much easier, and instead of having competitive auctions with undefined cuebids that end in 3NT with 33!!! high card points and two partners blaming each other for the mess, you have auctions like 1NT 6NT. It's just so much better than 1♦ in practice.

[kfay]

I actually am slightly against 1NT by N. With 2-2 in the majors I always feel like opening 1NT is a bad idea. If someone opens 1NT then fine but to say 'open 1NT you make things easier' and that 1♦ is clearly wrong I think is ... (searching for the right word)... I don't know but 1♦ is fine with me, I'd hardly criticize someone for it (not saying that you did, Josh).

Afterwards the problem gets hard.

I'd start with 3♥, though. Dbl is looking for what? Spades? Longer clubs than diamonds?

Now you're on your way to a diamond slam at least. Which is still better than 3NT.

[ArtK78]

I finally recognized this hand. It is from a BBO matchpoint pairs game last night.

I held the "North" hand (I was actually West) and, after RHO passed, I opened a 15-17 1NT. I consider this to be the totally normal action at matchpoints. LHO overcalled a natural 2♥, and my partner considered his action for a good 60 seconds (unusual in a speedball game) before he bid 6NT.

At IMPs, I usually open this type of hand one of a minor as I am not so concerned about getting to 5 of a minor. What I am concerned about is getting to 6 of a minor.

[jdonn]

As I mentioned in a different thread, the difference lies in mixing up accuracy with effectiveness...

Also, worrying about being 2-2 in the majors is a red herring. It's probably a bonus since it increases the preemptive effect.

[rogerclee]

kfay, on Sep 18 2008, 02:47 PM, said:

I actually am slightly against 1NT by N. With 2-2 in the majors I always feel like opening 1NT is a bad idea.

I think this is the best holding to open 1NT with.

[the hog]

1NT 6NT is possible at MPs. At Imps I would relay the hand out to find perhaps a better minor suit slam. Hard to avoid the 6 level.

[pclayton]

jdonn, on Sep 18 2008, 03:56 PM, said:

As I mentioned in a different thread, the difference lies in mixing up accuracy with effectiveness...

Also, worrying about being 2-2 in the majors is a red herring. It's probably a bonus since it increases the preemptive effect.

Plus, anytime you can open 1N, you simplify your bidding.