[CSGibson]

Scoring: MP

(P)-1♣-(2♥)-P,
(3♥)-X-(P)-?

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You are playing a standard 2/1. East-West are both aggressive experts. It's matchpoints, unfavorable vulnerability.

What is your call? Would you make a different call at teams?

Edit: Do you think the call is particularly close?

[rogerclee]

Pass. We are a long way from making game (or anything), so I take my best shot at a plus score.

I do not think this is close.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, and no I dont think it is particular close,
and in my opinion MP / IMPs does not matter.
The alternative is 3NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Lobowolf]

Ditto... with a balanced hand and a few decent hearts, I like my chances for 5 tricks more than 9 or 10. At pairs, it's not close for me at all. At teams, I might spend a few seconds thinking about 3NT.

[FrancesHinden]

3NT and I don't think it's that close. Partner's double shows a seriously good hand on this auction, and if we have a double heart stop, we should be making 3NT. I know that's a bit of a big 'if' but it's not impossible. It's also likely that the long hearts are on our left and the high cards are on our right, which makes 3NT more likely to make (if 2H had been an intermediate JO I would be less sanguine about our chances).

At IMPs I am more likely to pass.

[pclayton]

FrancesHinden, on Oct 17 2008, 07:23 AM, said:

3NT and I don't think it's that close.  Partner's double shows a seriously good hand on this auction, and if we have a double heart stop, we should be making 3NT.  I know that's a bit of a big 'if' but it's not impossible.  It's also likely that the long hearts are on our left and the high cards are on our right, which makes 3NT more likely to make (if 2H had been an intermediate JO I would be less sanguine about our chances).

At IMPs I am more likely to pass.

I was setting out some 'typical' hands for 3N and if pard is sane, then 3N will have a good shot. We are vul and pard has committed us to potentially the 4 level. Pard will not have a shapely 15 here. Even then, the 'right' 15 will produce 9 tricks.

Pass is a 2nd. We will frequently be getting 300 here. Take away my diamond suit and I would pass.

4♦ is a distant 3rd because I don't think this is a fight for a plus.

[peachy]

Partner shows a BIG hand. 3NT should have good chance. If 3NT does not make or does not have any chance of making then I expect this time it was partner who was very aggressive.

[skjaeran]

3NT. Expect to have a decent chance of making. If not, I doubt we're getting rich in 3♥x.

[jdeegan]

4♦ - this figures to make opposite partner's minimum - losing one spade, one heart and one trick in the minors. If pard is void in hearts with four diamonds, he might raise to a makable five. Would bid 3NT if I needed a board or at IMPs - it is probably a favorite if pard has a singleton heart because the hearts may block or I can hold up to the third round and LHO has the missing entry - likely an ace. Passing would be a disaster if pard has a heart void and would score less than 3NT if it is makable.

[CSGibson]

Scoring: MP

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Just for fun, these were the hands. 6N, 6♣, and 6♦ all make (though, to be fair, only 6 diamonds is a good slam), 3♥X should be down 4.

Don't know if this proves anything, but it was the hand so I posted it.

[gwnn]

Not too shabby for a 1 level opener, I'll say.

[FrancesHinden]

I don't think partner is passing 3NT.

[pclayton]

FrancesHinden, on Oct 20 2008, 03:00 AM, said:

I don't think partner is passing 3NT.

Yes I agree and I expect we'll reach 6♦ after I cue.