[el tombo]

S: QTxxxx
H: xx
D: AJ
C: xxx

Board 7, South to open, All vulnerable

[dicklont]

I voted pass throughout.
You can preempt this one in third seat sometime, when you really need something good to happen.

I saw someone preempt 2♠ in third seat with Q10xxxx xx xxx xx all red.
Could have been an bloodbath but when he didn't get doubled it worked like charm.
Declarer made all his guesses wrong and went 2 off in 3NT.

[paulg]

This is really just a style question.

I can't see any British junior passing this hand, unless they've aged terribly with their successes in Beijing.

I would expect more Europeans to be happier pre-empting with 2♠ than North Americans. Again purely down to the 'normal' style in these continents.

Personally, I prefer to get the first blow in and waiting for the 'perfect' weak two means that I will pass too many hands like this.

Many will disagree. There is no right answer.

Paul

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, followed by a spade overcall.

Nobody said, the overcall will be on the
2 level.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Wackojack]

Open 2♠, its too tempting not to. If you dont open this then you must pass throughout.

[el tombo]

I said the overcall would be on the 2 level because when I passed, the bidding went as follows:

Pass (1N) Pass (2D);
Pass (2H) All Pass

As for cardsharp who said "I don't see any British Junior passing this hand", I passed this when it came up in an acol club league match with my England squad p (Me being 15 and p 13) and we lost 1 imp because we missed 4S which gained 7, although it was quite a bad contract, making on two 50-50 chances and a friendly spade layout (KJ doubleton onside in this case)

Partner's hand:

S: xxx
H: Kxx
D: Kxxx
C: AKJ

Your hand:

S: QTxxxx
H: xx
D: AJ
C: xxx

I would not expect p to raise 2S but I just wondered whether I did something wrong. As it turned out, the opponents went off 2 in 2H so we had a good score compared to the preempters who left it in 2S so I was happy with my decision. I don't know why but I tend to be a lot more passive than most juniors and they moan at me a lot

[paulg]

I do know that you're an English junior so I'm a little surprised , but there's nothing wrong with a conservative style as long as you are consistent. It'll certainly mark you out from your peers!

On this specific hand, if you do pass then I think you should consider protecting with 2♠ when the bidding comes to you in the 4th seat.

But certainly you should not be worrying about missing game on these cards.

Paul

[el tombo]

I did consider protecting with 2S but I didn't like the vulnerability and decided my hand didn't have much playing strength

[gwnn]

If you're under 35 you gotta open 2♠.

[el tombo]

I have old habits from my 40-year old maths teacher who taught me how to play so maybe that is why I am so conservative

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

a conservative style is fine, but your partner needs to know
it, and the partnership needs to know, how to explore this.

If this knowledge is in place, that is fine.

For me, it is a min. weak two at equal, the 10 of spades would
be the card, which would make it a weak two opening in 1st /
2nd seat.

A little bit problematic is the Ace, you go or you dont go, be
consistent, as was already stated.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: I will be 35 next year ...

[neilkaz]

VUL at IMPs..Pass in seat 1,2,4 Open 2♠ in seat 3.

NV at IMPs... 2♠ in seats 1 and 3, Pass in seats 2,4

[pclayton]

At MPs I pass this vul. -200 in 2 or 3 spades just looks too likely. Gladly open this NV.

At IMPs, I will pass vul. Make this a 6♠(331) or put that ♦J into the spade suit and I'll open.

[kgr]

el tombo, on Oct 31 2008, 06:03 PM, said:

I said the overcall would be on the 2 level because when I passed, the bidding went as follows:

Pass (1N) Pass (2D);
Pass (2H) All Pass

I would open 2♠.
I passed then after the given bidding I would balance with 2♠.

Quote

I saw someone preempt 2♠ in third seat with Q10xxxx xx xxx xx all red

After a lot of thinking I would probably open 2♠ (the thinking was to open 3♠)

[rogerclee]

Really surprised at how many people think this is a weak 2. Not really close for me vul.