[cherdanno]

I really liked this problem.
After reading through the thread here, I realized that I hadn't given enough weight to the problem that we only have ♥Ax. I agree with Mike that this points towards underbidding if you are going to bid some number of NT.
However, I would think it argues even more strongly in favor of bidding 3♦. If we bid 1N, partner won't know that a little heart stopper help will be golden, and that in that case he doesn't need all that many points in order to bid 3N.
But if we bid 3♦, what can we have? Clearly we have a strong balanced hand, this is the only hand where we can have diamond support. Also, we clearly have a dubious heart stopper, otherwise we would still bid some number of NT.
I also think that 3♦ is much safer than 2N if partner passes (but is still highly invitational).

Of course, it matters whether you play pass as forcing. I don't, and so I don't think partner can infer much about our heart holding if we bid NT (a few MSC comments said "if we bid 1N without giving partner a chance to double, we probably don't have 3 hearts" - well given pass is non-forcing, we might be eager to show our extra values even with 3 hearts).

[Winstonm]

I quite frankly never considered 3D but on reflection give it an A+ as a terrific bid.

[benlessard]

X is clearly penalty so its out.

After partner passed 1D, 1Nt doesnt really show extras.

With a minimum balancing X you can pass but with 13-14 and a 4315 shapes I think the correct bid is 1Nt (unless you play that pass is forcing). Also having a balanced hand is still possible. I dont see why i would balance with 1Nt instead of double when i have no D stoppers and tol in the unbid suit. Some may argue that partner can pass 1DX with little values therefore you should pass with 8-14 hands and bid 1Nt with 15-17, but i dont buy this argument its is simply better to pass with 8-12 hands and bid 1Nt with 13-15 hand with a H stop, in short you have to imply that partner got some values for his pass and that passing with a wide range (8 to 14) will just endplay partner. Also at imps with a 15-17 balanced i think that 2D is often the correct bid even with a H stopper.

So 1Nt is out.

In balance for a X and bid in a new suit our style is to borrow 3 pts. but its better to have a 5 card suit.

So even if a bit tempted by 1S, i consider that 1S 2C--2D and are out.

2H is imo the best bid, I dont play this as GF but its forcing up to the 3 level. It allow partner to bid 2Nt with half a stopper and to bid 2S with 4. a further 3D rebid by me is almost forcing.

I dont really like 2Nt because 3D seems safer than 2Nt.

3D is a bit inferior to 2H because partner will pass 3D instead of bidding 3Nt with a half or a shaky H stopper or you might miss 4S.

Even if you play that 2H is 100% GF, I think 2H is equal to 3D.

[nige1]

cherdanno, on Feb 27 2009, 02:45 AM, said:

Scoring: MP


I came across this one the other day. I don't think I have seen a master solvers' club problem before where the plurality choice got less than 20% of the expert vote.
(1♦)......pass...(pass)...X
(pass)...pass...(1♥).....?

---

IMO _P=3, _X=1, 1♠=5, 1N=7 2♣=4, 2♦=10, 2♥=9, 2N=9, 3♣=2, 3♦=8. 3N=6
2♦ seems sufficient (it is a free bid and it shows ♦ support for partner but you balanced with a double of 1♦, so you must be sound) .I hope that 2♥ isn't a game force. 3♦ is a bit adventurous. 1N seems an underbid and 3N a gross overbid. 2N may be be the clearest bid if you want to avoid misunderstandings. I don't think pass is constructive let alone forcing. I reckon that double is penalty.

[jdeegan]

♥ 3NT
Partner's penalty pass indicates we have high card values for game, unless pard is an idiot. His having 5 or 6 diamonds and 4 spades is unlikely. Game is not sure, but it seems odds on to hope we either have nine off the top or he has a heart card. I see no way to make an intelligent game try since we should have enough HCP for 3NT (25+) even when pard is at the bottom of his HCP range.

I first thought 2♥ was best assuming he might have the heart queen, but actually it plays better from my side considering RHO is so weak, and Qxx and Jxx or 10xxx are equally likely for pard. I would prefer to see Jxx opposite Ax played from my side. If he has Qx(x) in ♥, the odds greatly favor the K on my left anyway.

[sireenb]

nige1, on Mar 3 2009, 08:34 PM, said:

I don't think pass is constructive let alone forcing. I reckon that double is penalty.

Pass may work at matchpoints at this vulnerability although it is not 100% forcing. They are red and were in 800 territory before E pulled. 3NT is not sure and we are not vulnerable.

Partner expected to defeat 1♦ opposite a balancing double and I am looking at 3 cards of ♦ so there is hope for some outside strength. If it is in ♥ then partner may find a X and that should take us back up to 200 or 500.

With most other hands partner should not sell out to 1♥ (assuming W passes it, sometimes they don't if they do not play SOS XX) so the other options may still be possible.

The field will probably bid 2NT. At the table I may not always pass, but if I need a top I will consider it!