[se12sam]

Hi! This is my first post. So please bear with me if I make mistakes.

The background: This was a 32-board IMP KO match with score comparisons after 16 boards. At the half-way interval we were down 5 IMPs only. The second session was going well and my feeling was we had wiped out the deficit and were ahead about 10 IMPs.

My partner and I are playing a simple SAYC-type system with limited gadgets. This was board 23: Both vul. Dealer South (me)

I held ♠Q108763 ♥A6 ♦Q73 ♣52

1. Considering the state of the match, would you bid 2♠? OR If you play multi (which we did not), would you start with a 2♦ bid?

2. Regardless of your choice to part 1, please help me with this part:
I chose to pass and the bidding continues
South   West   North   East
Pass    Pass    1♣      1♥
1♠      4♥       4NT      pass
??
In your opinion, opposite a first-time partner, do you expect 4NT to be Blackwood? If yes, we play RKCB and my response is 5♦. If you believe 4NT is not Blackwood, what is it and how do you bid?

I will post further queries on the same hand and the eventual denoument in a later post. Thank you!

[Hanoi5]

If 5♦ shows an Ace (key-card) then I bid that. If partner wanted to play NT because he had:

a. Stoppers in hearts
b. Stopper in heart and a running suit

He should x with a and bid his suit or x with b.

I guess I wouldn't have opened with a weak 2 bid. If you change the ♦Q for the ♠J then it looks better to make a preemptive opening, but I agree with the bidding so far.


...And welcome to the forums...

[karlson]

Welcome to the forums.

I would open 2♠. The spots are just barely good enough for me for r/r 1st.

4n is keycard for me. I can't imagine partner, without any discussion, meaning it as anything else. Besides, it looks from our hand like he could have stiff heart and solid clubs.

I'll answer keycard and wouldn't be surprised if we get to 7.

[rogerclee]

Depending on who I am playing with, this is either keycard or minors (with longer clubs). Opposite most inexperienced players I would interpret this as keycard, and opposite most experienced players I would interpret this as minors, but it depends.

Good first question!

Also, I would've opened 2♠.

[Phil]

I agree with your pass originally, but the your perception of the match score should have no bearing on your call.

Among the negatives:

- The suit is marginal at equal vul.
- 6322 is the worst possible shape and we have a slew of losers.
- The side suits have no texture and Qxx is particularly bad.

4N is tricky. With regular partners it is definitely takeout with clubs and longer diamonds, but with a first timer I'm not sure and it might be key card.

Playing 1430, you could take a hedge with 5♣ here. Playing RKC you are kind of stuck.

[Hanoi5]

Quote

4N is tricky. With regular partners it is definitely takeout with clubs and longer diamonds, but with a first timer I'm not sure and it might be key card.

Erm, didn't you realize that partner had opened 1♣? I think this should be regularly taken as RKCB for spades and rarely as a minors showing bid, but I'm not an expert...

[TimG]

I think the question about whether or not to open 2♠ is a purely style question for your partnership. I don't think the state of the match should have any effect on your choice.

I think 4N should be takeout with something like xx46. I'd be skeptical that partner could stand the five-level with xx45. So, I bid 5♣. If partner signs off in 5♠ (and 5♣ shows 0 or 3) I might consider taking another call (I hope his sign-off is in tempo).

[MFA]

I would expect 4NT to be take-out to the minors and would therefore bid 5♣. If partner is not on the same wavelength and bids 5♠ I can raise that, no problem .

[Codo]

I guess that 4 NT as minors is the better call, but without discussion I think that this was meant as RCKB, so I answer honestly 5 ♦.

Whther or not you open 2 Spade on your hand is a matter of style. You may or may not.

[1eyedjack]

If partner meant 4N as the minors then 5D may not be a disastrous choice, even if 5C might have been better. If he meant it as RKCB then 5C could be a distastrous choice.

So I bid 5D. Restricted choice

(I open 2S)

[jdonn]

1 - a. I like your original pass better than 2♠. Opening a weak 2 bid wouldn't be the worst action ever, but your hand is not really preemptive at all and vul it's a bit dangerous with that suit and a balanced hand, so pass is prudent.
1 - b. You should not worry about the state of the match, just choose the action you think is best. This is even more true in such a close match.
2. 4NT really should be minors with longer clubs. Your bid is 5♣ since 4-6 is not unlikely at all. Logically it doesn't make sense that partner would have a hand good enough for blackwood when all you did is respond on the 1 level, it's possible but very very rare.