[sceptic]

I recently had this auction and made a pigs ear of it, my partner was new to me, can some of you give me your thoughts please and advice.

P - P - 2♠ - 2NT
3♠ - 4♣ - P - 5!C

My Partner bid 2nt

(this was a strong hand with AKxx spades x hearts KJxx diamonds and AQxx clubs) I cant find the movie doh!!!!!!!

I was the one bidding 4 clubs

I took the bid of 2nt as michaels hence my bid of 4!C I had a hand with 4 clubs 4 dianonds 4 hearts and 1 spade and a few points by the way and I probably should have shut up (but that was never my strong point)

I would like to know

A, can 2nt be michaels with out agreement? or with agreement?

B, with p's hand, 17 points strong spades should she pass and let me balance (I assume that with openers partner passing that would allow me to balance

If openers partner does raise then we would get in a good penalty double after I pass and it is back to my p with nice spades and nice hand?

anyway I hope I have explained myself well enogh and if I find the hand I will post it, his is the best my memory can do for now

Thanks in anticipation of your answers

[the hog]

A, can 2nt be michaels with out agreement? or with agreement?

B, with p's hand, 17 points strong spades should she pass and let me balance (I assume that with openers partner passing that would allow me to balance

If openers partner does raise then we would get in a good penalty double after I pass and it is back to my p with nice spades and nice hand?


Assume you mean unusual NT rather than Michaels. Well, I suppose it could be if that is what you and your partner have agreed, but I would find that a rather odd and ineffective treatmen. Much more usual is to play it as 15-18 balanced with a stopper.

No I would bid 2NT. How does she know that you even CAN balance?

C) Maybe, but what happens if it goes 2S all pass and you are cold for 3NT? Would you really bid in the pass out seat with say xxx Qx Jxx AQxxx What would you bid?

[Free]

I agree that michael's (or unusual or whatever two-suiter) would be a bad treatment, and it's certainly NOT standard! Standard these days is 15-18, but many still play it 18-20 or similar. This means the disaster of the hand started by bidding 4♣, and I think you can't blame partner to bid 5♣...

I don't think you should pass such hands, but if you still want a penalty double, you should double 3♠. You actually have a perfect hand for that: all suits 4 cards, and 1 ♠ - no void. Then you can play 3♠*. 2♠* is too dangerous imo, since it wouldn't be the first time they make it.

[inquiry]

Hi Sceptic,

You had your partner's hand slightly wrong. He wasn't 4-1-4-4, but rather 3-2-4-4 . The full hand was:

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     -     -     Pass
 2♠    2NT   3♠    4♣
 Pass  5♣    Dbl   Pass
 Pass  Pass  

As you can see, he had a "natural" NT overcall, without any specific agreement, this the natural meaning is probably best. So Ron and Free are right, when they suggest that pass is probably best, and Free was very right when he suggested what should probably happen is that 3♠ should be doubled. Although 2NT made three times and 3NT was down only one three times (that is 8 tricks always taken in NT), I think there are only 7 tricks with good defense. 3♠X should be down two (3♠. 1♥, 1♣, 1♦) for a very nice score, as reflected in the following traveller from this hand.

4SWx-2 300 7.07
3SWx-2 300 7.07
2CW-3 150 3.73
2NN= 120 3
1NN+1 120 3
2NN= 120 3
3SW-2 100 2.4
2HE-1 50 1.13
2SW-1 50 1.13
2SW-1 50 1.13
3NN-1 -100 -2.53
3NN-1 -100 -2.53
3NN-1 -100 -2.53
2SW= -110 -2.6
2SWx= -470 -9.47
5CSx-3 -800 -13

[Fluffy]

nice to seee what others palyed, is there a way to know wich others tables palyed in tourneys? I often get surprised by some results but I am unable to knwo what happened in certain deals.

[Trpltrbl]

A ) No. Yes.

B ) 2NT is closest bid to the hand you gave, so yes she should have bid 2 NT.

Mike

[1eyedjack]

Fluffy, on May 17 2004, 03:25 PM, said:

nice to seee what others palyed, is there a way to know wich others tables palyed in tourneys? I often get surprised by some results but I am unable to knwo what happened in certain deals.

See Uday's response in the following thread:

http://bridgebase.lunarpages.com/~bridge2/...wtopic=2987&hl=

[Cave_Draco]

What else could P do?

Assuming Ben is correct about the hands, LOL.

2♠X would imply a ♥ suit.

P should bid, 2NT

Mind you, dunno where the kiss is coming from, seems a bad move at IMPs...

[inquiry]

Fluffy, on May 17 2004, 03:25 PM, said:

nice to seee what others palyed, is there a way to know wich others tables palyed in tourneys? I often get surprised by some results but I am unable to knwo what happened in certain deals.

You can go the myhands site, and look yourself up. Click on the traveller for each tournment hand, and you can see all the results.

ben

[EarlPurple]

2NT is usually played as natural. East's 3♠ bid was a bit of a gamble, with only 2 card support, but he was probably trying to "trap" you into bidding at the 4-level.

Assuming that you know 2NT is natural, I think it is best to pass 3♠ with your hand. You might venture a double at MP but it's too risky at imps.

[paulg]

sceptic, on May 17 2004, 08:01 AM, said:

I recently had this auction and made a pigs ear of it, my partner was new to me, can some of you give me your thoughts please and advice.

P      -        P      -      2♠      -      2NT

It constantly frustrates me that so many BIL members take every 2NT overcall to be unusual and clearly reflects on my ability as a mentor since it comes up frequently!

This auction is even clearer than most. Two passes and then a preemptive opener suggests that partner will have a strong hand and 2NT is most likely to show a strong balanced hand (normally 15-18 pts).

Although you can agree that a simple 2NT overcall over a weak 2 opener is "unusual", I suggest that you play it as a strong NT showing 15-18 points.

With a regular partner you also have to agree whether an immediate cuebid, such as 3♠ here, is Michaels (showing hearts and a minor) OR asking for a spade stop (typically running minor suit).

Cheers

Paul