[H_KARLUK]

       PASS   PASS   1♦
PASS   1♠   PASS    ?

Scoring: MP

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What are you going to do for an encore ?

[655321]

This link may be useful.

[JLOL]

pass

[gnasher]

1NT

[andy_h]

1NT

[OleBerg]

Abstain.

In my two-way pass-system, I would have opened 2♦, showing 5+♦ and 4♥, 9-15 hcp.

Okay, it gets a , but it is actually the system.

[mtvesuvius]

1NT

[Phil]

I pass too. It keeps us low, and there's plenty of scrambling we can do in 1♠.

[jdonn]

I think pass is really obvious on such a minimal hand, a 4-2 fit is possible but it might be longer and even that wouldn't be the end of the world. I'm curious if 1NT bidders could offer their reasoning since none did, was it

- You didn't notice we were third seat and would thus pass?
- You think we could have a game?
- You are worried we belong in another suit?

Or is there another reason I can't think of? Both of the second two reasons are valid, but I don't find either that convincing. At least I would understand though.

[mtvesuvius]

I am bidding 1NT because we could easily belong in ♦ or ♥, however I am quite close to passing.

HB Josh btw.

[aguahombre]

655321, on Jun 1 2009, 12:55 AM, said:

This link may be useful.

I think that was uncalled for. Not only was it an inappropriate bash, but it was also inapplicable to the hand.

What I note is that the same call (pass) would be made by most B/I's, because they have no idea what else to do, as would be made by (for instance) Jdonn with excellent reasoning (see his comment). that makes it a good problem for this forum.

[OleBerg]

JLOL, on Jun 1 2009, 08:17 AM, said:

pass

LOL

(A once in lifetime opportunity.)

Pass is really to much of a stand to take. When this hand hits the dummy, it would take competent defenders less than a picosecond to switch to a spade. And seeing AK in dummy, any three-card suit would know it to be safe to signal length and still retain her highest card in the suit. Thus if we are in a 4-2 fit, opp. will handle the thrumphs to the best of their possibilities.

Even though, pass might work out in this regard, as a 5-2 fit could easily be right.

It is when the opponents balance in 1nt you become the laughing-stock. With all white at MP's, it is a danger you should be very much alive to.

Don't mess up the easy ones.

[gnasher]

I bid 1NT because we might belong in 1NT, 2♦, 2♥, 4♥, conceivably 4♠ or even 5♦. Bidding 1NT gains on those hands, breaks even when we can make 2♠ or higher, and loses only when we can make 1♠ but not 1NT or 2♠ and opponents can't make anything.

I have a normal opening bid, so I make a normal rebid. When Justin suggested pass I actually thought it might be a joke.

[NickRW]

gnasher, on Jun 1 2009, 04:12 PM, said:

I have a normal opening bid, so I make a normal rebid.  When Justin suggested pass I actually thought it might be a joke.

I don't think it is a joke. It is true that it could work out badly - but so could 1N or any other move.

Given that this hand has defensive values, and the fact that it is reasonably likely opps will reopen, pass may work out well.

There is a case for not opening this hand in the first place I think - the chances of missing any game our way are really quite slim - especially if you open at all light.

Nick

[jdonn]

gnasher, on Jun 1 2009, 11:12 AM, said:

I bid 1NT because we might belong in 1NT, 2♦, 2♥, 4♥, conceivably 4♠ or even 5♦. Bidding 1NT gains on those hands, breaks even when we can make 2♠ or higher, and loses only when we can make 1♠ but not 1NT or 2♠ and opponents can't make anything.

In fairness, I don't even think you caught the most likely gain for passing, that if you rebid 1NT and can make something partner may invite you and you end up too high anyway.

[andy_h]

I'm not ashamed of 1NT at all. There's a chance we could belong in a better partial and if partner invites in diamonds, hearts or spades, they're all fine for me. The downside is that 1S could be our last making contract or that partner may invite in NT so we get to 2NT. This is assuming we have 2-way checkback at our disposal.

[Free]

I'm in the 1NT camp.

[gnasher]

jdonn, on Jun 1 2009, 05:30 PM, said:

In fairness, I don't even think you caught the most likely gain for passing, that if you rebid 1NT and can make something partner may invite you and you end up too high anyway.

True. My argument assumed that everyone was going to bid double-dummy.

However, I don't see this as a big problem. If he has an invitation with five spades we'll get to 2♠ (assuming reasonable methods), which is unlikely to go down. If bidding 1NT gets us to 2NT, that means that 1♠ would have been a 4-2 fit, so we're not necessarily worse off. If my 1NT rebid provokes an invitational 3♦, I'll be quite happy.