[vuroth]

Normally I hate this flavour of post (can be too easy to result), but this hand may be the most interesting I've played in months, and I'm curious as to how better players would bid it.

Scoring: MP

Playing 2/1.

East will overcall in hearts, at the 1 or 2 level.

---

[Phil]

1♠ - 2♣ (2♥);
Pass - 3♣
3♦ - 3♥
4♦ - 5N
6♦ - pass or 6♠

I just can't see staying out of slam after opening.

[hrothgar]

Doubt that I'll have much company, however, I'd pass the South hand playing 2/1. (I'd be happy to open 2♠ if this showed a two suited hand of some kind)

I think that the following auciton is plausible. Mind you, I don't claim that this is a great auction, however, I fear this is what would happen to me

P - (P) - 1♣ - (1♥)
1♠ - (P) - 2N - (P)
3♦ - (P) - 3♥ - (P)
3♠ - (P) - 4♣ - (P)
4♠ - (P) - 5♠ - (P)
6♠

Once South shows a two suiter in Spades and Diamonds, there's a very real danger that North with get overly excited about slam.

If the 4♠ bid denies a distributional control in Hearts, you might be able to stop low. However, even here I'd be orried about going overboard

[jdonn]

1♠ - 2♣ (2♥);
Pass - 2NT
3♦ - 6♣
6♦ - pass or 6♠

I prefer a 2NT rebid to 3♣ (I have the heart ten, it's probably my last chance to introduce notrump lower than 6 since my hand is so good, and maybe partner can show three card club support). After that my clubs are as good as possible so I can simply offer that slam, and we fish for the best fit from there. I wouldn't dream of staying out of slam either, what can you do.

[se12sam]

I suppose it gets easy if South passes. Would I pass with the South hand? To be honest, I'm inconsistent on this one -- sometimes pass, sometimes bid. Playing with a regular partner who strives to bid in 3rd seat after two passes, I'd pass.

Pass - 1♣ - (1♥)
1♠ - 2NT
3♦ - 3♠
4♠ - all pass

1♠ is 5+ and non-forcing; 2NT is 18-20 with heart stopped

[vuroth]

In an ACBL tourney, 6 of 9 pairs (my pair included) bid to 6NT. Admittedly, not all had interference from east.

I was south, and for some reason it didn't occur to me to pass after the 2♥ interference. I completely agree with passing, in retrospect.

It is interesting to see that people do favour slam, but not at notrump.

Thanks,

V

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

since I forgot the intervention, here an auction without the overcall,
playing 2/1 does not matter, it is also an SAYC auction

1S (1) - 2C (2)
2D (3) - 2H (4)
3D (5) - 3S (6)
4S (7) - 4NT (8)
5H (9) - 6S

(1) nice hand, although min, all points are working, no rebid problem,
i.e. an opening bid, even in a 2/1 system
(2) gameforcing, unless the next bid is 3C, does not matter for the auction
(4) FSF, denies 3 spades, I am assumin 3H toe gf (not 100% sure for SAYC)
(5) at least 5-5, denies a heart stopper, denies 3 clubs
(6) not clear Hx or xx
(7) least evil, showes a sensible suit
(8) RKCB for spades
(9) 2KC without Queen
...........................................................................................................

1S (1) - (Pass) - 2C (2) - (2H)
Pass (3) - (Pass) - X (4) - (Pass)
Pass (5) - (Pass)

(1) nice hand, although min, all points are working, no rebid problem,
i.e. an opening bid, even in a 2/1 system
(2) gameforcing, unless the next bid is 3C, does not matter for the auction
(3) forcing (clear in a 2/1 context), a sensible agreement in a SAYC context,
one has xx in their suit, a single in partners suit
3D would not promise add. strength, and would be the bid with x in hearts
and xx in clubs (Good-Bad 2NT would help)
(4) penalty, A10x should be enough, although in a MP context this is dangerous
on avg. you will get 800, not enough to beat slam, if slam makes and gets
bid
(5) given the fact, that one has xx in hearts, pass is clear cut, if you did
pass over 2H, 3D would now show a strong hand

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

would end up in 4 spade after finding out that we have no real fit and partner opens a real min. hand:

1 ♠ 2 ♣ (2♥)
pass 3 ♥
3♠ 4♣
4♦ 4♠


I cannot see why I should commit myself to slam just because I have 20 HCPS when my partner can open with 10 and we have a misfit.