[el mister]

What do you reckon to this bidding: (Acol)

Scoring: IMP

p p 2♣ p
2♦ X XX 2♥
2♠ p 3NT all pass

---

3nt got mullered, but no game made for NS on the board.

My p, who was sitting N and a better player than me, advised opening the hand 2NT on the grounds that I was weak for 2♣ and 2nt allows us to find 4♠. Is it common to open unbalanced hands like this 2NT? Not something I've come across.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

4S over 3NT is not the worst idea, you have a good 6 carder and
you did not show the 6 carder upto now.
If p has 2 spades, you have a 8 card fit, if he has only one, how
will he reach your hand?

I am not too fond of an 2NT opening with the South hand, I would
open either 1C, or if you play it, 2D multi.
Over 1C responding 1S is certainly ok, you have a 6 carder, and
you will be able to survive any rebid from opener.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

This hand is much too strong for a 2 NT opening and this is not close.

You first problem started with your XX. Why did you use this bid? You should rebid NT to show a strong hand with a diamond stopper.
Partner will transfer to spades and you are in a nice contract which happens to fail.

[helene_t]

I think a 2♣ opening is OK but you need to rebid 3♣ after partner's 2♦ response. What is the redbl supposed to show?

After partner's 2♠ bid I think it is premature to bid 3NT. Or does 3NT show long clubs? Otherwise, bid 3♣ or 2NT.

Btw it looks as if opps had a misunderstanding. Dbl normally shows diamonds, and partner is not supposed to run to 2♥ if he doesn't have a hand suited for a direct 2♥ bid. Maybe 2♥ should show something else, like hearts + another suit.

[Phil]

You have an extra pass in your diagram.

Agree that xx is pointless. Frankly, it should probably be a balanced hand.

[el mister]

Thks for the replies. I see that the redbl was pretty ineffectual - I meant it as a penalty if LHO can't scrape up a bid, is this a reasonable though process? Maybe I need more diamonds for it?

[NickRW]

Personally I think that opening 2NT with something like a 6m331 and a stiff A or K is an acceptable style, given that it has previously been discussed, but it isn't normal. I think this hand is just good enough for the 2♣ opener. I think that the XX should probably show the 23-24 bal hand and express the possibility of penalising the opponents.

Nick

[helene_t]

el mister, on Jul 20 2009, 04:53 PM, said:

Thks for the replies. I see that the redbl was pretty ineffectual - I meant it as a penalty if LHO can't scrape up a bid, is this a reasonable though process? Maybe I need more diamonds for it?

It is a reasonable thought, but you need to show your clubs, and it may get awkward if LHO bids 3♦. I think redbl should be based on a balanced hand.

A balanced hand could either pass, redbl or bid 2NT, I am not sure exactly what the difference should be.

[jdonn]

You ended in 3NT with 25 points and no fit in any suit. I've seen much worse.

[TimG]

el mister, on Jul 20 2009, 04:31 AM, said:

What do you reckon to this bidding: (Acol)

Does the "Acol" reference mean this was a natural two-bid rather than an artificial game force? If you've already shown clubs with 2♣, the RDBL might make more sense.

I think

p p 2♣ p
2♦ X XX 2♥
2♠ p 2NT P
3♠ p 3N/4♠

(I don't really think the RDBL accomplishes anything, but it you do decide to RDBL and then rebid NT, you ought to just rebid 2NT to allow for better investigation.)

or

p p 2♣ p
2♦ X 3♣ P
3♠ p 3NT P
P/4♠

would have been better.

3N could easily score up when 4♠ goes down, especially considering partner's failure to open 2♠ (if a weak two-bid was available) even when he holds 6 of them.

[Codo]

I wonder about the discussion about the redouble.

Isn't it common to play 2 NT as balanced with a stopper and XX as balanced without a stopper?

Obviously it is not common sense, I should have known this....

[FrancesHinden]

Codo, on Jul 21 2009, 07:25 AM, said:

I wonder about the discussion about the redouble.

Isn't it common to play 2 NT as balanced with a stopper and XX as balanced without a stopper?

Obviously it is not common sense, I should have known this....

The nice simple agreement is to play redouble as saying I have good diamonds and fancy playing in 2D xx.

Pass says you have nothing to say (i.e. usually a balanced hand without a stop).

2NT says you have notrumps
Suits say you have the suit.

Why make life complicated?

[skjaeran]

FrancesHinden, on Jul 26 2009, 11:26 AM, said:

Codo, on Jul 21 2009, 07:25 AM, said:

I wonder about the discussion about the redouble.

Isn't it common to play 2 NT as balanced with a stopper and XX as balanced without a stopper?

Obviously it is not common sense, I should have known this....

The nice simple agreement is to play redouble as saying I have good diamonds and fancy playing in 2D xx.

Pass says you have nothing to say (i.e. usually a balanced hand without a stop).

2NT says you have notrumps
Suits say you have the suit.

Why make life complicated?

Come on Frances, that's far too easy!!

(Totally agree though, it's just like I'm used to playing and in fact believed to be more or less universal.)