[MFA]

Scoring: IMP

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(1♣) - 1♥ - (pass) - 2♥
(DBL) - pass - (pass) - ?

East passed 2♥X very quickly. But the pace of the match was generally high. Partner's overcalling style is 'modern'.

How about a fancy retreat to 2♠?
(Bonus-?: Do you agree with 2♥?)

[Fluffy]

2♥ is ok, I would normally retreat unless RHO is junior or a gambler.

[jillybean]

I wouldnt dream of bidding 2♠ now, I dont undestand how this is a consideration. Please explain.

[helene_t]

Pass, agree with Kathryn.

[shyams]

I think West has 4-card spade (almost all the time) and East has 4-card heart (sometimes 5-card). If East had 3-card spade and 4-card heart, he may have at least considered bidding (possibly NT).

So partner should produce 1 or more spade cards. Running is not a bad option; and I am tempted to do it by bidding 2S. Who knows they might disagree on doubling 2S and play in 3N instead?

[hrothgar]

jillybean, on Aug 14 2009, 03:12 PM, said:

I wouldnt dream of bidding 2♠ now, I dont undestand how this is a consideration. Please explain.

I'm going to try to explain the rationale behind bidding 2♠. This is not the same as advocating a 2♠ with the hand in question.

(Please note: I am not sure what I would do now. I would have probably mentioned Spades over 1♥)

1. East had an easy pass of 2♥X. He did not call 1N on the previous round. This suggests that East is sitting on a hand that might very well have converted a reopening double at the one level. Moreover, the Heart suit is going to be breaking very badly.

2. The conditions of contest state that partner has a modern overcall style. Partner could easily be sititng on a four card heart suit (potentially even a mangy 4 card heart suit). Note: If partner has a four card heart suit, then opener might be able to pump a heart through declarer.

3. I have a six card suit. If I partner is declaring 2HX, I might be able to score a heart ruff. Maybe even two if the gods are smiling. However, those Spades are never going to score a trick. In contrast, if I declare 2♠, the spade suit will probably be worth some tricks.

[Fluffy]

jillybean, on Aug 14 2009, 12:12 PM, said:

I wouldnt dream of bidding 2♠ now, I dont undestand how this is a consideration. Please explain.

when your suit breaks badly intermediates might become golden, ♠10 and 9 will be almost as good as having AK with the difference that they only play in spades, not hearts.

passing and presenting a dummy that has 3 sure heart losers and no help anywhere except an ace and maybe being able to ruff third round of a minor is wrong IMO.

[MFA]

jillybean, on Aug 14 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

I wouldnt dream of bidding 2♠ now, I dont undestand how this is a consideration. Please explain.

Damage control. The spade suit will give tricks if spades are trumps - not if hearts are trumps. Give partner ♠J (a nice card) out and we are only down 3 in 2♠. He might have more useful cards than that. 2♥X could potentially go for an unlimited number if they more or less can draw trumps against us.

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Partner could have a crappy hand and/or a very crappy 5card suit. But I don't expect him to have only 4 hearts very often. If he does, he will have a good reason for overcalling.

[gwnn]

2♠ for sure.

[rd6789]

For the bonus point - no can't agrre with 2♥ - you bypass a good 6 card ♠ suit and you don't want a ♥ lead if they play the hand.

If partner's modern style means overcalling on 4-card suits with a good hand you've really made life hard by raising.

If partner's modern style mean overcalling on rubbish at IMPs I suggest new partner.

I will stick in 2♥X - partner may be able to ruff a spade or two in hand and sort of cross ruff to 7 even 8 tricks even with poor hearts

[bid_em_up]

MFA, on Aug 14 2009, 06:29 AM, said:

How about a fancy retreat to 2♠?
(Bonus-?: Do you agree with 2♥?)

1) No.
2) No.

[ArtK78]

I would not be in this position, as I would have bid 1♠ on the previous round (or passed 1♥).

Whether to run to 2♠ or stick it out in 2♥ is a decision that I could only make if I knew my partner. I accept the fact that partner could have 4 good hearts and overcall 1♥. I do not accept that he could have 4 mangy hearts. Maybe 5 mangy hearts, but not 4. Clearly, my hand is worth much more in spades than in hearts, but that doesn't mean that it is right to run to 2♠.

[pooltuna]

helene_t, on Aug 14 2009, 07:13 AM, said:

Pass, agree with Kathryn.

me three

[Phil]

hrothgar, on Aug 14 2009, 07:22 AM, said:

I'm going to try to explain the rational behind bidding 2♠.

Championing the cause of the 'rational', now are you?

I would have bid 1♠ the first time. Now I'm stuck, but I'll join the rational and bid 2♠.

[hrothgar]

Phil, on Aug 14 2009, 05:43 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Aug 14 2009, 07:22 AM, said:

I'm going to try to explain the rational behind bidding 2♠.

Championing the cause of the 'rational', now are you?

I would have bid 1♠ the first time. Now I'm stuck, but I'll join the rational and bid 2♠.

Oops

Please add an "e" where appropriate

[655321]

1) 2♠ now for me.

2) I might have bid 1♠, but 2♥ is fine too. (Of course Pass was not an option last round, 1♠ and 2♥ were the only plausible calls)

[paulg]

MFA, on Aug 14 2009, 01:43 PM, said:

But I don't expect him to have only 4 hearts very often. If he does, he will have a good reason for overcalling.

Normally a good heart suit and a singleton spade

I'd have bid 1♠ originally but I'll certainly bid 2♠ now.

Paul

[Cascade]

The last time I saw someone run in a situation like this their partner re-retreated back to hearts telling them that retreat was clearly wrong.

2♥ is ok.

Its not great with three small and only 6 HCP. However I think it is too pessimistic to PASS with three-card support and two ruffing values. Basically I expect partner to raise my bids a lot so will almost never criticize a raise with a fit. My own standards are that I will raise an overcall at the one-level or two-levels with almost any 6 HCP and three trumps that is not 4-3-3-3. Occasionally there will be an exception say with a doubleton QJ or maybe even KQ. Or the other way with a 4-3-3-3 with trumps AQx.

[Free]

We have a fit, we have ruffing value in the short trump hand, what else do you want? Pass!

[Jlall]

agree with 2H, 2S now.