[Lobowolf]

gnasher, on Aug 19 2009, 02:17 AM, said:

Lobowolf, on Aug 19 2009, 12:04 AM, said:

I would bid 2♠ with the east hand against all but the very best opponents.

I'm not sure that the best way to cope with strong opponents is to let them play the hands at a low level.

Definitely agree. Having said that, this hand isn't outstanding for balancing (though it's not horrid) in that we're red, the opponents haven't shown a fit, and the HCP strength isn't great. If we were white, or if the auction had gone something like: 1♥-(P)-2♥-P; P back to me, I'd balance all the time.

On the given hand, I think that despite the flaws, non-expert opponents will do the wrong thing (whether it's over-competing, under-competing, or failing to make a matchpoint double) often enough to make balancing a long-run winner.

[Cascade]

oxyde, on Aug 20 2009, 12:46 AM, said:

Cascade, on Aug 19 2009, 05:17 AM, said:

Who says they are fitted necessarily when they open 2♥?

You can only tell this from looking at all four hands.

Of course you don't know.

But you have some "evidences" as you are short and weak with no honnor.

Your partner is supposed to have some values there. So :
- either your partner is also short and they have a fit (if they have a 9 cards fit we mathematicaly have a 8 cards fit somewhere [most probably ♠...])

- or he has no stopper as he could have found a NT bid (yes, provided he his strong enough, but we are weak). So worst case is 4 small ♥, but in such a case they have a concentration of ♥ honnors and the Law should be adjusted with 1 total trick more => I guess balancing will also probably be right.

If your partner is short then presumably partner is also not that strong since there was no action directly over the 2♥ opening. If this is the case we are two weak hands venturing into a vulnerable battle field. This doesn't sound like the potential for a good score whatever form of the scoring.

Partner short and weak => danger

Partner short and moderate/strong => why didn't partner take some action => I don't think these hands exist. Maybe some of the moderate hands we will survive

Partner long and weak => danger - too much chance of no fit

Partner long and moderate => some danger that we have no fit especially when we are introducing a bad suit

Partner long and strong => why didn't partner act - again I don't think these hands exist when it is PASSed to us or at least not many of them

While I have highlighted the danger of balancing I am not sure that it isn't right it is just a matter of weighing up the dangers with the benefits - we do have a makeable contract; we push them one higher and they can't make.

[Cascade]

ArtK78, on Aug 20 2009, 02:05 AM, said:

Never double over 1♥ or 2♥ with the West hand.

East might balance over 2♥; however, I don't see why he would get the chance - North should bid 3♥. That will buy the contract.

South showed only five hearts so at 3♥ we are contracting in only a 5=3 fit. Our good trumps indicate bidding but only 10 HCP and our bad distribution suggest not bidding.

Personally I am reasonably conservative raising especially when only an eight card fit is likely (some actually play these 2Major openings are never six) and I have a 4-3-3-3 distribution.

[benlessard]

West is pass WTP and east is borderline 2S.

You can assume that if south will open a weak 2, most east will bid 2S so you will get field protection. While if south is 54 (and you play in a Weak 2H field) than you are looking at a dangerous situation of being fixed by an offbeat method.

The risk that you endup in 3S is very high. But still 3S down 1 might be better than -111/ -140.


The "stay fix" adage is clearly not for MP.