[sathyab]

Two MP hands from a recent BBO MP game.
1)

Scoring: MP

(1s)-2d-(2s)-3d-(p)-p-(3s)-p-(p)- ?

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2)

Scoring: MP

(1s)-2d-(2s)-3d-(p)-p-(3s)-p-(p)- ?

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[flytoox]

1.4D.
2.2S.

[Jlall]

1. Pass.

2. LOL? 2S I don't understand the alternative.

[Codo]

1. 4 ♦
2. 2 ♠

[sathyab]

Jlall, on Oct 15 2009, 04:30 AM, said:

2. LOL? 2S I don't understand the alternative.

I did say it was a BBO game

[sathyab]

1) Partner could have as little as i) xxx Qxx Qxxx Qxx or as much as ii) xxx Kxx Axxx xxx. On i) 4♦ is most likely going down one barring a very lucky lay-out in hearts whereas ii) is making 10 or 11 tricks whenever ♦s split, depending on the ♥ finesse. If you agree that 2nt by partner over 2♠ is not terribly useful as a natural bid, you can make a distinction between good and bad raises to 3m on such auctions.

2) Quite a few people passed RHO's 2♥ with AQxxx xx KJTxx x (there was a typo in the hand I posted; you have two ♥s and a stiff ♣; hopefully it won't affect your bidding decision, but will affect you opening lead probably). Partner has T9x xxx Axxx xxx. Unless he bids 4♠ over LHO's 4♥, you didn't lose or gain by passing.

But I am curious about your requirements for a 2-level overcall. We've always been warned about preempting over a preempt. Although this hand doesn't fall in that category, it looks like fairly light action. What if RHO had preempted 3♥ would you be overcalling 3♠ ? And was it only because of the favorable vulnerability or would you overcall regardless ?

An interesting point about this hand is the opening lead. If you lead an auto stiff ♣ you're greeted with KJx KT xx AKQTxx in dummy Anyone who leads the ♠A and switches to ♦s would pick up a lot of MP.

[dellache]

1. Pass, don't bid your hand twice.
2. 2♠. Passing is not an option.

[Jlall]

The ace of spades is far and away the right lead with AQxxx xx KJTxx x

[straube]

4D (unless 3N shows hearts)

2S