[MFA]

I goofed this one last night, but the tactical situation is interesting and very unusual.

Scoring: IMP

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(2♦) - 2♥ - (pass) - ??

2♦ was multi. Weak two in ♥ or ♠, 22-24 bal, or strong Acol in ♦.
2♥ was a natural overcall limited by the failure to X+bid (about 17+).

What is your bid now? And do you have a plan if west is about to bid diamonds?

[helene_t]

4♠, opps are cold for 6♦ and besides they can't double is with diamonds because double shows the balanced version.

[Codo]

So opener still can have both strong hands.

I would go for 4 HEart and bid 5 Heart over 5 diamond only in the passout seat.

[the hog]

"4♠, opps are cold for 6♦"

Why are they cold for 6D? Anyway I agree with 4S.

[Jlall]

This seems like a good time to violate the "don't put down an 8 card suit in dummy" rule; I would bid 4H.

Am I scared partner will play me for more, and double 5D? No I'm really not, once opener is exposed as a strong 2 in diamonds I can't see partner doubling him very aggressively. I think he will work out we have a hand mainly based on shape (no cuebid, he has a good hand, and his RHO has a strong 2 in diamonds..)

[gnasher]

I'd bid 4♠, then 5♥ on the next round, even if partner doubles 5♦.

Partner's going to assume I have a normal hand for whatever action I take. If I bid 4♥, he'll expect that his short spade honours are useful in defence; if I bid 4♠, he'll expect that his heart honours are standing up. Since his evaluation of our defensive prospects against 5♦ is unlikely to be right, I'm going to make the decision for him.

By bidding both suits and simultaneously implying a poor hand, I hope to guide him to the correct decision against 6♦, if it comes to that.

[pooltuna]

MFA, on Oct 30 2009, 04:16 AM, said:

I goofed this one last night, but the tactical situation is interesting and very unusual.

Scoring: IMP

---

(2♦) - 2♥ - (pass) - ??

2♦ was multi. Weak two in ♥ or ♠, 22-24 bal, or strong Acol in ♦.
2♥ was a natural overcall limited by the failure to X+bid (about 17+).

What is your bid now? And do you have a plan if west is about to bid diamonds?

4♠ and over 5♦ I bid 5♥

[Phil]

4♥. I don't understand the 4♠ bids TBH.

[Trinidad]

Anything could be right here. (A 3♠ splinter could work well. )

I would give the opponents a good chance to pick the wrong contract. I would bid a meek 3♥. I hope that LHO will accept the "transfer to 3NT".

I won't bid 4♥. In that case LHO will bid 5♦ and RHO will be able to judge whether he should bid 6♦.

Anyway, whatever I do, I will stay out of the auction from there on. (And I hope partner will do the same.)

Rik

[gwnn]

sideline: isn't

2♦-2♥-p-3♠

natural and forcing? because we need 2♠ to be an unassuming cue?

[helene_t]

Yeah Csaba that sounds right.

[jdonn]

I bid 4♠. I'm worried about setting up spades in 4♥ after they start by making dummy ruff something. Also I think I'm more likely to be doubled in spades, which I want (well I think I want it). And like the others if west bids 5♦ I go to 5♥ even if partner doubles.

[aguahombre]

Phil, on Oct 30 2009, 10:33 AM, said:

4♥. I don't understand the 4♠ bids TBH.

I wouldnt have, either, without Gnasher having posted previously

[Trinidad]

gwnn, on Oct 30 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

sideline: isn't

2♦-2♥-p-3♠

natural and forcing? because we need 2♠ to be an unassuming cue?

I am certainly not the only one who follows the following rule in defense to Multi:
If our partnership shows one major then we automatically put the other major in the hands of the 2♦ opener.
If you follow that rule then 2♠ is a cue (typically LROB), 3♠ a splinter and 4♠ exclusion. Please don't ask what 5♠ would be.

I know that it is certainly possible that overcaller has a good 5 card heart suit when the multibidder has 6 decent cards in that same suit. But the probability that the Multi bidder has spades are high enough to count on it when you design your defense. On the one board where you go wrong, you will just need to except the bad board. (You can't score worse than a 0 and you can't lose more than 24 IMPs.)

As a matter of fact, I used to play Rainbow 2♦ (weak: 5M+4(+)m or strong options). Once, vul at IMPs, I had a big 6043 hand when my partner opened 2♦. I was sure her major was hearts. I decided to ask for her minor and make a slam try if it was diamonds. Partner had clubs, so I signed off in 3NT. LHO leads a 3rd / 5th heart and partner puts down a 5224 hand, with 5 spades and QT doubleton in hearts. We missed a stone cold 7♠! And I was playing 3NT where the opponents lead their combined 11 card holding where we didn't have a stopper!

When I regain my composure, I call for the ♥T. RHO looks at this for a while and ducks! (He thought it was a 3rd best lead when it actually was 5th.) I make 3NT and save a few IMPs.

So, I know 6+5 is possible, but I wouldn't base my defensive system on it.

Rik

[MFA]

Trinidad, on Oct 30 2009, 08:10 PM, said:

gwnn, on Oct 30 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

sideline: isn't

2♦-2♥-p-3♠

natural and forcing? because we need 2♠ to be an unassuming cue?

I am certainly not the only one who follows the following rule in defense to Multi:
If our partnership shows one major then we automatically put the other major in the hands of the 2♦ opener.
If you follow that rule then 2♠ is a cue (typically LROB), 3♠ a splinter and 4♠ exclusion. Please don't ask what 5♠ would be.

I use Rik's principle, but as to 4♠ a different principle prevails. A jump to 4M in the first round of bidding is always natural.

[Trinidad]

MFA, on Oct 30 2009, 09:56 PM, said:

Trinidad, on Oct 30 2009, 08:10 PM, said:

gwnn, on Oct 30 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

sideline: isn't

2♦-2♥-p-3♠

natural and forcing? because we need 2♠ to be an unassuming cue?

I am certainly not the only one who follows the following rule in defense to Multi:
If our partnership shows one major then we automatically put the other major in the hands of the 2♦ opener.
If you follow that rule then 2♠ is a cue (typically LROB), 3♠ a splinter and 4♠ exclusion. Please don't ask what 5♠ would be.

I use Rik's principle, but as to 4♠ a different principle prevails. A jump to 4M in the first round of bidding is always natural.

That would certainly be sensible. It would also be more useful than exclusion.

But we still agree that 3♠ would be a splinter.

Rik

[MFA]

Scoring: IMP

---

This was the layout.

Not my brightest efford. I chose 4♥, and when it continued 5♦ - huddle pass - huddle pass, I let it go there, since I didn't know what to think. Partner led the ♠K of course

I think that 4♠ followed by 5♥ is right. 5♠ makes, and we should get there. Selling with 8-4 is just utterly pathetic .

[Trinidad]

MFA, on Nov 1 2009, 10:47 PM, said:

Dealer: West Vul: Both Scoring: IMP

♠ KQ ♥ AJ9xx ♦ xx ♣ AJxx ♠   ♥ K ♦ AKQTxxxx ♣ KQxx ♠ AJx ♥ T8x ♦ Jxx ♣ T9xx ♠ T98xxxxx ♥ Q6xx ♦   ♣ x

This was the layout.

Not my brightest efford. I chose 4♥, and when it continued 5♦ - huddle pass - huddle pass, I let it go there, since I didn't know what to think. Partner led the ♠K of course

I think that 4♠ followed by 5♥ is right. 5♠ makes, and we should get there. Selling with 8-4 is just utterly pathetic .

Just wondering: What do you do with your 8-4 if they bid to 6♦?

Would you sell then?

Rik

[jdonn]

Trinidad, on Nov 1 2009, 05:31 PM, said:

Just wondering: What do you do with your 8-4 if they bid to 6♦?

Would you sell then?

Rik

Of course. You bid a ton at first because you are 8-4, but in that context having already bid a lot you have bad suits and have told your story. Partner will know if he has big fits for one/both of your suits and can make the final decision.

North will certainly choose to defend, and probably get the lead right against slam as well (in fact I think there is a good case he should have anyway).

[gnasher]

I think that (2D) 2H (pass) 3S should be natural. Sometimes you have good hand, so having a forcing spade bid is useful.

With a splinter you can bid 2S followed by 3S. And you're much better placed than in the other room, where the auction started with a 2S opening.