[lamford]

Scoring: MP

Pass - Pass - 1NT(12-14) - Pass
Pass - ?

---

2C would now show hearts and a minor; 2D would show spades and another; double would be undiscussed.

[OleBerg]

Whatever shows both majors.

In this one I am backed by none other than Alvin Roth.

Edit: Hadn't read the problem proberly. 2♦

[paulg]

I would make the bid that shows the majors, apparently 2♦ here, whatever the range of the 1NT.

Pass is not a logical alternative for me.

[maggieb]

cardsharp, on Nov 27 2009, 05:38 PM, said:

I would make the bid that shows the majors, apparently 2♦ here, whatever the range of the 1NT.

Pass is not a logical alternative for me.

I would definitely call pass a logical alternative, but otherwise I agree.

Edit: FWIW I was referring to the American definition of a LA, I have no idea what that is considered to be in England.

[jdonn]

You have to bid w/w at mps I think. Especially good that 2♦ is showing spades and another rather than showing majors, so if partner is 22 or 33 we will play in the right one.

[655321]

I think bidding is clear at any vulnerability, any form of scoring.

Passing w/w at MP isn't a logical alternative to me either.

[lamford]

maggieb, on Nov 27 2009, 05:42 PM, said:

cardsharp, on Nov 27 2009, 05:38 PM, said:

I would make the bid that shows the majors, apparently 2♦ here, whatever the range of the 1NT.

Pass is not a logical alternative for me.

I would definitely call pass a logical alternative, but otherwise I agree.

Edit: FWIW I was referring to the American definition of a LA, I have no idea what that is considered to be in England.

I think - and I hope Jeffrey or Frances will correct me if I am wrong - that it now needs around 20% to seriously consider a bid for it to be an LA, and some of them would need to actually select it. Some is not defined, but I guess it means 5-10%. There is still a "demonstrably suggested" requirement.

[MFA]

2♦.
I pass if partner has tanked. But maybe that's wrong.

[Jlall]

I don't think any good player would pass this. Whether or not it is a logical alternative depends on the level of the player in question probably which is why you poll peoples peers obviously.

[P_Marlowe]

Go in, and this means 2D.

If you dont go in, than you will loose the part score battle,
and the preemptive effect of 1NT (which would be reason of
loosing the part score battle) is one of the main strengths of
a weak NT, you need to attack the main strength.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: And I would go in at any vul., and at any form of scoring,
(MP / IMPs).

[olliebol]

Dunno where i got this citation from:

Alvin roth says some where: There is no hand with a singleton club that lets 1nt play in this position!

After a misdefense with partner who passed a similar hand. )

[OleBerg]

olliebol, on Nov 28 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

Dunno where i got this citation from:

Alvin roth says some where: There is no hand with a singleton club that lets 1nt play in this position!

After a misdefense with partner who passed a similar hand.   )

It is from some book by Eddie Kantar.

Alvin is sitting before dummy, defending 1NT, and covers declarers ♣J with the queen. When it chrashes with partners singleton King, Alvin shakes his head, and utters "you've done it again". Partner held a lousy hand everybody would pass, but it deídn't help him in the post-mortem.

"When the bidding is 1NT-Pass-Pass-Pass" roared the cannon, "the only hand that can hold a singleton club, is the opener".

In all fairness Kantar ends with making a reference to an earlier book by Alvin, where he states that you cannot pass 1NT with a singleton club, REGARDLESS.

[peachy]

Yes!

[lamford]

Thanks all for the comments; as some guessed, pard hitched (it was stated for two seconds) over 1NT, and the player protected successfully. The TD wound it back to 1NT, and N/S appealed. N/S were around US Life Master strength (and I know that covers a range of abilities!). The AC, on which I was on, quickly decided that Pass was not an LA, but some eminent commentators in the EBU appeal booklet thought that although perhaps 80% of players would bid, they regarded Pass as an LA.

I ran a simulation using bridge dealer, assuming a 2-table Howell, and the figures from that were that the bidders scored 69% and the passers scored 31%, making bidding completely automatic. Yet, even the 1 passer in the poll on here (out of 13) would mean that under the new EBU guidelines, pass becomes close to a logical alternative, assuming that perhaps 3 players seriously consider Pass. This causes me some disquiet, and it is time to revert to the so-called 70% rule, under which the protection on this hand would clearly be allowed.

[nige1]

lamford, on Nov 27 2009, 05:34 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

Pass - Pass - 1NT(12-14) - Pass
Pass - ?
2C would now show hearts and a minor; 2D would show spades and another; double would be undiscussed.

---

IMO 2♦ = 10, _P = 5, _X = 1.

[whereagles]

Depends on what pard usually doubles 1NT on. If he dbls from 15+, then sure act. If he dbls from a 13+ then pass is more appealing.