[kfay]

Scoring: IMP

(P)-?

---

[jdonn]

Well it's not a stupid question, but I think 2♠ is way too dangerous. I have a bias against preempting with balanced hands in general, and preempting with bad suits when vul.

[andy_h]

Under the conditions, definitely no. 6322 and the suit is pretty horrible for vul and 2nd.

[jonottawa]

I bid 2♠. WTP. Good spots. Good description of overall strength and hand's best feature. Equal vul.

Spoiler:

Spoiler

I went and found the hand. I was gonna say that as long as pard has stiff 9, this won't be a disaster. Pard had stiff 9 and 2♠ is a winner.

[whereagles]

sure, but it can backfire of course

[gwnn]

2♠, I'm callin a spade a spade.

[Jlall]

I'd pass

[kfay]

jonottawa, on Dec 8 2009, 11:45 AM, said:

Spoiler:

Spoiler

I went and found the hand.  I was gonna say that as long as pard has stiff 9, this won't be a disaster.  Pard had stiff 9 and 2♠ is a winner.

I think you forgot to mention,

Spoiler

that spades split 3-3, the Ace of hearts is onside, partner has two bullets and they can't manufacture any ruffs. Aside from the stiff spade partner has an average++ hand and you could easily be -2 or more.

[Phil]

Pass. Takes some discipline to do this, but this hand has SO many negatives:

- The suit is marginal
- 6322 sucks
- Two defensive tricks which mitigates their ability to make a high level contract
- 2nd seat red, so partner should expect something more.

[mikeh]

Swimming against the tide: I'd open. i wouldn't, at unfavourable, but I can't imagine passing this. Just because I see it as close, doesn't mean I don't see it as clear. Thus, if we took away the spade J and made it the 10, it would still be close, for me, but clear to pass. So I guess I know where I draw the line.

I don't think that the result on the hand, once revealed, would change my mind, altho a simulation might.

[Trinidad]

In the old days we learned not to open a weak two with a singleton (too many alternative suits to play in). And now we hear that 6322 sucks.

While I agree that 6322 sucks, what kind of hand are we supposed to have for a weak two? A 6222 maybe?

Having said that I would pass on this hand because I don't like the suit quality.

Rik

[bluecalm]

You can't win if you pass. Clear 2S for me. I would open some weaker hands too.

[jonottawa]

kfay, on Dec 8 2009, 06:14 PM, said:

jonottawa, on Dec 8 2009, 11:45 AM, said:

Spoiler:

Spoiler

I went and found the hand.  I was gonna say that as long as pard has stiff 9, this won't be a disaster.  Pard had stiff 9 and 2♠ is a winner.

I think you forgot to mention,

Spoiler

that spades split 3-3, the Ace of hearts is onside, partner has two bullets and they can't manufacture any ruffs. Aside from the stiff spade partner has an average++ hand and you could easily be -2 or more.

Continuing the invisible argument:

Spoiler

Pard had a stiff, so of course you need some good things to happen. Nothing miraculous, just good luck from there.

2♠ rates to be %. You might bid a filthy red game. It's a good lead direct. You get your hand off your chest. Once in a blue moon you'll go for a number into nothing, unlucky, that's bridge. Just as often, Righty will reopen (required to get that number you're worried about) and Lefty will go for a number into nothing.

What mikeh said.

[nigel_k]

It's close but the hand is quite defensive so I'd pass. If I had KQ instead of AJ I would open because my trick expectation is about the same but theirs is higher. Also would definitely open in any seat except second.

[MFA]

2♠ wtp. Come on, bridge is not about waiting for perfect hands and expecting disasters with every flaw.

[jdonn]

Joining the invisible argument...

jonottawa, on Dec 8 2009, 02:07 PM, said:

Spoiler

Once in a blue moon you'll go for a number into nothing, unlucky, that's bridge.

Spoiler

We must live in different climates, because what you consider a blue moon I think is quite common. I think you have grossly exagerated.

[Hanoi5]

Quote

I have a bias against preempting with balanced hands in general, and preempting with bad suits when vul.

Did you pay 2000?

I did, now I'm careful when overcalling at the 2 level with bad hands/bad suits.

[jdonn]

Hanoi5, on Dec 8 2009, 05:10 PM, said:

Quote

I have a bias against preempting with balanced hands in general, and preempting with bad suits when vul.

Did you pay 2000?

I did, now I'm careful when overcalling at the 2 level with bad hands/bad suits.

There are 3 related issues to having both a bad suit and a suit headed by just the ace:
- The opponents are more likely to catch you when you are in trouble, because instead of trumps like A9xx or AKxx they have more attractive holdings to pass like KQTx.
- The opponents are less likely to be making something when you do go for a number.
- You go for quite a lot of smallish 200 and 300 numbers even when they don't double you, and in those cases the opponents invariably don't have game.

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Dec 8 2009, 05:17 PM, said:

Hanoi5, on Dec 8 2009, 05:10 PM, said:

Quote

I have a bias against preempting with balanced hands in general, and preempting with bad suits when vul.

Did you pay 2000?

I did, now I'm careful when overcalling at the 2 level with bad hands/bad suits.

There are 3 related issues to having both a bad suit and a suit headed by just the ace:
- The opponents are more likely to catch you when you are in trouble, because instead of trumps like A9xx or AKxx they have more attractive holdings to pass like KQTx.
- The opponents are less likely to be making something when you do go for a number.
- You go for quite a lot of smallish 200 and 300 numbers even when they don't double you, and in those cases the opponents invariably don't have game.

I have paid 1100 for overcalling 2♣ red vs white and I am a lot more careful at those colors now

[aguahombre]

One thing I am sure of: it ain't a stupid question. I chose "could go either way", at risk of being misunderstood