[eyhung]

Scoring: MP

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RHO opens 2♦ mini-roman (any three-suiter, 11-15 HCP) in 2nd seat at pairs. Partner is expert but you have not discussed a defense, the opponents are neither especially good or bad.

You decide to pass and await developments. LHO bids 2♥, pass or correct. All pass to you.

1) Do you agree with the original pass? If not, what call would you have made?
2) What call would you make now?

[Cyberyeti]

I could overcall 4♦ confident I'd shown diamonds and a major, but this ought to be a slightly better hand than I have.

Pass and then 3♥ should show ♠ and a minor and not much better than this as you could start with a double.

Alternatively if you take the approach that if you meet an artificial bid you haven't discussed then x shows that suit you can do that first.

[dake50]

As I played 2D=mini-Roman(any short), opener would have auto-raised 2H with 1xS to get opponents S-fit try up to 3-level. He didn't so my best guess opener has 4s4h1d4c so I try 3D now.
I would have bid 2S immediate, S-fit first priority to look for, and rebid 3D/4D to shape out this 2-suiter.

[whereagles]

pass seems fair, though 2♠ or 3♦ is ok too. now 3♥ over 2♥.

[gnasher]

I suppose it's nice to know in advance that none of the suits are breaking, but it's also a bit frightening. I'm not going to drive to the four level with such poor pips.

I'd have bid 3♦ over 2♦. Not having done so, I'd bid 3♦ on the second round.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1 Pass is fine, if you have no agreement.
#2 3H - should be forcing and artifical, if you are lucky, partner assumes Michaels,
i.e. spades + ?, if partner does not bid spades, I would bid 5D

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Siegmund]

Pass then 3♥ looks like a sensible approach opposite a sane partner without agreements.

If my spots were better e.g. AT98x+ I would be arguing for 2♠ on the first round.

Starting with X or 3♦ guarantees we will lose the spade suit. Maybe you're OK with losing a spade suit when you have A87xx and know there are 4 of them in your right. If you're fine with that, I can see 3♦ on the first round.

[eyhung]

I agreed with gnasher's evaluation, there were a lot of red flags, so I went low. I tried pass then 2S and this was a winner, as partner had :

K2 J9xxx x JTxxx

Booked for down 2, made on atrocious defense, but it really didn't matter as everyone else is getting clobbered for 500s and 800s. Once we get to the 3-level the opponents will start doubling as LHO has QJxxx of diamonds and RHO has QJTx of spades. In hindsight I think I got lucky.

Looks like dake50 is the only other person to survive. Upon reflection his plan of direct 2S with a followup of 3D works well, it gets both suits on the table and gives you a shot at staying at the 2-level when there's a misfit. Direct 2S might also preempt the hearts, giving you an advantage in some spade/heart competition.

[keylime]

I like the 2♠ overcall myself; the hand is bound to be splitting badly.