[cnszsun]

Scoring: IMP

ps-ps-1♥-2♦
ps-ps-dbl-ps
??

---

[aguahombre]

maybe minus 180 is the best we can do. It's only imps

[lifemonster]

No reason to make a panic pre-decision. This is a no brainer.

[pooltuna]

cnszsun, on Jan 16 2010, 10:39 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

ps-ps-1♥-2♦
ps-ps-dbl-ps
??

---

Partner is protecting you. Don't punish him for doing it. Bid 2♠. Passing is catering to -180 or -380.

[gnasher]

I'd pass. There's no guarantee that partner has four spades, and my ♦J8 will be a lot more useful in 2♦x than in 2♠.

[Hanoi5]

What's wrong with 2♠?

The problem would be more interesting with:

♠Txx
♥x
♦J8xxx
♣K9xx

[andy_h]

2♠. Even if we are in a 4-3 LHO will most likely be tempted to lead his short diamonds and we can get a cross ruff going.

[jdonn]

I think pass is really bad. If I could pass and have the director immediately change the contract to 3♦X it might be a close decision. I'd much rather bid my hand than make such a final guess this early in the auction.

[MarkDean]

I think it is close, but I would pass. I think the stiff heart really improves our chances on defense and makes 2♠ less likely to be successful.

[MarkDean]

jdonn, on Jan 17 2010, 10:06 AM, said:

I think pass is really bad. If I could pass and have the director immediately change the contract to 3♦X it might be a close decision. I'd much rather bid my hand than make such a final guess this early in the auction.

What do you mean "bid your hand"?
You have five diamonds behind the overcaller, a stiff in partner's primary suit and no guarantee of an eight card fit, is it really clear that 2♠ is bidding your hand?

[jdonn]

MarkDean, on Jan 17 2010, 12:27 PM, said:

jdonn, on Jan 17 2010, 10:06 AM, said:

I think pass is really bad. If I could pass and have the director immediately change the contract to 3♦X it might be a close decision. I'd much rather bid my hand than make such a final guess this early in the auction.

What do you mean "bid your hand"?
You have five diamonds behind the overcaller, a stiff in partner's primary suit and no guarantee of an eight card fit, is it really clear that 2♠ is bidding your hand?

Yes.

[whereagles]

Pass is fine if pard has extras and 3 spades only. But is that really the most likely hand?... prefer 2♠

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Jan 17 2010, 12:48 PM, said:

MarkDean, on Jan 17 2010, 12:27 PM, said:

jdonn, on Jan 17 2010, 10:06 AM, said:

I think pass is really bad. If I could pass and have the director immediately change the contract to 3♦X it might be a close decision. I'd much rather bid my hand than make such a final guess this early in the auction.

What do you mean "bid your hand"?
You have five diamonds behind the overcaller, a stiff in partner's primary suit and no guarantee of an eight card fit, is it really clear that 2♠ is bidding your hand?

Yes.

Amen! yeah, Mark, you have 5♦ behind declarer but did you notice your spot cards J8xxx does not translate into J879T

[nigel_k]

2♠.

Good problem as either pass or 2♠ could easily be right. I suspect probably our expectation is a bit higher defending 2♦X than playing in spades, but in close situations I prefer the choice that doesn't end the auction. Also, I'd like partner to feel comfortable about reopening next time so I don't want to discourage him by gambling on a pass with a marginal hand.

[Codo]

I would pass, 2 spade is fine too, but the singelton opposite a full opener and 5 trumps make me feal fine.

[hanp]

I would bid 2S. I'm afraid Justin is going to yell at me now.

[aguahombre]

nigel_k, on Jan 17 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

I'd like partner to feel comfortable about reopening next time so I don't want to discourage him by gambling on a pass with a marginal hand.

this was debated on a previous string. Many people do not want partner to feel comfortable reopening with a double on crap opposite a responder who couldn't make a negative double.

the total trumps on this hand are:

14---if pard is 3-5-2-3 with 18 or 19 HCP, or (see next)
14---most likely because you have 4 spades, making 3-5-1-4 more likely than 4-5-1-3 (non flannery players).
15---possible.
16---opposite 4-5-0-4?

I am content to guess 14 total tricks, and--if the opponents will sometimes double us when we are down two-- the chart starts to look ugly for any action other than pass.

[eyhung]

2♠. Either pass or 2♠ could be right, but if wrong, pass is final, while if 2♠ is wrong, something good may yet still happen. For example, sometimes LHO belatedly raises to 3♦ with Hx because he's not looking at spade length, or because he felt his hand wasn't good enough for a direct 3♦ raise.

Also, in general I think it's a bad idea to try to penalize your opponents with lousy trumps before you have exhausted the possibilities of a finding an 8-card major-suit fit. When partner has 4 spades, I expect doubling 2♦ to be wrong. 2♠ should score reasonably well and 2♦ is unlikely to go for more than 200. Bidding 2♠ also opens up the possibility of playing 3♦-X.