[karlson]

1. w/w mp. ♠xx ♥xx ♦QTxxx ♣AJxx

partner deals, p-(1♥)-p-(2♥)-p-(p)


2. w/r mp. ♠xx ♥Axx ♦Q6xxx ♣Kxx
lefty deals, (p)-p-(1♥)-p-(1♠)-p-(p)

[PhantomSac]

2N and X.

I considered 2D on the 2nd one but I want to give partner a chance to bid 1N, and clubs might be the right spot, so 2D seems a bit rash.

[mich-b]

1. Pass
Since pd has passed as dealer, we are not likely to be close to maing anything on the 3 level , and down 2 is quite likely.

2. Dbl.
This time I am a level lower, so will try to push them higher.
Not sure between Dbl and 2♦ , but DBL allows pd to bid 1NT.

[PhantomSac]

mich-b, on Jan 31 2010, 03:07 AM, said:

1. Pass
Since pd has passed as dealer, we are not likely to be close to maing anything on the 3 level , and down 2 is quite likely.

AFAIK -100 is a good score vs a partial! -50 is ok too! And we might make something if we catch a decent fit which is pretty likely given that partner didn't overcall 2S.

[kgr]

1. 2NT on the first one. A fit in the minors is very likely. This would be a more difficult decision at IMPs.
2. DBL. (more difficult then the 1st one for me)

[MarkDean]

We had the same auctions at my table (I was sitting EW). First one, RHO (I believe not that strong of a player) made a reluctant pass. Second one RHO (good player) made an untroubled pass.

[gnasher]

I wouldn't bid on the first one. The opponents have at least 22HCP between them, and there's a good chance that partner is 4-3 in the majors, so we may not have much of a fit. If I bid 2NT, it gives LHO a chance to double to show a maximum, after which we may well get doubled in three of a minor for -300.

If they bid on, they'll probably make, especially after I've told them how to play the hand. -140 in 2♥ is better than -170 in 3♥.

[Lobowolf]

Definitely 2NT on the first one for me. Nothing good happens at matchpoints when you defend 2M not vulnerable and the opponents have a fit.

I'd probably bid 2♦ on the second, but Justin has me reconsidering the double.

[karlson]

MarkDean, on Jan 31 2010, 07:57 AM, said:

We had the same auctions at my table (I was sitting EW). First one, RHO (I believe not that strong of a player) made a reluctant pass. Second one RHO (good player) made an untroubled pass.

What the hell, now it's your turn not to limit raise with a limit raise?

[karlson]

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

2. partner had KQJx J9 xxx QJTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. (I bid 2d, but geting to 1n will suffer the same fate. If partner comes up with 2c, I think he'll get out for 300)

[gnasher]

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

[karlson]

gnasher, on Jan 31 2010, 09:52 AM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

That's certainly true. On the other hand, partner had a terrible hand with a lousy suit, QJT of hearts, and in general a pretty low odr. But maybe I should have posted partner's problem.

[Jlall]

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 12:40 PM, said:

I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Seems pretty normal unless the thirteenth card was a heart...?

[Jlall]

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 12:55 PM, said:

gnasher, on Jan 31 2010, 09:52 AM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

That's certainly true. On the other hand, partner had a terrible hand with a lousy suit, QJT of hearts, and in general a pretty low odr. But maybe I should have posted partner's problem.

So? It is MP w/w and he has 5 spades. Passing is good if both 2H and 2S are down. That is such an extremely unlikely scenario (14 total tricks in the majors?). If 2H is making 2S will be fine, and if 2S is making 2S will be fine.

People are not doubling 2S nearly as often as you think.

[MarkDean]

Thirteenth card was a club.

[quiddity]

Jlall, on Jan 31 2010, 01:02 PM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 12:55 PM, said:

gnasher, on Jan 31 2010, 09:52 AM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

That's certainly true. On the other hand, partner had a terrible hand with a lousy suit, QJT of hearts, and in general a pretty low odr. But maybe I should have posted partner's problem.

So? It is MP w/w and he has 5 spades. Passing is good if both 2H and 2S are down. That is such an extremely unlikely scenario (14 total tricks in the majors?). If 2H is making 2S will be fine, and if 2S is making 2S will be fine.

People are not doubling 2S nearly as often as you think.

But isn't there a decent chance that a like-minded partner will bid 3S over 3H because it's MP, w/w?

[gnasher]

quiddity, on Feb 1 2010, 09:36 PM, said:

But isn't there a decent chance that a like-minded partner will bid 3S over 3H because it's MP, w/w?

No, partner should be cautious in competing to 3♠, because he knows what sort of hands would overcall 2♠. 3♠ is much easier to double than 2♠, especially when the opponents know that we have a hand that couldn't open 1♠ opposite a hand that couldn't make a takeout double of 1♥.

[PhantomSac]

quiddity, on Feb 1 2010, 03:36 PM, said:

Jlall, on Jan 31 2010, 01:02 PM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 12:55 PM, said:

gnasher, on Jan 31 2010, 09:52 AM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

That's certainly true. On the other hand, partner had a terrible hand with a lousy suit, QJT of hearts, and in general a pretty low odr. But maybe I should have posted partner's problem.

So? It is MP w/w and he has 5 spades. Passing is good if both 2H and 2S are down. That is such an extremely unlikely scenario (14 total tricks in the majors?). If 2H is making 2S will be fine, and if 2S is making 2S will be fine.

People are not doubling 2S nearly as often as you think.

But isn't there a decent chance that a like-minded partner will bid 3S over 3H because it's MP, w/w?

It seems really backwards to me to not bid 2S because partner might bid 3S over 3H. Because of this, it's better to pass and likely not get to 2S to begin with? Just bid 2S with a very wide range to force them to 3H and then figure out what to do. Sure having a wider range will cause partner to not compete to 3S enough sometimes, but it's more important to push them up and find your spade fit more often. I will take less accuracy for competing to 3S over defending 2H or playing in 3m instead of 2S more often any day.

[Siegmund]

I would have bid an easy 2NT and a reluctant 2D and taken my lumps. I'm a lot more nervous about the 2nd hand than the first, partly since they seem to have only a 7-card fit.

And had I been in the opponents' chair, the raise to 2H on the 3334 AKK hand looks very correct.

[fred]

gnasher, on Jan 31 2010, 05:52 PM, said:

karlson, on Jan 31 2010, 06:40 PM, said:

1. partner had QJxxx QJT Jx QTx. Bidding was a disaster of -500. I don't know why righty bid only 2h on ATx xxx Kxx Kxx.

Why didn't partner bid 2♠ over 2♥? That's much harder for them to double.

In case the strong opinions in favor of 2S cause some to think that this style is universal among experts...

I have to admit that it would not occur to me to bid 2S with this hand.

That should not be seen as a claim that I know which style is "best".

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com