[jdonn]

T x AT9xxx AQT9x, w/r, matchpoints, pretty strong field, RHO deals.

1♠ 2♦ 2NT P
P ?

You decide to bid 2♦ instead of 2NT because you want to play the right suit opposite 2-2 or 3-3 in the minors. You may disagree but I ask you to accept it and I'm not particularly interested. Anyway 2NT was natural and it's back to you. What now?

(Hint for anyone who thinks this is stupidly obvious. What do you suppose is partner's shape? And remember, matchpoints!)

[jjbrr]

Unless I know the opponents well and figure out they might be bidding 2NT on lots of hands that might have bid one of the majors, it seems like partner is 5-5 so I'll pass quietly and hope I'm not supposed to double.

I think the chances of LHO doubling 3♣ profitably are not small.

[Fluffy]

If RHO has at least 4 cards in the minors, and LHO has at least 8, it leaves only 3 cards for partner.

Sounds like a pass.

[whereagles]

Looks like one as well...

[mikeh]

I don't think this is obvious, stupidly or otherwise.

white at mps, having elected, understandably, to eschew 2N at my first time, there are a number of factors to consider. Those that occur to me (your experience may differ) include:

1. LHO rates to be 2=3=4=4 or so with 10-12 hcp. Thus he will usually start with a double of an unusual 2N and then a double of partner's 3minor and rho, on lead, will lead a trump. If we are in clubs, the trump lead will often do more damage when I am dummy than when I am declarer. Thus bidding 3♣, when the opps can double, probably breaks even or gains against my counterparts who bid 2N

2. I hate defending 2N on these auctions. Partner has no reason to lead clubs, and his spades will be in the lock. I expect them to make this contract more often than not and -120 will be terrible unless the field is full of -300's or so.

3. While partner may be 5=6=1=1 and mentally beaming the PASS word at us, he may be 5=5=1=2 or even 5=5=2=1 or (even....and improbable) 5=5=0=3...all layouts where -300 may not be easy for them to extract, especially with my hand as declarer, protected to some degree when clubs are trump or partner has a diamond card.

4. most players, even in a strong field, will want to bid here, even with all the red flags out there....look at our texture and our Aces. So while this may be a decision I regret, I don't think for a moment that I will get a zero...whereas, on a bad day, defending 2N on this auction could easily be a zero.

5. partner will have 6-9 hcp.... while they may well be of little use on offence....they rate to be in the majors....they may contain one or even two minor minor honours. And, no, that wasn't a typo.

I may be going for my life with lho holding the equivalent of xx xxx KQJx KJxx, but I'm a bidder....with ostensible confidence, of course.

[aguahombre]

I am not particularly interested either if others disagree with your choice to bid 2D. It was right. But now, the plan needs to be aborted. Agree with Fluffy. this hand smells like a big minus --more than 120.

Can pard find the club Jack lead from JX?

[peachy]

LHO has 2 or fewer spades [no raise], 3 or fewer hearts [no neg double] and the rest minors, with 10-12HCP. RHO left 2NT in so he isn't distributional (except maybe short in diamonds) and of course has an opening hand. That leaves partner lots of majors with a near yarboro. I'll pass, no other alternative comes to mind. I might also be grateful for the foresight of not bidding 2NT myself! Large minus was probably coming from that.

[Codo]

If partner has a near yarb, they have around 30 HCPS and play 2 NT.
Impossible.

As Mike said, partner rates to have around 6 HCps. But surely these are more often in the majors and maybe he has even more but still no trick for us.

I think that 3 ♣ will be a loser in total points but a winner at mps. If pass is wrong, we will get a zero. But if we play the minor from our side we may lose less then our opponents at the other table or at least reach 50 %.

So without a thought I had bid 3 ♣. Thinking a little, I pass and thinking again, I bid again.

[the hog]

My immediate thought was a 3C bid. However on reading the arguments and on using my brain, I think this is wrong. Pass.

[mikeh]

not many responses, and the pace has slowed to a stop, so....enquiring minds want to know....what happened? (not that any one result proves much, but humans are curious creatures)

[jdonn]

Scoring: MP

---

West was a joker (mixed pairs, ha!) Pass nets you a sweet 200. Actually since I defend about as well as a doorknob I only got 100 but that was still a very good score since E/W have an easy 140 which was the most common result. I can't remember the club spots exactly but I think east was overruffing partner so 130 might have been achievable in 4♣ but didn't happen much, and of course still doesn't beat 200.

[bluecalm]

Well, once you think of it (or read your argument) it's seems clearly the best to pass.
I admit my first impulse was 3♣ though. Gotta work on my concentration and habit of visualizing hands before making decisions....
Interesting hand, thanks.

[Jlall]

Seems like a stupidly obvious pass, thanks for the hint!

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Mar 22 2010, 03:26 PM, said:

T x AT9xxx AQT9x, w/r, matchpoints, pretty strong field, RHO deals.

1♠ 2♦ 2NT P
P ?

You decide to bid 2♦ instead of 2NT because you want to play the right suit opposite 2-2 or 3-3 in the minors. You may disagree but I ask you to accept it and I'm not particularly interested. Anyway 2NT was natural and it's back to you. What now?

(Hint for anyone who thinks this is stupidly obvious. What do you suppose is partner's shape? And remember, matchpoints!)

choices appear to be 3♣, X, and pass. As you hint partner's shape looks to be 4(5)5+xy a big misfit all around. So I will pass this round and save the X for LHO's 3NT call.

[jdonn]

Jlall, on Mar 23 2010, 03:57 PM, said:

Seems like a stupidly obvious pass, thanks for the hint!

Your dad bid 3♣

[jjbrr]

jdonn, on Mar 23 2010, 04:37 PM, said:

Jlall, on Mar 23 2010, 03:57 PM, said:

Seems like a stupidly obvious pass, thanks for the hint!

Your dad bid 3♣

ohhhhh snap

[nigel_k]

The reasoning for pass is impeccable except that you are going against the field.

Bidding can gain over passing if partner is 5503, and sometimes when he is 5512, and when they forget to double and you lose some 50s. If LHO is the male in a mixed pairs then obviously more favourable shapes for partner are also possible.

At worst you are still even with the 2NT bidders and have the slight edge that you may play the longer trump suit when partner is 1-1. If my opponents were above average compared to the field I would pass but otherwise I would probably just bid and hope to gain a trick in the play.

[the hog]

jdonn, on Mar 24 2010, 04:37 AM, said:

Jlall, on Mar 23 2010, 03:57 PM, said:

Seems like a stupidly obvious pass, thanks for the hint!

Your dad bid 3♣

rofl

[MarkDean]

Interesting hand. When posted, I thought wtp 3♣, and I am sure I would have bid it at the table, but there are some pursuasive arguments for pass laid out in this thread.

(I know that Josh was not looking for opinions, but I definitely would have bid 2NT the first round).

[aguahombre]

The_Hog, on Mar 23 2010, 07:04 PM, said:

jdonn, on Mar 24 2010, 04:37 AM, said:

Jlall, on Mar 23 2010, 03:57 PM, said:

Seems like a stupidly obvious pass, thanks for the hint!

Your dad bid 3♣

rofl

brutal...u set him up