[quiddity]

Scoring: IMP

1♣ X 1♠ ?

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With this kind of hand (balanced, 4-card support), what is the minimum strength required for a 2H bid? Would the given hand qualify (and is it close or obvious)?

Does it ever make sense to pass in this position and then balance with 2H after opener rebids 1NT?

[Phil]

Bid your hand. 2♥ - not that close.

[jjbrr]

The problem with not bidding now is lefty might bid 2♠ and now you're stuck bidding at the 3 level with a hand that you judged wasnt good enough to bid at the 2 level. I would bid 2♥ with this now and live with it if we get overboard a little.

[helene_t]

♣K doesn't carry full weight so pass would not be unreasonable. But I've got to shut out their club fit.

[655321]

2♥, not close.

[Jlall]

I mean, it's close to me in the sense that with a little bit less I'd pass heh. 6 is about a min for a free 2H imo with only 4 hearts.

[quiddity]

ok, it sounds unanimous. To me it feels right to pass initially to keep partner from getting too high in competition - maybe this is too cautious.

[Gerben42]

Brink - Drijver would double here for T/O. I'm liking this more and more. Failing this agreement I will try 2♥.

[P_Marlowe]

2H.

Take away the king of clubs, and it is most likely sub min. strength,
we would raise anyway, but this is our special flavour.

Ask yourself the question, if you would raise an opening bid of 1H,
that only showed 4 cards, if the answer is yes, and just do it.
Because the T/O told you, that p, has an 4 card major opening bid
of 1H.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[P_Marlowe]

quiddity, on Apr 24 2010, 12:00 PM, said:

ok, it sounds unanimous.  To me it feels right to pass initially to keep partner from getting too high in competition - maybe this is too cautious.

Have a look at the Law of Total Tricks.

Dont treat it as an unbreakable rule, but it works reasonable well, if
the points are divided evenly, as is the case in the current scenario.
Your p has an opening bid, +12, you have 6, thant makes it +18,
similar arithmetic will tell you, that they have +18.
Of course the +18 are just the expected numbers, there are cases,
when they will have less 18, or p will have less than 12, but on average
the 18 is a good number to start working with.

In this case, the Law will say, that you are "safe" going to the level
corresponding to the number of trumps, and you may also compete
1 level higher than their safety level (applies to hearts vs. spades
- it is still ok to bid 3H over 2S with only 8 trumps, but it would be
wrong to bid 3H over 3C with only 8 trumps).

With kind regards
Marlowe

[helene_t]

If p only bids 3♥ over 2♠ with four hearts and <4 spades, then we are LOTT-safe.

He might bid 3♥ over 3♣ with four hearts and two clubs, which would be a LOTT violation.

2♥ now makes it more difficult for them to find their clubs fit, but easier for them to find their spades fit (assuming they play support doubles).

So 2♥ must be a good bid for LOTT-addicts.

[mcphee]

Bidding 2H does not show a great hand, just one that wants to compete. Granted the KC may prove to be worthless but not bidding now means we could be shut out.