[the hog]

This hand is similar in a theme to the one Ben posted earlier.
Imp Pairs tournament from yesterday. NV Pd opens 2H. You are subbing, so you don't know much about this pd.

QJxx
Q
AKQJxx
Kx

2 possible bids and 1 call, I guess, 3N, 4H and Pass. I bid 3N, but think pass may well be the winning call.

Your bid?

[paulhar]

If you want to pass, which could be right but not likely if partner is maximum. I would bid 2NT and then 3NT over a max, and pass 3H if partner shows a min. You clearly don't want to not be in a game the field will be in when (1) it has good play, and (2) your side plays a trick better than the field

[inquiry]

The_Hog, on Jul 28 2004, 10:03 PM, said:

This hand is similar in a theme to the one Ben posted earlier.
Imp Pairs tournament from yesterday. NV Pd opens 2H. You are subbing, so you don't know much about this pd.

QJxx
Q
AKQJxx
Kx

2 possible bids and 1 call, I guess, 3N, 4H and Pass. I bid 3N, but think pass may well be the winning call.

Your bid?

At imps, if vul (here you are not), i would simply bid game. If you want to throw monkey wrench in, you might psyche a 3♣ bid as lead inhibitor, but that does little good really, and if parnter has clubs might get action you don;t want.

NV, i would like to be able to bid 2NT asking for a feature. If he bids 3♣, -->3NT. I guess i might bid with the field if my 2NT ask min/max and end up in 3♥ or 3NT depending upon minimum/max response.

And pass isn't horrible, but the differnence on the other problem, you were in game.

Ben

[Cascade]

If partner has a maximum weak two with good hearts 4♥ should be reasonable.

On the other hand with a minimum with poor hearts 3♥ will be in danger.

I suspect that it is almost always right to pass under these conditions.

Which seat was partner in? 1st or 2nd?

[the hog]

Pd was in first seat.
fwiw, I bid thrunt and faced this dummy on a C lead

xxx
AJ98xx
98
xx

I think the best line is to win the C and immediately play Q of H before the D tricks are disclosed. As it turns out, I ran the D and the played the HQ and lho covered. Thanks!

[Cascade]

I did a small simulation.

51.1% of the time 9 or more tricks were available in NTs.

This is only a ball park figure of course.

For this simulation I defined a weak two as 6-9 hcp and six hearts with less than four spades and less than five of a minor.

Only a similar percentage were there 9 or more tricks available in hearts. Since some of those times opener will be a maximum this means if you only try for game then you have no safe bail-out contract. As when partner has a minimum you can expect to be failing in 3♥.

Therefore I think that this is simply a pass or bid game hand. And it appears that 3NT is more likely than 4♥.

[inquiry]

Cascade, on Jul 29 2004, 08:10 AM, said:

I did a small simulation.

51.1% of the time 9 or more tricks were available in NTs.

That sounds about right. And like Ron showed in his reply, some of the 49% of the time 3NT is not making the defense slips up. Also, 3NT down one may still be good score if they can make 3CLUBS (when 3NT going down, will be because they eat you alive in clubs, they are not taking enough spades to be too painful).

This is why I said at imps, vul, simply bid game (meaning, as rest of reply showed 3NT). Not vul, I suggest pass is ok, but I prefer game try of 2NT looking for feature (hopefully partner shows club feature) or said not vul, the simple pass was not bad either.

Ben

[luis]

Interesting to know that 3NT is better than 4♥ because I think I would have bid 4♥. Hard to see 9 quick tricks and we may have a big problem in clubs. I was also afraid of being cut out off dummy.
Wayne, when is 4♥ better than 3N with this type of hands?

Luis

[Fluffy]

3NT is better on the simulation,but you were including ♥Jxxxxx nor ♥10xxxxx?, These hands make 4♥ hopeless and 3NT playable, but when partner has good suit 4♥ should be a good spot IMO.

[Trpltrbl]

I pass, I am missing to many aces and don't have enough tricks. My golden rule is never to open a weak 2 with 2 aces, ever, hope my pd has heard that rule.

Mike

[Free]

3NT, hope nobody can play through your ♣K too soon...