[DWM]

Scoring: MP

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Bidding
(1♥) - 1♠ - (2♥)

Is this close between a 2♠ and pass or should it be automatic.

[gwnn]

perfectly obvious 2♠ bid. pass and 2♠ are in different galaxies of bridge merit, not even Quinn Mallory could travel from 2♠ to pass.

[pooltuna]

Well not really a LOTT nut but it has validity and probably should be applied here so IMO 2♠ is pretty automatic.

[neilkaz]

Great topic here for B/I and the many lurkers I suspect (err hope read this B/I forum).

Hardly a day passes where if I've played a few hours on BBO, that I couldn't post several examples where PD's (all self-rated Adv or Exp) have been far too passive when it comes to raising a 1 level overcall and often with better hands than this.

The usual excuse goes something like.."I only had 7 pts so we can't have game..I have three weak trumps and didn't want to overly encourage you..my Q♥ is worthless..my flat distribution sucks"

All the above may be true here, but it still is 3 card support for the boss suit and the hand has an ace and JT9 may be useful and perhaps the Q♥ isn't useless.

Easy raise at IMPS and simply horrid to pass this White at MP.

Support with support !! .. neilkaz ..

[NickRW]

neilkaz, on Jun 29 2010, 04:08 PM, said:

..my Q♥ is worthless..

Yup. While a weak holding in opps suit is certainly worth less than you valued it at when you picked up your hand, it is surprising how often it isn't worthless - often pard turns out to have Jx and they lead the suit giving you a trick - or sometimes pard has Kx and they lead the ace - or the Q is sitting over their AK. And even if the worst comes to the worst, it is only a Q wasted - probabaly the rest of this hand will be of use to pard.

One can be too pessimistic and it is a bidders game.

Nick

[aguahombre]

Don't focus on the heart queen. Get rid of it, and still raise to 2♠.

[neilkaz]

NickRW, on Jun 29 2010, 11:55 AM, said:

neilkaz, on Jun 29 2010, 04:08 PM, said:

..my Q♥ is worthless..

Yup. While a weak holding in opps suit is certainly worth less than you valued it at when you picked up your hand, it is surprising how often it isn't worthless - often pard turns out to have Jx and they lead the suit giving you a trick - or sometimes pard has Kx and they lead the ace - or the Q is sitting over their AK. And even if the worst comes to the worst, it is only a Q wasted - probabaly the rest of this hand will be of use to pard.

One can be too pessimistic and it is a bidders game.

Nick

Exactly...and I often tell new partners to raise any 1 level overcall to 2 with any hand that would have raised a 1 level 5 card opening to 2.

Additionally here, if PD whacks them if they compete to 3♥ I can't be unhappy, IMHO.

[quiddity]

NickRW, on Jun 29 2010, 11:55 AM, said:

neilkaz, on Jun 29 2010, 04:08 PM, said:

..my Q♥ is worthless..

Yup. While a weak holding in opps suit is certainly worth less than you valued it at when you picked up your hand, it is surprising how often it isn't worthless

The ♥Q is not only worthless, it's *negative* value from a competitive standpoint. I'd still bid 2♠ - it's the obvious field bid if nothing else - but that is a really bad card to hold. On top of that our trumps and shape are horrible. I would not be surprised if pass turns out to be a winner on lots of hands where partner would otherwise over-compete or get off to a bad lead.

[ggwhiz]

The mission here is to defend 3♥ with a chance for down 1.

2♠ is auto, also on much weaker hands. When next to bid says 3♥ over a pass, they invite game. Over 2♠ it could be either this or that or something else and causes the opponents grief.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

would you respond to a 1S opening bid? And how obvious is the
answer?

If the answer is yes, than you should respond to the 1S overcall.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[nigel_k]

I would bid 2♠ as well but I think it would be somewhat close at IMPS or if the vulnerability was different.

At IMPS you might decide that if the hand is passed out it is more likely that both 2♠ and 3♥ fail than that both make.

Nil vul at MP is the best time to bid though.

[Cascade]

Close.

Bad shape and wasted defensive values for offense.

2♠ can easily go minus when 2♥ was not making.

[Phil]

Does partner go nuts with 3 over 3? If yes then I pass, knowing the same aggro will double 2♥.

Usually I will bid 2♠. GLP.

[NickRW]

quiddity, on Jun 29 2010, 06:52 PM, said:

The ♥Q is not only worthless, it's *negative* value from a competitive standpoint.

Fair point - it is more defensive in character. Even so, I don't rate our chances to defeat 2H and we should normally have a shot at 8 tricks ourselves.

[mcphee]

I do not consider this close, 2S is a clear choice. While I do subscribe to over calling with rather good hands (more so than many) I see no reason to pass and would raise without the Q of H.

[billw55]

Letting opponents play 2♥ at matchpoints is a losing proposition. 100% to bid 2♠ here.

[jjbrr]

Not close