[gwnn]

I played a whole session of bridge with the world-famous bridge player Han Peters in Amsterdam a week ago. It was IMP pairs and even though I let through a few games here or there we got a plus score.

Oh yes the hand I wanted to ask about:

AJx
QTx
QJTxx
QJ

we're unfavourable and partner is dealer.

1♦-p-2♦-(4♣)
p-p-??

2♦ was inverted, do you have a good agreement about partner's pass and double and our pass and double? Well we didn't, but still, what would you do?

[Fluffy]

I think the normal meaning of pass for partner is: I don't wanna paly game opposite invitational.


MY ♣QJ stinks so much taht I am devaluating the hand to just invitational and bid 4♦ just competitive. Double would be strong balanced IMO

[pooltuna]

Double and try to beat it

[NickRW]

Fluffy, on Oct 15 2010, 12:19 PM, said:

I think the normal meaning of pass for partner is: I don't wanna paly game opposite invitational.


MY ♣QJ stick so much taht I am devaluating the hand to just invitational and bid 4♦ just competitive. Double would be strong balanced IMO

Sounds reasonable. Except that the ♣QJ suck so much and the general quackiness of the hand makes me think this is barely inv after LHOs bid. Pass could be the best option, but I probably try 4♦ - not liking it much. X seems to be a match point punt to me - not sure we beat it often enough to pay for all the times 4♣ squeaks home.

Nick

[Free]

I'd bid 4♦

[kenberg]

No I don't have any agreements. So logic, such as it is, must prevail.


Partner can have a 12 count with no reason to think we can either beat 4C or make 4D. I assume he might have such a hand. While he could be 4=4=3=2 and we in fact cannot score plus here, that's pessimistic. I bid 4D. I don't expect this to be forcing. I would think that a double by me, the 2D bidder, would show a better hand, maybe considerable better, and would ask for partner's judgment on declare or defend.

My general view is that we have a diamond fit and enough strength so that it is not crazy to play at the four level, and I have no idea if we can beat 4C.

[Phil]

In general, partner would double with extra defense and bid with extra offense. Pass isn't forcing for me.

I don't think we are beating 4♣ enough to make it profitable at these colors. I might be threading the needle, but trying for +130 looks right so I will bid 4♦.

You managed a plus score in cross IMPs with Han? Your shoulders must be tired.

[hanp]

Phil, on Oct 15 2010, 10:09 AM, said:

You managed a plus score in cross IMPs with Han? Your shoulders must be tired.

I prefer to play in very weak fields.

[Cascade]

We haven't discussed this specific sequence. However we have some general agreements.

Our inverted raise is one of two hand types 1. Any invite (interpreted quite loosely) 2. GF with a side singleton.

At lower levels we double interference to show a shortage - singleton (or possibly a void without game forcing values).

At higher levels we double just to show extra values and establish a force to game and invite cue-bids.

On similar major suit auctions the boundary where this kicks in is at or above three of our major.

Our notes don't have a similar comment for minor auctions so I guess it is something to discuss.

Major auctions are different in preemptive auctions because the five-level is between game and slam. Therefore we want to investigate slam and also to decide if there is further competition whether we take the push to the five-level. We use new suits to help make this later decision so need the double to initiate slam invites.

When a minor is agreed any bid at this level commits us to game at the five-level. So maybe double would still just show a shortage.

If we had already established a GF then our agreements are different:

Pass = no control
Double = high card control - ace or king
Bid = control and shortage in their suit

[Cascade]

hanp, on Oct 16 2010, 04:30 AM, said:

Phil, on Oct 15 2010, 10:09 AM, said:

You managed a plus score in cross IMPs with Han? Your shoulders must be tired.

I prefer to play in very weak fields.

So do you have to import partners to match?

[kfay]

pooltuna, on Oct 15 2010, 07:30 AM, said:

Double and try to beat it

wtf?