[pclayton]

inquiry, on Sep 15 2004, 08:03 AM, said:

whereagles, on Sep 15 2004, 11:43 AM, said:

Why didn't pard open 2S?

Because of the old bromide against opening a preempt in a suit when holding a side four card major no doubt.

That was me; I don't like a weak 2 here in 2nd chair. The hand is a little too strong for a weak 2 and its a decent 4 card major.

Again; I can be talked into a 1♠ opening, although if you haven't discussed ZARs with your pard, its a little lite.

Hard to see how opening a weak 2♠ is going to get you to 4♥ on this layout.

[inquiry]

pclayton, on Sep 15 2004, 02:18 PM, said:

Again; I can be talked into a 1♠ opening, although if you haven't discussed ZARs with your pard, its a little lite.

When you buy into ZAR philosophy, this hand isn't light for 1S. It has a slight extra value... :-) In fact, I open 1♠ without blinking an eye (but then you already knew that about me). After 1♠, game in hearts is childs play. One could say this is another example of why zar points works.. but then, you could find a lot of examples where it doesn't.

Ben

[pclayton]

inquiry, on Sep 15 2004, 10:32 AM, said:

pclayton, on Sep 15 2004, 02:18 PM, said:

Again; I can be talked into a 1♠ opening, although if you haven't discussed ZARs with your pard, its a little lite.

When you buy into ZAR philosophy, this hand isn't light for 1S. It has a slight extra value... :-) In fact, I open 1♠ without blinking an eye (but then you already knew that about me). After 1♠, game in hearts is childs play. One could say this is another example of why zar points works.. but then, you could find a lot of examples where it doesn't.

Ben

Ben, you know I'm with you on this; just to the unwashed heathen out there (including my pard du jour in this event), its not an opening bid.

[Free]

I don't need ZAR's to know this is a 1♠ opening

[inquiry]

Free, on Sep 15 2004, 03:08 PM, said:

I don't need ZAR's to know this is a 1♠ opening

Alas, phil also can't open this hand 1♠ in ACBL land, because it has less than 8 hcp. He is likely to run into trouble if he did. Stupid, stupid rule.

Ben

[flytoox]

Fluffy, on Sep 15 2004, 12:49 PM, said:

(3♣)-3♦-3♠
3NT-4♥

looks a good way to reach.

I am sorry fly but althou I would bid 3NT as well I don´t expect partner to bid stayman with that 6-4. Starting bidding 3♦ is the key if you don´t want to play 4♠ at all.

hehe, as you said, I would prefer to play 3N, if u play 4H and u r dummy, there is club ruff and u may go down immediately. RHO has nothign in c, so he is likely to have the DA.

[EricK]

inquiry, on Sep 15 2004, 04:03 PM, said:

whereagles, on Sep 15 2004, 11:43 AM, said:

Why didn't pard open 2S?

Because of the old bromide against opening a preempt in a suit when holding a side four card major no doubt.

Here's a thought. If you think the main reason for partner not opening a six card suit is the posession of 4 cards in the other major, then you can bid 3NT and gamble a pass over partner's 4♥ transfer.

You may look silly when the reason for partner not opening his hand was he had seven spades to the Ten and an outside Jack, but maybe the risk is worth taking.

Eric

[junyi_zhu]

pclayton, on Sep 13 2004, 09:54 PM, said:

Red on white, Stratified Pairs

♠ void
♥ KQxx
♦ KJ7xx
♣ AKQx

LHO.....CHO.....RHO....You
Pass....Pass....3♣....?

It's astonishing that so many bid 3NT here and no single vote for 3H. I strongly feel that 3NT is a losing option not because you don't have a lot of tricks, but because a hand contains a void usually belong to suits. When was your last time you played a 3NT with a void? When holding a void, the total tricks often increases if you find a fit, and 3D or 3H doesn't bar you from rebidding 3NT. Also, if your partner passes, you don't really mind playing at 3H or 3D, because in that case, 3NT would probably go down. So it's really a better choice to bid either 3D or 3H instead of huge distortion of 3NT. Also, if your partner bid 4S over your 3NT, you are totally dead. If you bid 3D or 3H, you may hear partner bid 3S which is most likely, and you can then bid 3NT to finish your description. There are some tiny difference between 3H and 3D. Your heart suit isn't strong, if you don't hit partner's long hearts, you may eventually go down several tricks. If you do hit, you may bid a game few might find it. If you bid 3D, the pay off might not be as handsome as 3H, and you might go down one or two less than 3H which might not be good either. Also, not everybody would open that 3C since you hold AKQx yourself, and you might have already been behind others pairs.

Another thing I want to mention is that over 3C, pass can be a good decision, because your hand plays well against 3C which can be a sure plus with a little help from partner.
And you might not be able to make a game due to a possible poor distribution or due to a broken partner. So pass can be a very sound option as well.

My order is: 3H >3D > pass > 3NT > double

[paulhar]

What are the 3NT bidders going to do over the 4S advance? (I like pass over 3C, then correct 3S to 3NT)

[flytoox]

junyi_zhu, on Sep 15 2004, 11:49 PM, said:

pclayton, on Sep 13 2004, 09:54 PM, said:

Red on white, Stratified Pairs

♠ void
♥ KQxx
♦ KJ7xx
♣ AKQx

LHO.....CHO.....RHO....You
Pass....Pass....3♣....?

It's astonishing that so many bid 3NT here and no single vote for 3H. I strongly feel that 3NT is a losing option not because you don't have a lot of tricks, but because a hand contains a void usually belong to suits. When was your last time you played a 3NT with a void? When holding a void, the total tricks often increases if you find a fit, and 3D or 3H doesn't bar you from rebidding 3NT. Also, if your partner passes, you don't really mind playing at 3H or 3D, because in that case, 3NT would probably go down. So it's really a better choice to bid either 3D or 3H instead of huge distortion of 3NT. Also, if your partner bid 4S over your 3NT, you are totally dead. If you bid 3D or 3H, you may hear partner bid 3S which is most likely, and you can then bid 3NT to finish your description. There are some tiny difference between 3H and 3D. Your heart suit isn't strong, if you don't hit partner's long hearts, you may eventually go down several tricks. If you do hit, you may bid a game few might find it. If you bid 3D, the pay off might not be as handsome as 3H, and you might go down one or two less than 3H which might not be good either. Also, not everybody would open that 3C since you hold AKQx yourself, and you might have already been behind others pairs.

Another thing I want to mention is that over 3C, pass can be a good decision, because your hand plays well against 3C which can be a sure plus with a little help from partner.
And you might not be able to make a game due to a possible poor distribution or due to a broken partner. So pass can be a very sound option as well.

My order is: 3H >3D > pass > 3NT > double

3H has a lot to say for it, but I really dont like 3D. With about 8HCP, pd will raise your 3H, but not 3D. Furthermore, the suit quality is very bad. Even for major suit contract, you are likely to find a bad break after RHO's preempt.