[Phil]

MPs

R/W.

KJ9xxxxxx x x xx

RHO opens 2H (wide ranging style).

[rogerclee]

First of all I wouldn't pass, since all pass is more likely than it seems at first glance and obviously rates to be a disaster, and even if it doesn't we have nightmare bidding problems like 2H P 4H 5D back to us, where we would have given anything to have mentioned spades earlier, or even 2H P 4H X and now we have no idea how many spades we can make.

3S and 4S both seem like significant overbids/misdescriptions of my hand. I guess I have to settle for 2S and see what happens.

[Slmplicity]

This would be a good hand for 4H/S showing different 4S bids, but in the abscence of any such agreement I think you just have to settle for 2S and hope its not passed out.

[JLOGIC]

Easy pass

[Zelandakh]

Hehe - you have 24 Zars Justin - that's only 1 short of an opening bid and we could upgrade it a point for "good honour concentration"...

[Phil]

This was the last board to the event. I overcalled 2♠, planning on pulling partner's penalty doubles as high as necessary. 3♠ is clearly wrong, and 4♠ feels kind of random. I also think this is an interesting opening bid problem r/w at MPs.

Partner held AQ KT9x Jxxx Kxx. I'm not sure what he does in the balance seat, although at the table RHO bid 3♥ and this was an easy 3N call which I pulled to 4♠. If RHO raises hearts, I also think he has a tough decision over my 3♠ balance.

[semeai]

Phil, on 2011-September-09, 08:55, said:

If I pass and RHO raises hearts, I also think he has a tough decision over my 3♠ balance.

You left out the underlined bit, which caused me to reread the sentence an embarrassing number of times.

It is a tough decision between pass and 3NT over a 3♠ balance. KJ-sixth plus a side card is likely a trick short of 3NT, but partner would probably stay out of things with that. KJ-seventh plus a side card probably makes for a good 3NT (depending on the side card). J-seventh plus two side cards is also possible, and wouldn't be so good for anything above 3♠.

Added: What about 2♥-P-3♥-P;P-4♠? Certainly sounds funny, at least. Also, as you said for the direct version, kind of random.

[Phil]

Yes, sorry that wasn't clear, although it is implied by the word 'balance'.

[whereagles]

Phil, on 2011-September-08, 20:46, said:

MPs R/W.

KJ9xxxxxx x x xx

RHO opens 2H (wide ranging style).

Is this a trick question? It's the most obivous pass ever, to be followed by some ridiculous number of spades.

[Phil]

whereagles, on 2011-September-09, 14:59, said:

Is this a trick question? It's the most obivous pass ever, to be followed by some ridiculous number of spades.

I never thought a bridge post could be an oxymoron.

[FrancesHinden]

Phil, on 2011-September-09, 08:55, said:

If RHO raises hearts, I also think he has a tough decision over my 3♠ balance.

After 2H P 3H P P I am not bidding 3S, so luckily I don't have that problem.

[JLOGIC]

FrancesHinden, on 2011-September-09, 16:01, said:

After 2H P 3H P P I am not bidding 3S, so luckily I don't have that problem.

lol yeah seriously. Partner marked with the best hand at the table or close to it, and we have KJ9th of spades.

[JLOGIC]

Zelandakh, on 2011-September-09, 03:45, said:

Hehe - you have 24 Zars Justin - that's only 1 short of an opening bid and we could upgrade it a point for "good honour concentration"...

Haha, I guess a lot of preemptive hands are opening bids in Zar count

[VM1973]

Zelandakh, on 2011-September-09, 03:45, said:

Hehe - you have 24 Zars Justin - that's only 1 short of an opening bid and we could upgrade it a point for "good honour concentration"...

That was exactly my thought, really, and I still reached the "pass" decision.

[Phil]

I overcalled 2♠, but with 9, even at these colors, the only problem scenario is a 4♥ blast on your left.

It continued:

(2♥) - 2♠ - (3♥) - 3N
Pass - 4♠ - (5♥) - x

I didn't like it at all but I passed.

Partner held AQ KT9x KJxx Kxx.

LHO Tx Qx AT9xx AQxx. (Some 5♥!)


5♥ looks like the par spot since they have a double fit. However, the play was mangled and declarer went for 800 which was fortunate since there were a few 790's our way.

[han]

With something like Ax Q10xxxxxx Qx x and it goes 1C - (1S), GIB will make a negative doubler because he isn't strong enough to bid. On the next round GIB will jump to game.

[VM1973]

I think a lot of it boils down to philosophy of how much strength you need to act over a preempt. From my way of thinking, there's no doubt that the hand qualifies for an opening 1-bid if you wanted to make one. Nevertheless, just holding an opening hand I am not immediately inclined to bid over the opponent's preempt. I think you should have better than an opening hand to make a move as your partner should balance if he has an opener.

If RHO opens 2♥ and you hold:

♠AQ432
♥32
♦A432
♣32

Do you bid? Would the scoring or vulnerability change your opinion?