[kgr]

I was given this question via mail.
Partner opens 1NT: 9-11 HCP.
It is IMPs. The vulnerability was not given, but your side is not vulnerable (otherwise they don't use mini NT)

IMP's

---

What is your plan using standard methods?
If you start with Stayman, how do you evaluate your hand after 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ answers?

[yunling]

I'll transfer to ♠ then pass. At most a combined 22 count，

[billw55]

Not really sure what standard methods are after a mini notrump.

If 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ is nonforcing, that sounds good. If not, I will just sign off in spades, either directly or by transfer per agreements.

[kgr]

billw55, on 2013-June-03, 09:45, said:

If 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ is nonforcing, that sounds good.

assuming weak stayman, non-forcing.


In fact we play a version of Heeman, and therefore weak stayman is not available.
With this hand we can only transfer to ♠. Partner will bid 2♠ with a 3c♠ or 4=3=3=3; he bids 2NT with 4c♠ max; and bids 3♠ with 4c♠ and min.
Is it also a sign off opposite a 4c♠ and max?

[billw55]

kgr, on 2013-June-03, 10:04, said:

Is it also a sign off opposite a 4c♠ and max?

Yes. 22 points and no shortness doesn't add up to game very often, even with nine trumps.

[mycroft]

I'd be happier with this hand if my other suit was not hearts - that way I'd be pushing hearts out of the opponents' lives.

But as far as I'm concerned, 13 is an invite opposite 10-12 (they won't let me play 9-11 in my country), and this isn't 13 (yeah, 2 doubletons; but partner's flat, too).

Could be a magic make; if it is, who else is getting there? Whereas if we go down, who else is getting there? Right. Again, if they were competing in hearts at other tables where North passes, maybe they'd get pushed; but they're not going to, what with only 7 of them and all.

[ggwhiz]

2♣ and a risk/reward invite over 2♥ with a hoped for side source of tricks. Otherwise, sign off in spades.

[gszes]

This is not your everyday 11 hcp hand. Having all of your
values located your 2 long suits dramatically increases the
offensive potential of this hand. With most 11 counts one
would never even consider looking for game. This hand
evaluates to much closer to 14 if a trump fit is found and
game is definitely a possibility. However,,,

Since we are NVUL there is no strong reason to look for
the elusive "perfect 10" (or 11) p needs to make game a
decent idea. Under these conditions I bid like I'm playing
MP and try for positive score

2h

transfer to 2s and pass and hope some brave opp decides to balance.

If I were Vul I admit to feeling compelled to search for game
and my favorite method is 1n 2c
after 2d 2s 5sp 4he invitational nf
after 2h 2s 54 in majors invitational NF (p may have to bid 3h to sign off)
after 2s 3h 54 in majors invitational p will always return to 3s if they cant accept.

this method increases p risk when opener does not wish to accept
game invitation but it does allow opener to evaluate how well their
hand works with 9 cards in responders hand. Note that I would not be searching
for game if my two suits were anything but the majors which i can moslty describe
at the 2 level. This hand is not good enough to invite game in nt only suit contracts.

[Zelandakh]

kgr, on 2013-June-03, 09:18, said:

What is your plan

kgr, on 2013-June-03, 10:04, said:

With this hand we can only transfer to ♠.

Glad we could provide answers to that for you then.

[rhm]

I ran a simple simulation, because the whole question posed looked to me like a non-issue.

Give North a balanced hand 9-11 with at least 4 cards in spades (could be 5)
How often does 4S make from the North hand?
This must be close to the most favorable condition you can expect

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4S made exactly on 300 deals or 30%
4S was down on 700 deals or 70%

Average number of tricks per deal was 9.05

For those who want to know what happens when North has at least 4 cards in hearts (could be 5)

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4H made on 209 deals or 20.9%
4H was down on 791 deals or 79.1%

Average number of tricks per deal was 8.69

It is my impression that on this forum most would be better of if they had never heard that at IMPs you should pursue vulnerable games more aggressively .

Rainer Herrmann

[kgr]

rhm, on 2013-June-04, 02:32, said:

I ran a simple simulation, because the whole question posed looked to me like a non-issue.

Give North a balanced hand 9-11 with at least 4 cards in spades (could be 5)
How often does 4S make from the North hand?
This must be close to the most favorable condition you can expect

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4S made exactly on 300 deals or 30%
4S was down on 700 deals or 70%

Average number of tricks per deal was 9.05

For those who want to know what happens when North has at least 4 cards in hearts (could be 5)

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4H made on 209 deals or 20.9%
4H was down on 791 deals or 79.1%

Average number of tricks per deal was 8.69

It is my impression that on this forum most would be better of if they had never heard that at IMPs you should pursue vulnerable games more aggressively .

Rainer Herrmann

Thanks!
what if north has 4 spades and 11 (10) points? Is an invite ok if he has 4 spades?

[rhm]

kgr, on 2013-June-04, 03:42, said:

Thanks!
what if north has 4 spades and 11 (10) points? Is an invite ok if he has 4 spades?

When North has a balanced hand with exactly 11 HCP and at least 4 cards in spades (could be 5)
How often does 4S make from the North hand?

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4S made exactly on 412 deals or 41.2%
4S was down on 588 deals or 58.8%

Average number of tricks per deal was 9.35

Rainer Herrmann

[ArtK78]

I play 10-12 1NT with my regular partner. If I held this hand, I would bid 2♠ (natural and to play).

As has been shown above, game is not likely. And, since I play the mini-NT only nonvul, I only want to be in game when it is likely.

By far the most important consideration is to get the auction up to a level where it is difficult for the opponents to come in if it is there hand. Bidding 2♠ immediately accomplishes this. It is now their guess. If they bid, I am not taking any further action.

[billw55]

rhm, on 2013-June-04, 03:54, said:

When North has a balanced hand with exactly 11 HCP and at least 4 cards in spades (could be 5)
How often does 4S make from the North hand?

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4S made exactly on 412 deals or 41.2%
4S was down on 588 deals or 58.8%

Average number of tricks per deal was 9.35

Rainer Herrmann

Admittedly that is better than I expected.

[kgr]

rhm, on 2013-June-04, 03:54, said:

When North has a balanced hand with exactly 11 HCP and at least 4 cards in spades (could be 5)
How often does 4S make from the North hand?

Answer with 1000 random deals:

4S made exactly on 412 deals or 41.2%
4S was down on 588 deals or 58.8%

Average number of tricks per deal was 9.35

Rainer Herrmann

Thanks.
Not enough for a non-vulnerable invite then.
Also not if vulnerable, considering that partner will ofter accept an invite with 10HCP

[wank]

ArtK78, on 2013-June-04, 04:22, said:

It is now their guess. If they bid, I am not taking any further action.

then you should be willing to take further action and punish them if they guess wrong. smack 3h or a scramble 2nt safely and, more debatably, blue 2sx.

[ArtK78]

wank, on 2013-June-04, 12:28, said:

then you should be willing to take further action and punish them if they guess wrong. smack 3h or a scramble 2nt safely and, more debatably, blue 2sx.

No, because that will give them a chance to get out of a contract that you want them to play in and allow them to get to a contract that will be more favorable to them.

As for the idea of scrambling 2NT, I don't advise it. Your most likely plus score is playing in 2♠. Anything else is a guess. And, in my experience, you score better when you allow them to make the last guess with as little information to guide them as possible.

Above all, don't get greedy.