[nikos59]

This was a frustrating hand that cost us being "in the money" in
a weekend tournament (obviously, other 40 or so hands could
be equally responsible).

Scoring: MP

---

East deals and passes, pard passes as South, West opens 1S,
I pass as North despite 14 HCPs, East says 1NT (f.), pass,
2H by West, passed out.

The bidding screams for a heart lead but I don't find the courage.
I lead a club and pard takes the ace and fires back a trump.
But declarer wins her ace and crossruffs merrily taking 8 tricks
in the end. Minus 110 is worth a mere 25% of the matchpoints,
and yet there is no defence to beat 2H.

Note that even if our side reopens 2H we may end in the losing
3D instead of the making 2NT or the touch-and-go 3NT.

Don't assign the blame, but tell me who do you think should or could have
done more to avert this outcome?

Nikos

[arrows]

Tough luck, I couldn't see any fix of your problem

Occasionally, I temporize a 4 card 2 minor overcall if I have value
and no other good alternatives. esp. when holding 4 cards in RHO's suit.
I know this is appalling to some people, but I found it effective.
However, whether North should have made such an overcall is far from clear.
I would need a little better texture in ♦, like AQ109.

Finally, when nothing works, you may always try the ultimate weapon,
call director Complain your opps did't fully disclose their agreement,
one opened light, one responded light and had you and your partner been
well-informed, you would have, of course, bid differently.

[helene_t]

I don't think you could do anything to prevent this. If North has to bid something then 1NT but it doesn't make much sense vulnerable with a passed pd.

Calling the director won't work either (ok, I realize this was meant as sarcastic) since a light 3rd hand opening at favorable vulnerability is normal and the 1NT-response was alerted as forcing which means it can among other thing be such a hand.

[Free]

Lol, in my system, every hand has an opening bid (East 2♦ weak with 4+♦&4+M, South 1NT 10-12, West 1♠ 10-15 and North 1♦ 10-15 no 5M)

The only possible change might be South opening instead of passing. This should get you in the right contract, but it's an ugly hand in standard systems. After 1♠, North has nothing to say V vs NV, and after that 2♥ he has to shut up as well, opps could be playing in a 4-3 or so...

[Chamaco]

I think after

pass-pass-1S-pass
1NT*-pass-2H-? (*=forcing)

here North should double.
1NT forcing auctions are tricky (they often are stealing), and the t/o double promises the unbid suits.

At IMPS, I would agree with North's decision.
But at MP, where the partscore battle is where the blood flows, to me it is a clear case for prebalancing.

Sure, Qx in H and QJxx in spades are not nice to have, but it's MP and we must anticipate South balancing problem, because:

1. we (North) have the hcp power to take action to compete; pard more often than not will not have the power t take action;

2. we have some shape to compete; although not ideal (3 card clubs holding), it is compensatd by the non-minimum hcp (close to a 1NT opening).
South, without shape and without hcp, will probably passout.

3. VERY often, 1NT forcing auctions are tricky: opps are stealing.

On the minus side of competing is the alarming holding in opps suit, but it is matchpoints, and after a 1NT forcing bid, there is the concrete risk that if we pass, 2H will passout: and letting them play an undoubled partscore at 2 level will seldom be a good bargain.
Sure, sometimes it happens to be the best shot, but bridge is a game of %, and on %, pushing for partscore pays off more often than not.

[EricK]

Quote

2. we have he right shape to compete (44 in unbid suits); South, without shape and without hcp, will passout.

North doesn't quite have 44 in the unbid suits!

I don't really think there was much anybody could do here. You have a system whereby the South hand is not considered an opening bid. That is fine, but you will gain on some hands and lose on others. You have to just accept the losses with good grace.

It is very risky for North to keep the bidding open on the off chance that South has a hand just short of an opening bid. West could easily have had a much stronger hand, and then bidding by North will be a disaster (down 2 doubled is a bottom even if the NV opponents have a game).

Eric

[Chamaco]

EricK, on Jan 17 2005, 10:54 AM, said:

Quote

2. we have he right shape to compete (44 in unbid suits); South, without shape and without hcp, will passout.

North doesn't quite have 44 in the unbid suits!

I corrected it while you were posting
but still think that the non minimum opener justifies the action.

As I said, in 1NT forcing auction opps are stealing more often than not, and it is MP.
The idea of double is NOT to hope that S has such a good hand, it is to compete for the partscore.
It is risky, but so is Matchpoint play, IMO.

At IMPS, I'd pass.

[EricK]

Chamaco, on Jan 17 2005, 10:58 AM, said:

EricK, on Jan 17 2005, 10:54 AM, said:

Quote

2. we have he right shape to compete (44 in unbid suits); South, without shape and without hcp, will passout.

North doesn't quite have 44 in the unbid suits!

I corrected it while you were posting
but still think that the non minimum opener justifies the action.

As I said, in 1NT forcing auction opps are stealing more often than not, and it is MP.
The idea of double is NOT to hope that S has such a good hand, it is to compete for the partscore.
It is risky, but so is Matchpoint play, IMO.

At IMPS, I'd pass.

The trouble is at MPs, vulnerable against not, it is dangerous even to compete the part score unless you have a good reason to believe you can actually make the contract. One down against a making part score is no good if the opponents have the good sense to double you!

On this hand, North has no reason at all to believe that his side can make a 3 level contract and will reach the correct contract anyway - If South were 44 in the minors, then NS might very well reach 3♣ instead of 3♦.

In some ways it is safer to compete at IMPS. The opps are less likely to speculatively double a part score.

Eric