[Fluffy]

♠KQ109x
♥K98xx
♦Jxx
♣-

all vul, Match points, you open first position 1♠

1♠-(pass)-2♣-(double)
??


double is take out. 2♣ is not game forcing, but if it matters explain why please.

[VM1973]

2♥

[PhilKing]

I stand on my chair and Pass.

If an explanation is needed, I did not have an opening bid and things have potentially taken a turn for the worse. Light openings work when we hit a fit, but that is not the case here. The only really good scenario is that leftie is totally screwed. Ideally, righty doubled on a 2443 and they are about head into the abyss.

[ggwhiz]

If you bid now you are 90% to get 3♣ from pard next, 10% a no-play notrump bid. The only hope I can see is to pass and pray but I wouldn't be surprised if pard comes in with 3♣ even IF lho bids.

I've never been shut out by passing that shape and stopped opening it on trash a loooong time ago. Both minors (or non spades) and I'm in but this is bad.

[PhilKing]

I think there is a case for psyching a redouble and floating if it goes 2♦-p-p. The more I think about it the more I like it - it's the way to stop pard bidding 3♣. When LHO is stacked in clubs, RHO will bottle it an run, and then it's a case of mumsky, bring the dogs!

[the hog]

Well it was a bit silly to open 1S wasn't it? I certainly pass now. 2H is asking for trouble.

[Codo]

Do I have a good life if I pass now?

What about

..(2♦) X (pass) or
.. (pass) ??
or what about
.. (2♦) 3 NT or the like?

what will your partner think of your pass? I am not sure, but I KNOW what he will not expect: Something like a weak 5530 hand....

I am fairly sure that my partner will understand 2 ♥ as unbalanced and usually weak. With a strong 5422 or so, I would surely redouble. So I take the minority report and bid 2 ♥.

But I am very lucky, that I had not been in this position, as I had openened 2 ♦ at my first opportunity and passed without Ekren avaiable.

[mikeh]

I abstain

I'd never, repeat never, be in this situation. I only open non-opening values pre-emptively or psychically, and this hand is way too good to psyche on. I wouldn't open this in a big club method.

I am astounded at how anyone, playing in a standard based method, can expect to hold an intelligent auction with a good partner when the opening bid range is as wide as it has to be for this to be considered an opening. How do you fancy your chances in 3N when partner holds some 2=2=3=6 13 count and foolishly thinks that's a game force? How do you stay out of trouble when he has the same hand with 18 or 19?

How does partner judge when to double the opps? And so on.

Maybe my age is showing again

[nige1]

Fluffy, on 2013-August-29, 16:36, said:

♠ K Q 10 9 x ♥ K 9 8 x x ♦ J x x ♣-
all vul, Match points, you open first position 1♠
1♠-(pass)-2♣-(double)
??
double is take out. 2♣ is not game forcing, but if it matters explain why please.

IMO 2♥ = 10, 2♠ = 9, Pass = 8, Redouble = 4. IMO passing is more dangerous than bidding, especially if opening on such hands is your normal style.

[Fluffy]

The real question I wanted to raise is this: is 2 red now natural? I think it sounds like but sometimes I wonder if it is best.