[TylerE]

3H-2, -200

---

This was not exactly a winning spot. Matchpoints.

[ahydra]

I can't see anything wrong with what South did, so I blame North for opening and bidding again on that pile of rubbish.

ahydra

[billw55]

North, twice.

[ArtK78]

North's opening bid was aggressive. If that is part of the partnership's style, fine. But a vul opening on an ace-less 4333 11 count is pretty aggressive.

After the 1♠ overcall, North has no reason to bid (not playing support doubles). He should pass.

The result is a little unlucky. On a very good day, the NS cards will produce a game in hearts. And it doesn't take a whole lot of luck to make a game in NT (better than hearts on this hand). Still, North bid too much.

[rhm]

Taken from Bridgewinner:

Looking at the Rosenberg-Zia convention card a careful reader may notice:

- “We pass 12 balanced HCP vulnerable”

Were such methods really worthwhile? What were their benefits?

Michael Rosenberg: Not going down 200 (or 300 or 400) in 1N when you could stay out of the auction

Rainer Herrmann

[TylerE]

Why blame north exclusively? Once N shows a minimum with 3♥ exactly how many cover cards does S have a right to expect with 5.5 losers in the minors alone?
2♥ is declining an invite...what feature in the S hand makes it worth re-inviting?

[awm]

Its hard to know without more info on methods.

Is the north hand a normal open for this pair? What is the range for 1nt? What would double or pass show over 1S? Did 2H by opener show a minimum?

[TylerE]

Normalish 2/1s.
The hand is a normal opening for N, but not for S, but S knows N's tendencies.
1N should be 11-14ish - normal strong NT openings. Support double not available.
2♥ showed a minimum.

[BillHiggin]

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 12:11, said:

Why blame north exclusively? Once N shows a minimum with 3♥ exactly how many cover cards does S have a right to expect with 5.5 losers in the minors alone?
2♥ is declining an invite...what feature in the S hand makes it worth re-inviting?

What South has is an actual opening hand! And a partner that has taken a free bid (I suspect that only you know why - there certainly was no bridge related reason).
What North has is a incurable desire to bid simply because it is his turn!
North gets 100% of the blame simply because I dislike such nonsense as 120%.

[billw55]

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 12:22, said:

S knows N's tendencies.

2♥ showed a minimum.

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 12:11, said:

Why blame north exclusively?

Hm yes, I see your point.

[ggwhiz]

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 12:11, said:

Why blame north exclusively? Once N shows a minimum

North shows a minimum that is still an opening bid (which he is not CLOSE to owning) and needs to switch to 10-13 nt openers so his pard can tell when he's just being insane.

[PhilKing]

If 1NT shows any old 11-14, then I think N/S are playing an unbiddable style. Something has to give, so if North wants to open this trash, then switch to a 14-16 NT.

Playing a style where 1NT shows at least a good 11, I would just raise 1NT to three (but invite opposite 11-13). I don't see much benefit in checkback on the south hand.

[TylerE]

If the 11 count bothers everyone so much, give N the J of spades in addition. 2♥ is still pretty much the last making spot.

[PhilKing]

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 13:18, said:

If the 11 count bothers everyone so much, give N the J of spades in addition. 2♥ is still pretty much the last making spot.

Then I would expect to play in 3NT down one for a decent board, since 4♥ is going two down.

[ArtK78]

TylerE, on 2013-September-04, 13:18, said:

If the 11 count bothers everyone so much, give N the J of spades in addition. 2♥ is still pretty much the last making spot.

On this lie of the cards. 3NT would be a pretty good contract.

[TylerE]

ArtK78, on 2013-September-04, 13:59, said:

On this lie of the cards. 3NT would be a pretty good contract.

Really Art? EW have 5 top tricks (3♣ and 2♦) .

[the_clown]

Opening aceless 11 count with 2 jacks and 4-3-3-3 vulnerable is really poor in my opinion. I would open the hand only if we agreed to open all eleven counts. Furthermore as others mentioned it is better to pass 1♠ and not bid 1N. Bidding 1N shows an exceptional stopper (AJx(x) is a minimum requirement) IMO or a maximum hand with an ordinary stopper (Kxx or better).

If very agressive openings were agreed I could give 30% to South for bidding 3♥, but still think 1N is far worse than 3♥

[Cyberyeti]

PhilKing, on 2013-September-04, 13:31, said:

Then I would expect to play in 3NT down one for a decent board, since 4♥ is going two down.

How, you have 4 club and 2 diamond losers in 3N.

The cards are particularly unkind, swap the J♣ and Q♦ for small ones and you make 3♥.

I would treat the N hand as a 10 count and not open it even if I open all 11s, it's horrible (KNR = 9.75).

Can S not hope for Kxxx, KJx, xx, KJ10x or similar where you have plenty of chances in 4♥.

[kfay]

I've seen so many balanced 11-HCP openers in the last 2 weeks and every time I'm like "why?!"

[PhilKing]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-September-04, 14:08, said:

How, you have 4 club and 2 diamond losers in 3N.

On what lead?