[hrothgar]

MP

Red versus White
Partner deals and opens 1N (15-17) in first seat

♠ 8764
♥ J108
♦ 542
♣ 873

Easy pass or do you consider anything else?
If so, what?

[billw55]

I assume RHO passed.

We seem to be headed for -300 or so. There is no reason to suppose the auction is unusual, but even so, if we can weasel out, so much the better. The best bet seems to be to persuade ops to balance. Are they more likely to do so over 1NT, or if I try garbage stayman? This isn't really clear to me. Also to consider: as it is they are rarely doubling us, but they might be able to after more bids. On the whole I choose pass.

[mcphee]

Wonderful, pairs and I am going for a number. I can not imagine not being doubled, unless my LHO is 98 years old and brought the wrong glasses. Hope you have some good agreements for later, now I pass and pray for the conditions above.

[Winstonm]

Depends. If the partnership opens most 15-17 hands with a 5-card heart or spade suit with 1NT, I would be more prone to Stayman and pass. If the partnership only opens heart hands, I would be less likely. If the partnership won't open 5-card major hands 1NT, I pass.

I assume option #1, so on further review I am running now with 2C - I doubt the contract can be any worse that 1N. (except for that pesky 3-2 diamond fit that may be lurking.)

[ggwhiz]

I'm not risking anything that might put me on play.

I've had hands like this in teams where -1400 was a normal boring push and expect that no matter the size of the number it will salvage 30 - 40% at mp's unless I make it worse.

[billw55]

mcphee, on 2013-December-04, 09:03, said:

Wonderful, pairs and I am going for a number. I can not imagine not being doubled, unless my LHO is 98 years old and brought the wrong glasses. Hope you have some good agreements for later, now I pass and pray for the conditions above.

Not sure I agree. First, LHO must have a hand suitable for a double, and second, RHO must leave it in. This might not be so easy, depending on their system, and considering that south could have up to a 7 count and still pass.

Interesting question, if it does go x-p-p, should south try to escape?

[nige1]

hrothgar, on 2013-December-04, 07:34, said:

MP Red versus White ♠ 8764 ♥ J 10 8 ♦ 5 4 2 ♣ 8 7 3
Partner deals and opens 1N (15-17) in first seat. Easy pass or do you consider anything else? If so, what?

IMO 2♣ (Assuming garbage Stayman) = 10, 2♥ (Transfer) = 9, Pass = 8, 3N = 2.

• An argument for bidding is: according to Jeremy Flint (Tiger Bridge), you are more likely to escape undoubled -- although, admittedly, Flint was writing about running from a weak notrump.
• Some arguments for passing: 1N may be best (of a bad job); it might even make; 1N is hard to defend; bidding increases the level and hence potential undertricks; LHO may have a hand unsuitable for a double (you won't usually mind opponents winning the auction, even in a game); and if you bid then RHO gets another shot.

At IMPs, you should pass but, at MPs, there is a fair chance that Stayman will allow a miraculous escape; although there is an appreciable risk that it will make things worse.

[gszes]

unless my 1n is highly suspect we will probably escape with 3-5 tricks which can be quite reasonable
if we kept the opps out of game. Remember that 1n is going to be very common and risking total
and complete oblivion when we have an average hand so far seems more suited for las vegas than
bridge.

pass=10 2c (garbage stayman) = 4 transfer or 2s to play =2

[rmnka447]

Pass.

Yeah it's probably a bad spot to be in, but you haven't been doubled yet. If you bid, are you likely to land in a better spot? You're going to raise the level of the contract without any assurance you're getting to a better place to play. Also, Partner (1 NT bidder) may hold a 5 card suit. Wouldn't you hate it if your attempt to run out preempts partner from getting out in the best landing spot?

If LHO doubles for penalty and it's passed around to you, you can make an SOS RDBL and bring partner into finding where to land.

Instead, if LHO has some distribution, it's quite possible that LHO will compete with a bid. Then you're off the hook. But if you bid now, you may preclude LHO from rescuing you.

[mycroft]

In my area, the first thing I do is look at my opponents - and their card.

There are several pairs who can't double a strong NT for penalty (in some of my partnerships, I'm one of them). If that's the case, I would try to brazen out -200 or -300 for an A+ when lots of people have the same auction, and some can double. Sure, I might hit LHO with a conventional double and RHO with a "if I had a penalty double I would have made it, thank you for saving me"; oh well. That's one step ahead of the pairs where RHO has a "I do have a penalty double, and I'm going to", already, never mind the hands where it's LHO that has a penalty double and can't make it.

[CSGibson]

pass. No 2nd choice. I expect this to be a miserable contract in which I have lots of field protection.

If RHO had made a penalty double, then I would consider transfering to spades, mostly because I don't want them to get into a doubling tempo, and a majority of pairs who would automatically be in forcing auctions are only forced through 2♠ - I've gotten away with it before, but it feels like a crapshoot.

[HighLow21]

Pass. No other choice makes any sense to me.

[MrAce]

I will go with passers.

Pass