[AL78]

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MPs. We were EW playing Acol, 3 weak twos. NS were playing 5CM strong NT.

3♣+3 was worth 29%. Which one of us (or maybe both of us) should have been a bit more enthusiastic?

[bluenikki]

AL78, on 2023-September-21, 16:11, said:

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MPs. We were EW playing Acol, 3 weak twos. NS were playing 5CM strong NT.

3♣+3 was worth 29%. Which one of us (or maybe both of us) should have been a bit more enthusiastic?

East. And more than a bit more enthusiastic.

They surely would have bid 3♣ without one of their aces and I personally would have considered bidding 3♣ missing both.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I think 2C instead of X is better, you dont have a strong T/O, 50% of your points are in the club suit.
After the T/O in pass out / reopening seat, 3C is ok, West should most likely do something, but than you you are playing MP,
and 11 tricks is a long long way, so I dont criticize pass a lot.

So to answer your Q: West, but mainly for his initial entry in the auction.
And I am not saying a 2C overcalls works out better, it gives you a better chance, not more.


South was friendly for not raising to 2H, this got compensated by North, who opened and repeated a hand worth a
3H opening, so part of the blame for missing something goes to the North action.
And in essence to the E/W decision to play, where you play.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

bluenikki, on 2023-September-21, 18:05, said:

East. And more than a bit more enthusiastic.

They surely would have bid 3♣ without one of their aces and I personally would have considered bidding 3♣ missing both.

Depends, what is 2N, if this is the "good" version of 3♣ as it would be for us, it's clear W should be bidding.

I think W should be bidding anyway, E has made a free 3♣ bid, I would expect decent values, and x, xxx, Axxx, xxxxx is enough for game but not nearly enough to bid.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

an alternative to X and 2C, would also be 3C, the North and may or may not be a too weak for this bid, and the 4 spade
is also not in favor of this bid.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mw64ahw]

I don't like the X.
West doesn't have a takeout shape and the long suit is light on hcp
3♣ as an Intermediate Jump Overcall (13-17ish & 6 modified losers) works well here.
East has support, 2 Aces and 6.5 modified losers (upgradeable with the Q♣); clearly enough strength to move further

[AL78]

P_Marlowe, on 2023-September-21, 23:16, said:

And in essence to the E/W decision to play, where you play.

Are you referring to the erratic bridge played at my local club? To be honest I don't think any of the local clubs which offer F2F bridge have a better standard.

[P_Marlowe]

AL78, on 2023-September-22, 09:52, said:

Are you referring to the erratic bridge played at my local club? To be honest I don't think any of the local clubs which offer F2F bridge have a better standard.

I know, and dont get the impression, I never get fooled, I am pretty prone to fall for any stupid action, some actions are far beyond my limited view, what possible
can happen, but yes it was a reference to the club standard.
Local clubs in our area are similar, ..., except my local club, the club has a tradition of serious comp. bridge, although the level is declining, the members get older.

As it is the Comment by Cyberyeti was, that West should bid on, ..., I am not sure, I would have done it, you play MP in a diverse field,
and is a heart stopper sufficient ( assuming there is one given the Single Queen and 2H was rebid by the opener, who should be aware of the vul. ),
and how do I feel, if 4C is -1 ( I would hate it), 3C seems like a good partial, winning the part score battle.

What you can do: Discuss bids in reopening seat, X in reopening can go as low as 8HCP, a 2 level overcall stays basically the same, there is a
upper limit, if you agreed, to play intermediate jump overcalls (I would love to see a discussion, if the 4th spades would stop some do employ the bid).

And after the discussion, move on.

[apollo1201]

I have more sympathy than other on the X as for me, bidding 2C denied such a good hand. I would be willing to bid 3C were it not for the 4-cd S suit (we never explicitly said it denies them but as 3NT looks less likely with my sg Q, I want to keep S in the loop).

E has a difficult choice, you’d definitely want to bid 3C despite the weak suit had opener passed. Forced to the 3-level, you’d bid the same with a bit less just to compete and not sell out at 2H. Maybe an off-shape 2NT would work well, but at MPs…a slightly heavy 3C seems to do the job.

Now W took a pessimist view, yes, it is MPs, but partner is not bidding freely at the 3-kevel broke, considering we could he much weaker than this, and now the hand looks promising (opener rebid H so partner rates to have no wasted points). Going down in 4C looks remote unless partner forgot that we still had a word had they passed. Finally, if the lunatic N bids 3H, you’ll bid again.

So to me, I’d assign a big share of the disaster to W. Finding slam is very hard.

Oddly enough, if it goes 2 or 3H pass pass, it might be easier to reach game. One that doesn’t make sometimes though. Same unopposed.