[kgr]

Scoring: MP

---

MP's;
Bidding:
1D-(P)-P-(1S)
??
What do you bid now?

I was asked this question at my local club. I said 2H. Do you agree?

[mike777]

Pass

Anything could be best but if my partner passes 1D, they really got nothing. I would expect them to bid something with zero HCP and a void in D. Partner cannot have an ace or 4hcp and a 5 card major or some other nice dist. hand.

LHO cannot bid over 1D and RHO makes a nonforcing call of 1S?

edit: 1>Perhaps my bias is showing here, I think I defend better than I play nt.2. Perhaps p can balance?

[the hog]

No I disagree. I would bid 1NT. Partner can still have a 5 count and a 5 card suit the way I play.

[mikeh]

The only possible bid is 1N. However, the correct call is Pass.

1N conveys the approximate strength: you are a point heavy and a ♣light.

But bridge is a game of probabilities, and mps even more so. You are almost assured of a plus score by passing, since it is unlikely that LHO can improve the contract. If they are red, your plus may be the magic 200, and even 100 will beat those who declare with your hand and fail.

If you are red, then bidding is even more contra-indicated, since you will often fail.

Only if both are white does bidding become more attractive. +50 seems like a weak result holding this hand. And if they can make +80, going -50 is ok.

However, Pass need not end the auction. Partner is still there.

Partner might be able to compete in ♦.

He might be able to bid 2♣. You can respect and pass a free 2♣, whereas of you bid 1N, he may (should) pull with very weak hands and long, weak ♣.

He might even be able to reopen with a double with, say 1=4=4=4 or 1=4=3=5 shape and a maximum pass.

So passing preserves some, though not all, of your chances of declaring the hand when it is right to do so, while also preserving all of your chances of defending when right.

BTW, 2♥ is horrible It should show 5=6 or better in the reds, and a decent hand since it forces partner to give preference to ♦ at the 3-level.

Of course, part of the secret is to pass in tempo Otherwise partner will not be able to balance when he should.

[inquiry]

Plug for my method... I open this hand 2♣.. three suiter, 5+ controls, 5 or less losers. To see how well (or poorly) it would have worked out on this hand, see my blog... Strong 3 suiter opening of 2Clubs.

On this auction (if forced to play this), I would bid 1NT as well.

[Double !]

bid 1NT

at matchpoints, it's often a race to see who can get to 1NT first.
It takes 8 tricks to beat 1S for +100, and if you make 8 tricks in NT, that's +120.

[Walddk]

I agree with Mike; pass is probably with the odds in the long run, especially if they are vulnerable. However, I have a feeling that at the table I would still bid 1NT. The reason might be that I believe I declare less badly than I defend.

Roland

[Double !]

if the opps are vul, that changes the situation significantly.

[HeartA]

1NT

[hrothgar]

Whats the vulnerability?

if they're red, I'm passing
if they're white I bid 1NT

[mike777]

The_Hog, on Jul 26 2005, 07:36 PM, said:

No I disagree. I would bid 1NT. Partner can still have a 5 count and a 5 card suit the way I play.

This is a big issue! If in general:

I play partner denies 4hcp and 5 card major.
Others play Partner can have 5HCP and 5 card major.

Perhaps this is another of those forum hands where Partner had the tough bid not us??

[Chamaco]

hrothgar, on Jul 27 2005, 05:32 AM, said:

Whats the vulnerability?

if they're red, I'm passing
if they're white I bid 1NT

Agree.

[coyot]

Agree with 1NT if opps white and pass if opps red.

I know that my p will reopen 1S with 4 diamonds or 5 clubs and 3 diamonds, unless he has a really empty hand.

I strongly disagree with expecting partner to bid something with diamond void over my opening - because he knows that 1♦ will be hardly ever passed out.

p could in this case have anything up to 5 bad HCP (QQJ etc).

[P_Marlowe]

Pass,

if you wanna play games, 1NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[the hog]

P_Marlowe, on Jul 27 2005, 05:48 PM, said:

Pass,

if you wanna play games, 1NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

Games? Games like Bridge I suppose you mean.

[kgr]

Thanks for the answers (even if nobody supports my 2H )
I thought that you were super max. and could reverse to 2H:
This should show a strong hand; club shortness because no DBL or 1NT.
...but I now agree with suggestion that reverse should show 6-5.

BTW: partner had something like:

Kx
JTxx
xx
xxxxx

I'm not sure this was the actual hand, but 4H made.

[coyot]

2H is not a bad bid if you find a fit. I would not expect it to promise 6-5, but 6-4 for sure. That is, with a doubleton in your both suits, your p should correct to your first suit - and you don't want that to happen.

[whereagles]

2H is not bad. I might have bid that at table, though 1NT rates to be more flexible.

[Al_U_Card]

Did you give any thought to opening this rock-crusher with 1H? Makes your rebid way easier. Dbl and convert 2C to 2D, or bid 2D as you please depending on the vulnerability conditions etc.....

[whereagles]

It is sensible to open 1H. But people believe it's a sin when playing 5 card majs..