[Fluffy]

♠Kxx
♥J9x
♦10xx
♣AQxx

Nobody Vul

1♣-(1♦)-??

[Gerben42]

Pass. I feel "relieved of duty" rather than preempted.

[Chamaco]

This hand is a good advertisement for 2 different approaches:

a. using DBL to deny a major (bidding a major wd promise only 4+, not 5+)
b. using 1NT to show shape+values, regardless of stopper; if 3NT is in the picture, opener is expected to checkback for a serious stop.

I like either of the 2 approaches.

==================================

Without these agreements I'd stretch to consider Txx a "sort of" stopper, and bid 1NT.

[P_Marlowe]

2D.

Showing inv. values and fit.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[flytoox]

Just raise to 2C. Or if you like, cuebid 2D to show a limit raise or better.

[pbleighton]

1NT (in spite of no D stopper), 2C, and 2D are all reasonable.

I don't think there is a clear best bid on this hand.

I wouldn't pass - the hand is too strong.

Peter

[joker_gib]

Pass (partner knows I can have this hand) or 2♣

Alain

[mgtusi]

1 ♠ : some strength, no majors

After 1♣-(1♦), I play :

- Double = ♥

- 1 ♥ = ♠

- 1 NT = natural, one stopper

So 1 ♠ is an automatic bid


Michel

[inquiry]

I agree partially with Chamaco.. I like (playing standard) for double to deny a four card major (hence imply support on this auction).

But the real advertisement here is for Misho's "equality" method. On this hand, he would respond 1♠ to show balanced hand unsuited for a 1NT or 3NT response.

Of course, how much can go wrong if you simply bid what you got, a club raise?

[ABadPlayer]

I like either Pass or 2D.

[FrancesHinden]

2D, showing a high card raise to 3C. Isn't that what I've got?

[mike777]

2clubs easy, not close to an invite hand for me.

[han]

2C easy, 2D seems a big stretch. Playing standard methods I see no alternative.

[scoob]

i'm inclined to make a negative double as it may discourage them from playing in a major fit (i'd love to defend NT here) at the risk of playing a 7card major our way at the 2 level - one i'm willing to take with even a pickup partner.

[mikeh]

Chamaco, on Aug 11 2005, 06:13 AM, said:

This hand is a good advertisement for 2 different approaches:

a. using DBL to deny a major (bidding a major wd promise only 4+, not 5+)

Using the double to deny a major means that with weak 4=4 or 4=5 hands, responder must risk being shut out of a 4=4♠ fit: he must bid 1♥ and then is stuck if 4th chair raises ♦ and opener passes.

Reserve double for both majors: usually 4=4 but may be 4=5 with a weak hand such that a ♦ raise may cause us to miss a ♠ fit.

I am not personally aware of any good player who uses 1♥ or 1♠ here to show 5+ (in a standard based method). What would they bid with 4=2=3=4 or 2=4=3=4 if 1M showed 5? Would they have to negative double....... ugh.

As for this hand, this is right on the border between 2♣ and 2♥. I would choose 2♣ because of the flat nature of the hand and the significant risk that partner will be 4=4=2=3 with a weak notrump hand. That fear almost, but not quite, got me to bid 1N. However, if he has 4=4=2=3 or 4=4=1=4, I expect 2♣ to outscore 1N at mps (110 v 90 or 130 v 120) and to (usually) be safer at imps.

I am not interested in 3N unless partner can bid 2N over 2♣, and am not the least interested in 5♣ unless partner can make a move.

[Double !]

I chose 2♣ but, to some degree, I think the decision can be influenced by the range the partnership is playing to open 1NT. If playing weak NT, then you may assume that opener has something extra in hand either via hcp and/or distribution. Knowing that you have support for clubs will be helpful when opener has to decide on his/her next bid. And you can always show something in reserve by taking some further action later in the auction. Playing strong NT, my prinicple is to base initial lower-level competitive decisions on the premise that opener has a minimum balanced hand (aka a weak NT) until the bidding tells me otherwise. The transfer response structure, especially the 1S option, has a lot of merit (which means I like it but don't know.play it). However, how many people online or in f2f are currently playing this? How many people are playing transfer responses when opps make t/o dbl? (Hopefully the numbers will increase.

Personally, I don't like the negX to show cards without a 4-card major because opener might be stuck for a bid and the partnership won't have any 8-card fit.

[HeartA]

I chose 2♣, and 2♦ is close. Pass? never!

[coyot]

2♣ is a nice system bid, showing 10+ with 4+card and without majors

[Gerben42]

First, Inverted minors are off when opponents interfere. This is because you have the cuebid as a forcing bid.

Second, You don't know if you have a fit.

Third, You do not have a stopper in their suit so 1NT is not a good idea. I'm still passing with 2♣ a second choice of which I am not particularly fond.

[pclayton]

I think any type of limit - type raise in clubs is a big overbid.

If some sort of 1S tool showing 1N values is available Ill make that call, otherwise I'll content myself with 2C and hope for a 2D raise on my left whereas I'll make a descriptive card showing double.

We are in the process of boosting our minor openers a la KS. If 1C shows an unbalanced 12 + or a 15+ balanced, a limit raise in clubs isn't an overbid at all.

But playing typical openings and strong NT, it is.