[ArcLight]

Playing MP, Vul vs Non (Red on White), You deal and are first to bid.

You pick up

♠x
♥Q T 9 7 6 5 4 3
♦ x
♣ J x x

What do you bid?
My actions are below, hidden, with the result.

Spoiler

I figured it was likely the opponents would have a Spade game. Being vulnerable with such a bad suit, I didnt want to bid 4H. Not even 3H, as being set doubled would be painful. I settled on 2H as most disruptive. Teh opps can still get to game, but may miss a slam.

Opps bid to 4♠ down 1.
Turns out I preempted pards 1NT (15-17) oppener, and 4H was a laydown.
0MP

[dogsbreath]

hi
I might open 3 or 4H if i lived somewhere where there are plenty of good parteners available. In reality i am subject to principle of restricted choice .. who will I play with if i scare off my current p? At red-v-white i must pass
Rgds Dog

[mike777]

pass, easy.

[Winstonm]

If it were late and I needed a board, I'd try 2H in first seat - there are 2 opponents to confuse and only 1 partner so a first seat action can be based on less than perfect systemic requirements in some instances.

Otherwise, pass.

Winston

[mikeh]

Pass.

If you preempt with this hand, playing anything resembling standard methods, you take partner out of the game.

However, with an understanding partner, late in a single-session matchpoint event in which I feel we are lying 3rd or 4th, and against weak opps, I might perpetrate 3♥. Only because I used to read superman comics when much, much younger.

[luis]

4♥ automatic.

[ArcLight]

>4♥ automatic.

Down 2 Doubled = -500, more than the cost of the opponents making 4♠
There were 7 potential losers. 5 side suits, the A and K of trumps. Maybe the Q doesnt make either.


I think in MP, a double based on HCP without a trump stack is likely at the 4 level.

[pbleighton]

3H.

At any other vulnerability, 4H.

Peter

[pclayton]

This hand is a cousin of Jillybeans.

I try 3♥, for the same reasons I like 4♥ with JB's. If I had longer spades, I'd pass or content myself with 2♥.

4♥ red on white is a little psycho.

[whereagles]

2H or 3H for me, depending on how I feel.

And what's that about preempting pard? With 15 and doubleton heart pard should try for game. After all, the preempt is at RED, no?

[Al_U_Card]

Indeed, all factors hint at preempting with the playing strength of this hand. I like 2H for the safety factor as well as giving pard the chance to get in low (he knows that I never pre-empt in 1st seat with Hx or xxx in the unbid major so he can take the appropriate action).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

in my regular partnership at this colours, this would be
a 2H bid, and I voted for 2H, but I will be hard pressed,
and probably 3H will be on the table.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[luke warm]

i'd bid 2h based on the old fashioned rule of 2 and 3... it might be old but it still has some good points

[coyot]

Pass. I am willing to preempt one level above or below my expected length.

This hand has 7 losers for sure, with some bad luck 8. Red vs. white, I'm supposed to bid for down 2, so even 3♥ is too high. And I will NEVER bid 2♥ with 8card. That is going to create more bad than good.

If opps have 4♠, they will quite likely bid it over 4♥ (unless they decide to double me). I mean, come on! If everyone around the table has the average hand, cca 12 HCP, 4 spades and 1-2 hearts, it is almost sure that they will bid somehow...

Unless partner has 5 spades - and then I don't want to preempt at all.

[Fluffy]

If we can make game, I wonder why your partner didn't get there after a vulnerable opening.

I'd open 3♥, not very sure why, but I believe a 2♥ opening at this vulnerability offers a bit more defensivelly.

[coyot]

Jlall, on Aug 19 2005, 04:16 PM, said:

3H. I really don't agree with mike that this bid takes partner out of the game. If partner raises hearts at any level that can't be bad. If partner Xs them, hes not counting on tricks from me. I think pass is more likely to take partner out of the game, how will he ever play me for 8-3?

With due respect, what is the most likely shape of your partner from the statistical point of view? 0-1 hearts, 3-4 against your 3card and 44 to 55 against your singletons. Your shape and your values are next to useless - and if not, you'll have the tools to bid them...

Against NT, you're safe with transfers, against minor opener, you're safe with weak jumpshift... and against 1♠ you have a nice pass with hearts for any reopen auctions.

BTW, unless your agreements are that 3♥ red vs. white would go down 3 against gargabe, partner raising hearts at any level CAN pretty much be bad.

[Free]

2♥ is hardly a preempt, so that's useless. If you want to open this piece of garbage, open at least at 3-level. But still, it's ♥s, so just make it 4♥. Playing NAMYATS, partner won't do much with a strong hand.

[luke warm]

Free, on Aug 20 2005, 12:17 PM, said:

2♥ is hardly a preempt, so that's useless.

does that go for all weak 2H bids or just this particular hand?

[the hog]

A very easy 3H opening. 2H is a total misdescription and I would rather pass. I have some admiration for those who are prepared to open 4H.