[Winstonm]

Quote

I still haven't heard any great objections to 2NT.

The reason IMO opinion you haven't heard great objection to 2N is because there is no great objection - it is a slight overbid - not a horrible crime.

I'm truly not fond of 2S, as I think a high percentage of the time you have decreased your chances for a positive result. About the only time it would seem to be right would be if partner is 5332 and even then 2N would have better play.

3D is.....well.....a strange choice....but on reflection, not quite so off-the-wall weird and wacky as might first appear. Maybe not choice #1 or #2, but clearly at least tied for last with everything else.

[Winstonm]

I guess it is time to post the result of this fiasco in bidding acumen.

Partner held: AJ98x, A108, A87x, 8.

With opponents silent:
1S-1N
2D-3D*
3H**-3N***

*Pretend this is 2N and keep the real bid a secret, will you?
** Smelling a rat, no doubt.
***Endplayed.

Making 3 on misdefense (clubs led and continued after winning the diamond K offside) and a double squeeze.

Can someone tell me again the color of the pass card?

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, no 2nd choice.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Fluffy]

I prefer to play a stupid 3NT than a stupid 2♠, at least if they missdefend the price on 3NT is greater (and they don't see my ridicoulous hand while they do in 2♠ hehe). Anyway I prefer to stay in 2♦, so pass quickly (sometimes they reopen this)

[Winstonm]

Quote

(sometimes they reopen this)

Ah...now there's something I never factored...juicy.

[kenrexford]

This type of problem seems to be helped along by two ideas.

First, with the typical 5332 piece-o-crap I usually open, 1NT is "intended as forcing" but can be passed.

Second, make diamonds real.

Sure, this does not solve all problems, and it may create new problems. But, this problem is less a problem.

Even better is if Power 2NT is used (2NT an artificial GF, allowing 5-5 5-loser jump shifts), as it reduces the pass-the-2♦-and-miss game problem.

Best of all is for a 2♣ semi-force, as it seems the ideal solution on 5242 16-17 counts.

Maybe Gazilli or something like that also helps, but I play enough silly stuff and don't want anything on my card that also rhymes with silly.

[whereagles]

jdonn, on Apr 29 2007, 07:54 PM, said:

I still haven't heard any great objections to 2NT.

Well, how about this: risks getting you too high when a misfit is likely and the hand isn't that hot anyway?

[gwnn]

why not pass? btw for all who are this concerned of missing game this is reason #198 for strong ♣.

[mikegill]

If I had the T of hearts as well as the 9 I think 2NT would be really clear. I'm a little worried about heart stoppers, but if pard is 5242 or 5341, it should be fine. I'm going to make the bid with the biggest upside - 2NT. Passing with a red game on the horizon has never seemed like a winning strategy to me. Maybe I'd pass against very good opponents, but this light 3NT (if we bid it) may be very hard to defend, particularly if pard has 2 or 3 hearts. 2NT could easily be as good/better than 2d as a partial, too. If I had a 4th diamond, I would probably pass 2d, but I'm just not even sure 2d is making.

[Apollo81]

Late responding, haven't had much free time lately.

I'm with Josh on this one. Normally with 9 HCP and this pattern on this auction it is right to pass. However, since I am *so* loaded with spot cards and it is RED IMPS, I think the slight overbid of 2NT is the best call.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Apr 29 2007, 01:37 PM, said:

This problem is an excellent advertisement for the common approach that 2♦ promises 4cards: that 2♣ could be a doubleton. Whether you play Gazilli (which I don't, and which I wasn't aware applied here)

It applies in the sense that it makes 2♦ more limited; a good 16-18 count with 4 diamonds would rebid 2♣.

[Winstonm]

Apollo81, on Apr 30 2007, 11:06 AM, said:

Late responding, haven't had much free time lately.

I'm with Josh on this one.  Normally with 9 HCP and this pattern on this auction it is right to pass.  However, since I am *so* loaded with spot cards and it is RED IMPS, I think the slight overbid of 2NT is the best call.

Yes, the lure of a vulnerable game, the good spots, the implied secondary diamond fit....these all lured me as well - and then it was a choice of what bid to make.

[Apollo81]

Winstonm, on Apr 30 2007, 03:14 PM, said:

Apollo81, on Apr 30 2007, 11:06 AM, said:

Late responding, haven't had much free time lately.

I'm with Josh on this one.  Normally with 9 HCP and this pattern on this auction it is right to pass.  However, since I am *so* loaded with spot cards and it is RED IMPS, I think the slight overbid of 2NT is the best call.

Yes, the lure of a vulnerable game, the good spots, the implied secondary diamond fit....these all lured me as well - and then it was a choice of what bid to make.

pass is my second choice

[Double !]

jdonn, on Apr 29 2007, 02:54 PM, said:

I still haven't heard any great objections to 2NT. If we can figure the excellent spots somewhat cancel out having a singleton spade and thus go strictly on a pointcount basis, it's an overbid by a point. What is so terrible about this, as compared to missing games any time partner is maximum or trying to play in ridiculous non-fits?

I think I agree with the 2NT rebid, at least as the least lie, although I might also pass in an attempt to get out quick: maybe the opps will balance.

But, IMO, this hand is worth more than just the 9 high card points that people have mentioned. You have honors in combination with a supporting 9 in partner's second suit (diamonds), You have an Ace of clubs accompanied by a decent interior sequence in clubs, and you have a supporting 9 in your Q9xx heart suit. Partner might surprise you and table a supporting club honor (probably has dbltn club, maybe singleton). You have some cards that will permit communication between the hands. You just might scramble home more tricks in NT than 9hcp without also looking at the supporting spots might initially suggest.

The other alternative is to rip up your cards, drop them onto the floor, and inform the director that you accidentally dropped your cards and that they broke.

dhl