[Stephen Tu]

1♣-(x)-xx-(1♠);
?

What hands bid 2♥ in this position? What's the difference between bidding 2♥, vs. passing, and pulling partner's double to 2♥?

Are there hands that bid 1nt, or pass then pull to 1nt? What do they show?

What's a delayed pull of double to 2♣?

[helene_t]

Traditionally, pass is forcing and pass-and-pull is stronger than a direct bid. So a direct 2♣ would be a minimum with 6 clubs while a delayed 2♣ would be stronger.

Balanced hands normally pass and respect partner's penalty double, but maybe a balanced 12-count with a small doubleton spades would bid a delayed 1NT. A direct 1NT obviously can't be natural without something in spades, so maybe it should be a minimum 1(43)5 or 0445.

And maybe a direct 2♥ is a minimum with 5♥6♣, while a delayed 2♥ is a normal reverse?

[whereagles]

Stephen Tu, on 2014-July-23, 01:33, said:

1♣-(x)-xx-(1♠);
?

1. What hands bid 2♥ in this position?
2. What's the difference between bidding 2♥, vs. passing, and pulling partner's double to 2♥?
3. Are there hands that bid 1nt, or pass then pull to 1nt? What do they show?
4. What's a delayed pull of double to 2♣?

1. Probably a 6-5. To be honest, I've never seen that auction.

2. No idea. But I wouldn't be surprised to see it done on, say, 1435, 1426 or hands with spade voids.

3. 1NT should show a balanced 12-14 as usual. Pass + 1NT is probably the same. While there might be a theoretical difference between the two, in practice I don't think it's a good idea to draw undiscussed inferences at this stage. Just assume the very same 12-14. People bid differently with the same hands.

4. Just about the same as a direct one. Possibly opener was expecting opps to pull to another suit which he could double?

[the hog]

Bid as normal. P says nothing to say, 2h is a reverse, 1nt shows a very good 13-14, just below a 1nt opening, x is penalties.

[Zelandakh]

An immediate 2♥ is weak and distributional with pass and pull showing a stronger hand. An immediate 1NT effectively does not exist without discussion and the idea of using it as a weak hand unwilling to sit a double without a convenient call seems as good as anything. Without discussion the delayed 1NT presumably shows a big balanced hand that thinks it can score better declaring than defending - but does such a hand exist? I quite like the idea of using the delayed 1NT as a game forcing 0445 too.

[the hog]

Zelandakh, on 2014-July-23, 05:33, said:

An immediate 2♥ is weak and distributional with pass and pull showing a stronger hand. An immediate 1NT effectively does not exist without discussion and the idea of using it as a weak hand unwilling to sit a double without a convenient call seems as good as anything. Without discussion the delayed 1NT presumably shows a big balanced hand that thinks it can score better declaring than defending - but does such a hand exist? I quite like the idea of using the delayed 1NT as a game forcing 0445 too.

weak and distributional? So you bid 2h in a possible non fit auction? Distributional? 5/6? This is illogical as with a weak, 11/12 hand and 6c and 5h I think that most bridge players would open the Major.

[Zelandakh]

the hog, on 2014-July-23, 08:04, said:

This is illogical as with a weak, 11/12 hand and 6c and 5h I think that most bridge players would open the Major.

To me it is illogical upon hearing partner say "I would like a chance to penalise them unless you are weak and distributional" to then make a bid with a balanced hand perfectly suited to defence. Clearly we view this situation fundamentally differently but as far as I know the bulk of the (traditional) literature would support passing with the hand that you want to rebid 1NT on. It seems to me that when playing a rebid system that does not cater to penalising them we may as well forego the strength-showing redouble too and use that extra space to start showing our shape - and this indeed is the direction that much of the non-traditional literature is moving in.

[Lorne50]

Stephen Tu, on 2014-July-23, 01:33, said:

1♣-(x)-xx-(1♠);
?

What hands bid 2♥ in this position? What's the difference between bidding 2♥, vs. passing, and pulling partner's double to 2♥?

Are there hands that bid 1nt, or pass then pull to 1nt? What do they show?

What's a delayed pull of double to 2♣?

2♥ = weak with 5-6 shape
pass and pull to 2♥ = strong 5-6 shape
1N could be anything but 5-5 minors seems a good idea
pass and pull to 2♣ = strong with long clubs.