[eagles123]

We red they white

Lefty deals

1d x p

Qxx
Jxx
Jxxx
Qxx

[mike777]

1h not 1nt. I don't want to encourage so I promise zero with 1h.

[ArtK78]

I bid 1NT. I don't have a zero count. Unless I am playing that 1NT promises more than this, it is a very descriptive call.

[PhilKing]

1NT - unless playing the Ostrich system.

[whereagles]

1♥. No ostriches here.

[neilkaz]

For many including me, 1NT promises somewhat more than a horrid 6 count so they (I) have to bid 1♥.

[Jinksy]

I stand with the pessimists, but I'll bid my better major.

[biggerclub]

1♥. And if partner rebids 2♦, I'll pass out of spite.

[jillybean]

1 nt, it doesn't promise extra/constructive values, doesn't misrepresent my hand, partner knows I could have stretched to bid and I have more chance of being left there than getting raised in a M

This post has been edited by jillybean: 2015-January-06, 09:54

[eagles123]

jillybean, on 2015-January-05, 19:27, said:

1 nt, it doesn't promise any values, doesn't misrepresent my hand, partner knows I could have stretched to bid and I have more chance of being left there than getting raised in a M

sorry what??

[ArtK78]

jillybean, on 2015-January-05, 19:27, said:

1 nt, it doesn't promise any values, doesn't misrepresent my hand, partner knows I could have stretched to bid and I have more chance of being left there than getting raised in a M

Well, I wouldn't go as far as to say that it doesn't promise any values. This hand is a dead minimum for 1NT.

[Jinksy]

What am I missing that the 1♥ bidders are seeing? It seems to me both 1♥ and 1♠ promise 0 points and 3+ cards in the suit, and I can't see any obvious reason to choose the weaker one. Also if P now forces with 2♦, I might bid 2♥ and give him a choice (well, I'd prob bid 2N, but at some point if he keeps forcing me I can give him a second choice).

[biggerclub]

Jinksy, on 2015-January-05, 20:31, said:

What am I missing that the 1♥ bidders are seeing? It seems to me both 1♥ and 1♠ promise 0 points and 3+ cards in the suit, and I can't see any obvious reason to choose the weaker one. Also if P now forces with 2♦, I might bid 2♥ and give him a choice (well, I'd prob bid 2N, but at some point if he keeps forcing me I can give him a second choice).

1H is lower and, therefore, impliedly weaker. (See Hughes, The Competitive Auction (or similar)). 1H can be either normal 4Hs and 0-8 points or "I hate you for making me bid here. Let's see if we can get out alive without being x'd."

[the hog]

Same as Mike, Nuno and Neil - 1♥. NOT 1NT. This is standout for me.

[the hog]

jillybean, on 2015-January-05, 19:27, said:

1 nt, it doesn't promise any values, doesn't misrepresent my hand, partner knows I could have stretched to bid and I have more chance of being left there than getting raised in a M

It does promise values actually.

[mikeh]

1N is usually played, for some very good reasons, as constructive. As for which major, hearts are always more suspect in this auction than spades. If partner bids 2d I bid 2n, having denied constructive values already.

I have on balance more respect for the posters who chose 1N but I far prefer 1H. I don't think that calling this an ostrich bid advances the debate at all.

[Jinksy]

mikeh, on 2015-January-05, 23:11, said:

As for which major, hearts are always more suspect in this auction than spades.

Why? Presumably with a heart thrown in with the diamonds you'd bid 1♠?

[Mbodell]

Jinksy, on 2015-January-06, 03:28, said:

Why? Presumably with a heart thrown in with the diamonds you'd bid 1♠?

The probability is such that there are very few hands that bid 1♠ that are fake, especially if you agree that all 3343 too weak to bid 1nt bid ♥ not ♠. Put a ♥ in with the ♦ and I consider pass and 1nt much more seriously (along with the fake 1♠).

[wank]

i would never bid 1M with this shape - partner is quite likely to be pretty strong after rho's pass and is prone to bidding vulnerable games aggressively . though he knows you might occasionally have a 3 card suit, there's not much he can do about it - bidding 2D - 2/3NT doesn't suddenly show your heart suit was faked.

i'd bid 2c rather than 1M if i needed to. as it is, i have something roughly resembling a 1NT bid, so i'll do that. my minor honours are decent enough if LHO is on lead, which hopefully, is what we can force him to be several times during the play.

[Phil]

1♥. I do not claim that I will land on my feet.

When partner makes a TOx, partner wants us to bid a suit, and preferably a major, which is why many doubles has less HCP than many opening bids. Over a minor, 1N definitely shows more than a trashy 6, but over 1♥, and especially 1♠, 1N can be a little shaded since we are out of space.

This is CW, but I also wonder if there as been a sea change in the last few years, as doubling on 4333's has become more in vogue.