[Toradin]

Hi all,

We play a standard 2/1 system. Just wanted to know what the best bid is in this sequence with the following hand:

Matchpoints

---

Do you agree with North's bidding so far? Would a double here be for takeout or penalties, and what call would you recommend North to make?

[Rossoneri]

Agree with the bidding.

There was a chance to X on the previous round, so I think X here should be penalty-oriented? 3♣ sounds like an option at this colours.

[whereagles]

Bidding's fine so far. Now dbl should probably be penalties and I think I'll bid 3♦. If pard had less than 3 diamonds, he might have bid 1♠ instead of dbling 1♥, so it's virtually certain that we have a fit.

[wyman]

I'll X for t/o. I had a chance to pass 1Hx, so making my X here penalty seems like aiming for an awfully narrow range. I've shown that I have more diamonds than spades or clubs, and now I'm suggesting that partner pick a suit. This seems like a nice way to describe a 3=2=5=3 with some values.

[wank]

X is for pens. there's a big difference between taking a penalty at the 1 level and doing so t the 2 level. i'll try 2nt.

[helene_t]

Agree with Shen Ting but I think I would have bid 3♣ at any colour. Would be nice to be able to show some values here as we could still have game. Maybe we should have tried 2♥ on the previous round. Not sure. Anyway, now it is too late as it is not a Lebensohl situation so my 3♣ bid could have been based on a weaker hand.

[wyman]

Talked with a friend who suggests that X should show cards and should imply some hearts, but should not be penalty per se.

He also suggests that 2S is almost surely on 3 cards, since you didn't X over 1H, but that 2N (minors, to bring clubs into play) would be reasonable also (and in particular > 3D) with this hand because of where your values are.

My meta-agreements would still have this as TO/DSIP, but I see the merit in having it just be "cards." I can't imagine that it's ever penalty, since you didn't pass 1Hx (yes, I heard the objection that playing 1Hx =/= 2Hx) or even bid 1N.

[ggwhiz]

wyman, on 2011-August-24, 11:31, said:

Talked with a friend who suggests that X should show cards and should imply some hearts, but should not be penalty per se.

I play this as the vaues to compete with no clear direction and like it but not on this hand unless you turn a ♦ (or a spade) into a ♥.

I also think 2♠ should promise only 3 but to an honour so that leaves me with a 3♣ bid.

[Rossoneri]

helene_t, on 2011-August-24, 09:49, said:

Agree with Shen Ting but I think I would have bid 3♣ at any colour. Would be nice to be able to show some values here as we could still have game. Maybe we should have tried 2♥ on the previous round. Not sure. Anyway, now it is too late as it is not a Lebensohl situation so my 3♣ bid could have been based on a weaker hand.

Game is not that likely but not completely out of the picture. 3♣ is more of I've got 3 card support pard, hope that helps your decision.

X in this position is still interesting though.

[mike777]

Toradin, on 2011-August-24, 02:04, said:

Hi all,

We play a standard 2/1 system. Just wanted to know what the best bid is in this sequence with the following hand:

Matchpoints

---

Do you agree with North's bidding so far? Would a double here be for takeout or penalties, and what call would you recommend North to make?

thnks for the post....great Mp for us nonexperts......

I will try 3c\

but i think pass is very very close.


3d is close

[jdeegan]

Pass! All other calls ZERO.
A double would be for penalty because you are behind the 2♥ bidder and might well have had a penalty-oriented heart hand w/o the strength to pass the initial reopening double. As far as bidding is concerned, you can't be serious? Pard had to reopen with a double to protect your potential penalty pass of 1♥. He must have only two (at most three) hearts, so they have a decent 8 or 9 card heart fit. The HCP appear to be split about evenly. You are very probably fixed on this hand, but you have no place to play unless partner can muster some kind of bid over the 2♥ passed to him. Spades are likely 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3 around the table. Unless pard has opened 1♣ with 4-4 in the minors - a no,no in my book, you have no 9 card trump suit.
It sounds like somebody has an as-yet-to-be-disclosed big hand. Probably, RHO, but maybe pard even if he didn't reopen with 1NT. If it's pard you will soon find out if you just PASS.

[FrancesHinden]

I'd bid 2NT for the minors. It's matchpoints, I doubt it's right to defend 2H here. If they double and get 300 I'll live with it.

[fromageGB]

They seem to have a heart fit with maybe as much as half the points, so I reckon passing will give them 110 or 140. But partner may have a club suit, may have 3 diamonds, and playing 3 of a minor is a good sacrifice - and it may make, too. So at matchpoints I can't see how you can possibly pass.

As a natural 2NT hand would have taken action earlier, 2NT now MUST be telling partner to bid a minor. Do it - I don't see the opponents doubling, and if it pushes them to 3♥-1 then I will be happy with that too. Passing looks like below average.