[AL78]

Matchpoints, vul against not.

RHO as dealer opens 3♥. You hold:

♠Q85
♥A
♦AKT95432
♣J

Your turn.

[pescetom]

I'd be tempted to bid 3NT if the RA allows it here. But I think I double.

[AL78]

pescetom, on 2021-February-15, 09:46, said:

I'd be tempted to bid 3NT if the RA allows it here. But I think I double.

Assuming RA means Regional Authority, assume yes.

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2021-February-15, 09:59, said:

Assuming RA means Regional Authority, assume yes.

Regulating Authority.

[akwoo]

I'm bidding 5♦.

I like it better than double followed by 5♦, because the double sequence shows more general strength and defensive values. That means partner will think all kinds of cards are good for slam, whereas, here, you just want aces.

Right now I'm on a streak of bad luck with gambling type 3Ns; if I were feeling luckier I'd probably bid 3N at MPs.

[TylerE]

3N

[apollo1201]

3NT. Likier’than 5D (need a top S + SJ or CA) although could go down more.

If I X, partner might bid 4S and it could be good but otherwise I’m endplayed into bidding 5D next.

Having no info on the other hands as RHO dealt, let’s bid 3NT. Bidding might continue...

[pescetom]

apollo1201, on 2021-February-15, 14:11, said:

3NT. Likier’than 5D (need a top S + SJ or CA) although could go down more.

If I X, partner might bid 4S and it could be good but otherwise I’m endplayed into bidding 5D next.

3NT with 11 cards in two suits would be problematic in my RA.
And this is MP, the odds of running diamonds are about 45% if I reckon right.
X is flexible: spades might work out, clubs might be great, even 3NT if RHO is bluffing.
5♦ is no tragedy, there are people above who would bid it as choice.

[AL78]

After a bit of thought I decided to gamble 3NT. I decided the odds of partner having one or two dimaonds and the queen and jack coming down, or partner having Qx was sufficiently high to make it a decent shot.

The full deal:

---

After a heart lead, the diamonds run for eight tricks, two top hearts and the club ace, and some faulty discarding which gave me an 11th trick, +660 and an 88% board. Only one other East out of 13 bid it, most were bidding 4♦ making 10-12 tricks (mostly 11). One lucky East was doubled in 5♦ which made. Tough for the defence, South has to lead a low spade and it goes A, J, K, has to be done immediately or never. A couple of NS pairs found the good 5♥ sacrifice (undoubled).

[sfi]

pescetom, on 2021-February-15, 14:22, said:

3NT with 11 cards in two suits would be problematic in my RA.

As an overcall, really? All it's saying is I think it's our best shot at a good score. I've never heard of any RA that regulates this sort of action.

And 3NT looks like the percentage call IMO.

[johnu]

pescetom, on 2021-February-15, 09:46, said:

I'd be tempted to bid 3NT if the RA allows it here. But I think I double.

Is there a regional RA anywhere in the world where you can't bid 3NT to play???

[mikeh]

AL78, on 2021-February-15, 14:46, said:

After a bit of thought I decided to gamble 3NT. I decided the odds of partner having one or two dimaonds and the queen and jack coming down, or partner having Qx was sufficiently high to make it a decent shot.

The full deal:

---

After a heart lead, the diamonds run for eight tricks, two top hearts and the club ace, and some faulty discarding which gave me an 11th trick, +660 and an 88% board. Only one other East out of 13 bid it, most were bidding 4♦ making 10-12 tricks (mostly 11). One lucky East was doubled in 5♦ which made. Tough for the defence, South has to lead a low spade and it goes A, J, K, has to be done immediately or never. A couple of NS pairs found the good 5♥ sacrifice (undoubled).

3N seems like the best action at any form of scoring. One need a lot less from partner to make 9 tricks in 3N than 11 in diamonds.

Doubling seems wrong on several levels.

Say partner bids 4C. Now what? You can’t get back to 3N now, and 4D may show roughly this playing strength but a lot more hcp and usually a couple less diamonds

Say he bids 4S? Your hand isn’t exactly suited to be dummy, especially if he has only 4 spades.

Say he passes, for want of a better action. It’s rare but not unheard of and you lack of defence will usually prove to be bad news

Meanwhile, if you bid 3N, experienced partners do not pull to spades since 3N on say x Axx AKQJxxx Kx is completely normal. 2N over a weak two bid is a good 15 to a bad 18, but 3N over a 3 level preempt is either a strong balanced hand or a stopper and a running suit. I’d want 6 good spades and a stiff or void in the suit I think partner might hope to run in 3N, or slam ambitions, in order to pull

I know I keep referencing methods and I’m not expecting intermediate or beginner players to adopt them. It’s more that I’d like such players to know that there are gadgets out there that make a lot of sense. You’d want to b3 in a regular partnership since these come up rarely and forgets are possible. Here, most experts pairs use a method to ask overcaller why he bid 3N

4C

I’ve seen different structures but one I like is

(When they’ve bid 3H)

4D. I bid this based on long diamonds
4H. I have, in context, a balanced minimum. So maybe play me for 16- bad 19
4S. I bid this based on long spades
4N. I have a BIG balanced hand, say 20-23.


One can play Baron over the balanced hands, to find a 4-4 fit, tho on these auctions there’s a good chance of a bad break, so usually one only does this with shortness in opener’s suit and a good in context 4 card suit.

[pescetom]

sfi, on 2021-February-15, 15:13, said:

As an overcall, really? All it's saying is I think it's our best shot at a good score. I've never heard of any RA that regulates this sort of action.

As an opening agreement, but some older directors would frown on an actual overcall too. I would have no qualms.

[pescetom]

mikeh, on 2021-February-15, 15:16, said:

Here, most experts pairs use a method to ask overcaller why he bid 3N

4C

I’ve seen different structures but one I like is

(When they’ve bid 3H)

4D. I bid this based on long diamonds
4H. I have, in context, a balanced minimum. So maybe play me for 16- bad 19
4S. I bid this based on long spades
4N. I have a BIG balanced hand, say 20-23.


One can play Baron over the balanced hands, to find a 4-4 fit, tho on these auctions there’s a good chance of a bad break, so usually one only does this with shortness in opener’s suit and a good in context 4 card suit.

It's a useful gadget, thanks.
Is there a name for it?

[TylerE]

pescetom, on 2021-February-15, 16:02, said:

As an opening agreement, but some older directors would frown on an actual overcall too. I would have no qualms.

Lots of terrible directors "believe" lots of things. Doesn't mean I care (other than to appeal as high as necessary should such a ruling actually be made at my table, REGARDLESS of who against)

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2021-February-15, 16:09, said:

It's a useful gadget, thanks.
Is there a name for it?

i dimly recall TONTO

[pescetom]

mikeh, on 2021-February-15, 18:10, said:

i dimly recall TONTO

Thanks. That won't go down well with my Italian partner