[Phil]

1. MPs; all vul

♠AK5xx ♥Jx ♦KQxx ♣xx

1♥ - (1♠) - ?

2. IMPs

♠JTxxx ♥x ♦AKxxx ♣Jx

P - (p) - to you?

3. MPs

♠QJx ♥A7xx ♦AKQxxx ♣void

1♦ - 1♥
4♣ - 4♦

If you disagree with 4♣, say so.
4♦ is Last Train. Now what?

[JLOL]

1) 3N
2) 1S
3) 4H

[jdonn]

P, 1♠, 4♥

[Apollo81]

JLOL, on Feb 3 2009, 04:16 AM, said:

1) 3N
2) 1S
3) 4H

agree

[Fluffy]

pass and see if partner is too unbalanced to double before bidding 3NT

1 spade (preempt in diamonds also possible)

I am not familiar with last train, but I'd consider this hand worth another move and bid 5♣.

[mtvesuvius]

JLOL, on Feb 3 2009, 03:16 AM, said:

1) 3N
2) 1S
3) 4H

Agree. The problem with passing on #1 is that if you pass and then bid 3NT, it will be obvious that you had a penalty pass, and LHO will lead a ♣, by bidding 3NT directly, it's not nearly as obvious, and at MPs that's all the difference .

[jdonn]

mtvesuvius, on Feb 3 2009, 05:41 PM, said:

JLOL, on Feb 3 2009, 03:16 AM, said:

1) 3N
2) 1S
3) 4H

Agree. The problem with passing on #1 is that if you pass and then bid 3NT, it will be obvious that you had a penalty pass, and LHO will lead a ♣, by bidding 3NT directly, it's not nearly as obvious, and at MPs that's all the difference .

Um, unless you actually make the penalty pass and defend 1♠X? hehe

[rogerclee]

mtvesuvius, on Feb 3 2009, 03:41 PM, said:

The problem with passing on #1 is that if you pass and then bid 3NT, it will be obvious that you had a penalty pass, and LHO will lead a ♣, by bidding 3NT directly, it's not nearly as obvious, and at MPs that's all the difference .

MTVESUVIUS?

Also I just wanted to add that I think passing on board 1 is really/extremely wrong, trying to beat 1♠ by 3 tricks when we have a very good chance for making game is illogical. Passing is saying that you think it is so likely for you to defend and take 9 tricks in spades, or so unlikely that you can make 3N, that you are just going to pass. I would not even pass at IMPs but it would be close, but at matchpoints I think it is totally wrong.

[Phil]

1. Pard held: ♠7 ♥K8xxx ♦ATx ♣Axxx. You might hold it to -1.

2. I passed. Counterpart opened 1♦. Opps are cold for 4♥, so it doesn't really matter what you do here.

3. I thought this was, by far the most interesting hand. No support for 4♦? Pard held Kxx Kxxx x Axxxx. Trumps were 4-1, so the 5 level is too high.

[Vilgan]

mtvesuvius, on Feb 3 2009, 05:41 PM, said:

JLOL, on Feb 3 2009, 03:16 AM, said:

1) 3N
2) 1S
3) 4H

Agree. The problem with passing on #1 is that if you pass and then bid 3NT, it will be obvious that you had a penalty pass, and LHO will lead a ♣, by bidding 3NT directly, it's not nearly as obvious, and at MPs that's all the difference .

Why is a spade lead a good thing? We have 2 stops, but could easily have trouble hitting 9 tricks before they knock out our stoppers and cash their spades. I think there are many many hands where we could defend 1♠ X'd for 200 where 3 NT would not make.

My personal choices were:

1) p
2) p (am I a wimp? I am gonna feel like an arse if partner leads K from Kx in spades)
3) 4♥

[TimG]

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 09:02 PM, said:

1. Pard held: ♠7 ♥K8xxx ♦ATx ♣Axxx. You might hold it to -1.

2. I passed. Counterpart opened 1♦. Opps are cold for 4♥, so it doesn't really matter what you do here.

3. I thought this was, by far the most interesting hand. No support for 4♦? Pard held Kxx Kxxx x Axxxx. Trumps were 4-1, so the 5 level is too high.

1. 3N or 1SX? Or both?

3. Partner already bid 4♦.

[jdonn]

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 09:02 PM, said:

2. I passed. Counterpart opened 1♦. Opps are cold for 4♥, so it doesn't really matter what you do here.

1♠ won't keep them out? I believe you if you say so, just curious.

[Phil]

jdonn, on Feb 3 2009, 10:41 PM, said:

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 09:02 PM, said:

2. I passed. Counterpart opened 1♦. Opps are cold for 4♥, so it doesn't really matter what you do here.

1♠ won't keep them out? I believe you if you say so, just curious.

My incompetent teammates stayed out but thats another story.

[JLOL]

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 11:19 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 3 2009, 10:41 PM, said:

Phil, on Feb 3 2009, 09:02 PM, said:

2. I passed. Counterpart opened 1♦. Opps are cold for 4♥, so it doesn't really matter what you do here.

1♠ won't keep them out? I believe you if you say so, just curious.

My incompetent teammates stayed out but thats another story.

Not really, even if they were stupid to stay out of it it is not uncommon that you induce the opps to make more errors by opening than passing. In fact this is a major reason for opening.