[Fluffy]

♠K8
♥J6
♦A873
♣K9863

nobody vul, MPs, you deal and...

pass-(pass)-1♠-(2♣)
pass-(pass)-2♥-(pass)
??

[rhm]

2♠

Yes, theoretically I could have a yarborough bidding like this.

But I believe there is no safety beyond 2♠. The bidding is consistent with a weak third hand opener holding ten or more cards in the majors.
I prefer to secure my plus score at MP and I want my partners to continue balancing aggressively in the future.
Contesting the part-score is more important than bidding close games.

Rainer Herrmann

[billw55]

Some might avoid the problem by opening this hand first seat, although I would not.

Now I would try 2NT. Partner could still have a good hand, many that will make game. I will bid 3♠ next if available, which should show Hx, so partner may choose 4♠ with a strong 5-2 fit.

[benlessard]

2NT WTP, anything else is clueless IMO.

[jmcw]

Under what circumstances does P not X here?, he's likely short in ♣...but no X.

Rainer's post makes perfect sense to me!, partner has 10+ Major cards. Bid 2♠, take a +.

[ArtK78]

2♠. For reasons set forth above by Rainer and jmcw.

[Fluffy]

Damn typo, this was at IMPs, not MPs. Say so if it matters to you.

[aguahombre]

benlessard, on 2012-January-05, 07:53, said:

2NT WTP, anything else is clueless IMO.

except, maybe doing that the previous round.

[whereagles]

2NT is a possibility, but I wouldn't be surprised 2S is our best spot.

Still, being IMPs you need to bid 2NT I think.

[ArtK78]

Nonvul at IMPs I would still think that 2♠ is best. Vul at IMPs I might try 2NT.

[billw55]

I am wondering two things.

Why should we be so sure partner has a light opening?

Isn't this hand pretty good opposite an opening hand with 10+ cards in the majors? 11 count all working (unless p has club void), Hx in both majors, and controls in both minors feels like near maximum efficiency for a passed hand without 3 card support.

[neilkaz]

Fluffy, on 2012-January-05, 08:44, said:

Damn typo, this was at IMPs, not MPs. Say so if it matters to you.

2NT at all forms of scoring. I much prefer this to 2♠ which could be a weak preference (resulting in a missed game) and likely puts pard into a 5-2 fit.

[benlessard]

Why would partner X with 16 pts and 55 in the M ? so that the bidding go X-(3C)-3D ? Also with a subminimum 5/5 in 3rd seat you can pass and make a Michael rather than opening too light and get overboard, I dont understand why people are scared of passing a bad 10 pts 5S5H in 3rd seat, the odds of going all pass (and could get a plus score) are not that high. I understand that 3rd seat openings can be lightish but its not a reason to be super pessimist. Also note that we have K98xx of clubs and the A of D so 2nt might easily be a better spot than 2M.

Quote

Nonvul at IMPs I would still think that 2♠ is best.

Huh ??

[aguahombre]

neilkaz, on 2012-January-05, 10:58, said:

2NT at all forms of scoring. I much prefer this to 2♠ which could be a weak preference (resulting in a missed game) and likely puts pard into a 5-2 fit.

My problem is that 2NT would sound like a hand which was willing to defend 2C at 50 cents a trick, and this one has too much offense for that. The hand also seems wrong for defending 2C doubled at these colors opposite the various hands where pard might reopen with a double.

[ggwhiz]

Since pard is known to be short in ♣ and didn't dbl, I expect 5-5 in the majors to be a live possibility.

I still want to dangle a game possibility with 2nt and expect 3♠ down 1 to be our worst case scenario but if pard bids 4♥ over this, I'm passing and hoping for a 5-6-1-1 dog opposite.

[Statto]

Fluffy, on 2012-January-05, 08:44, said:

Damn typo, this was at IMPs, not MPs. Say so if it matters to you.

Definitely 2NT then. Even if it was MPs, as there may be a few collecting 300 defending, looking for a thinner game could be value.

If pard has ♠AQxxx-♥KQ10xx-♦x-♣xx, 4♠ has good chances and 3NT some. 2♠ looks a bit like a weak preference, so partner might pass with an even better hand.

aguahombre, on 2012-January-05, 11:10, said:

My problem is that 2NT would sound like a hand which was willing to defend 2C at 50 cents a trick...

Surely $1 for the 1st trick and $2 for the next (having hoped for a reopening double)?

[mike777]

Fluffy, on 2012-January-05, 05:44, said:

♠K8
♥J6
♦A873
♣K9863

nobody vul, MPs, you deal and...

pass-(pass)-1♠-(2♣)
pass-(pass)-2♥-(pass)
??

I open 1c

If I just come to the table then I bid 2nt as a passed hand.

I have to try and catch up somehow for my misbid.

[gnasher]

3♠. This really doesn't look like a hand to play in notrumps - we have a single club stop, and partner may need to ruff the hearts good. Anyway, he'll know that I have this sort of hand, from my failure to raise spades on the previous round, so if 3NT is right he can bid it himself.

It also doesn't look like a simple preference, even at matchpoints. ♠K, ♥J and ♦A are all very good cards, and ♣K will help to protect us against being forced.

[bluecalm]

If you take all wha tbenlessard said in this thread and state the opposite that would be my opinion.
2NT is likely to be awful contract, as partner is eitehr weak or has some kind of 5-5-1-2 or even 5-4-1-3 (unlikely) and they will have a lot of ♦ tricks to take.
I have my doubts being vulnerable, maybe then some kind of going forward action is required but I think it's marginal, I think i would go with 3♠ if I had to.

[benlessard]

So if we make a sim giving partner (north) 5/5 and 11-14 pts (with 65 or 56 hes not going to pass 2nt anyway) and give east (5 clubs, 11-18 not a takeout X) does that look right ?

Note that DD is fine here since a delayed 2Nt show a trap pass and beg for a D lead while a delayed 3S show a trap pass with only 2 trumps and H ruff possibilities and beg for a trump lead (unless hearts are 3/3 wich is unlikely).

PS rather than 3S its possible to make the impossible 3D (wich should show like a trap pass but with unclear direction) as long as its not 100% GF wich im not sure