[barsikb]

Dealer: North Vul:none

Looks easy but I'd like to hear how experts handle hands like this, please

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[TylerE]

1♣ - (p) - 1♠ - (2♥)
X (support) - (p) - 2♠ - ?

[ArtK78]

1♣ - (P or 1♦) - 1♠ - (2♥)
(x* or 2♠) - (P) - (2♠ or P) - (x)
....

This hand can lead to a lot of complicated competitive bidding decisions. Taking each one at a time:

North - 1♣. This seems normal. I suppose some might pass in first seat, but most would open 1♣.
East - An aggressive player might overcall 1♦ on this hand. Many would pass.
South - If partner opened the bidding, South has a 1♠ bid. This bid only promises 4 spades, even if East overcalled 1♦. With 4-4 in the majors, South should make a negative double over 1♦. Otherwise, South bids the same way that he would have had East passed (except that 1NT should promise a diamond stopper).
West - West must bid his heart suit. He may have the best hand at the table.
North - If the partnership is playing support doubles, North has an easy support double over 2♥. If the partnership is not playing support doubles, North should probably raise spades, as it is likely that there is an 8 card spade fit.
East - With this weak of a hand, East should pass. He doesn't have 3 card heart support (although Kx is not terrible) and he doesn't have extra diamond length.
South - South should either pass partner's 2♠ bid or bid 2♠ if partner made a support double. South does not want to encourage North to bid more with such a weak hand.
West - Here is where problems develop. West is going to take another call. It cuold be 3♥, but more likely it is double. The double does not say I want to penalize 2♠, it just shows extra values.

After West's double, North should not say anything, as he is clearly minimum for his bidding to this point. East will have to do something, and will probably bid 3♥. South may be tempted to bid again with his 5 card spade suit, but he is too weak to bid again. East's 3♥ bid will probably end the auction.

If NS is not playing support doubles, North may pass over 2♥. In that case, 2♥ may end the auction. East is certainly not going to bid over 2♥ (especially if he already overcalled 1♦), and South may decide he is too weak to compete. South should probably bid 2♠ anyway, but it is far from clear. If South does bid 2♠, West may act again. But the situation is a little different than when North showed spade support. A double by West could conceiveably be a penatly double. So, unless the partnership has discussed this sitaution before and decided that a double is not for penalties, West has a difficult decision over South's 2♠ call.

EW can make 9 tricks in hearts fairly easily. NS's limit on the hand is 7 tricks in either black suit. But it will take some very nice defense to hold South to 7 tricks in spades. EW will need to get two diamond tricks to hold clubs to 7 tricks, which can be accomplished with a ruff by West after a diamond lead. If West gets a diamond ruff defending a spade contract, he may still score his ♠K to hold the contract to 7 tricks, but the only sure way to hold spades to seven tricks is a diamond lead, ducked and won by East, and a LOW heart back to West for another diamond lead. Now East can get in with the ♥K to cash a diamond, and EW will also get the ♣A and the ♠K.

[billw55]

With everyone holding some values and reasonable alternatives all around, I would be surprised if two tables of experts produced the same auction.

[nigel_k]

1♣: Easily worth more than 12 HCP
Pass: This is pretty close to 1♦ if overcalling aggressively
1♠-2♥-Dbl are all obvious after that

At East's second turn I definitely would not pass. Either Rdbl or 3♥ depending on agreements. Not 3♦ which would suggest a third heart. If East redoubles, West may make a game try but you aren't going beyond 3♥ and N/S have no reason to disturb that.

[Cyberyeti]

1N(easily worth 12-14)-P-2♥(♠)-X
2♠(3♠)-P-P-? probably P

[Vampyr]

 ArtK78, on 2013-July-05, 11:12, said:

North - If the partnership is playing support doubles, North has an easy support double over 2♥. If the partnership is not playing support doubles, North should probably raise spades, as it is likely that there is an 8 card spade fit.

I would still double with the North hand, unless I am playing a weak NT.

[barsikb]

Thank you for all of the answers! Does rule of 20 apply to hands which are not 2-suited?

[barsikb]

How good is opening NT with less than 15? Part of what system is that?

[wank]

 barsikb, on 2013-July-05, 22:23, said:

How good is opening NT with less than 15? Part of what system is that?

you can play a weak NT as part of any system, but it has bigger knock-on effects than most people give it credit for.

the main advantage is it's very pre-emptive. with regard to the downside, most people fixate on the ease with which the opps can double it and collect a fat penalty, but this is pretty rare and largely a function of selective memory. the more important downside is with regard to detrimental effects in other aspects of your bidding which are rather more subtle and complicated.

[Zelandakh]

Whether to open the North hand is a matter of agreement. BBF is dominated by aggressive bidders so almost everyone here opens these hands. However, most beginners learn a more conservative style where the hand will usually be passed. East will also pass and now the spotlight is on South. If you gave this hand to 100 experts you would almost certainly get votes for all of pass, 1♠ and 2♠ given the colours and 3rd seat. The default call is pass though. Now West opens and has a choice of 1♥ or 2♥. The latter seems to fit the hand better if this is being played as a minimum 1♥ opening with 6 hearts. That puts pressure on North who might well pass but can stand a double. If North does double then South will clearly bid 2♠.
P - P - P - 2♥;
X - P - 2♠