[jillybean]

Hi,
This hand looks like an obvious u2nt to me but I could bid 2♦, intending to show my ♣ next, it does not quiet meet 16+ requirement for strong u2nt.
Opinions please, so far they have been 50/50.

Dealer: East Vul: EW Scoring: IMP

♠ ♥ T96 ♦ AK653 ♣ AKJ85

West North East South

 -     -     1♠      


tyia
jillybean

[hrothgar]

I very much like good/bad structures for Unusual 2NT. With this said and done, there are points and then there are points...

This hand has Aces and Kings in the long suits
The hand is 5-5-3-0 rather than 5-5-2-1. offering added playing strength

I'd upgrade this to a strong 2NT

[Free]

I'd just blast to 4NT immediatly, destroying opps bidding and get our partnership in the most likely end contract anyway

[bestguru]

When playing 2nt here as unusal good/bad, are there different point ranges for 3nt or 4nt? is 3nt used for something else?

[hrothgar]

Free, on Mar 28 2005, 10:15 PM, said:

I'd just blast to 4NT immediatly, destroying opps bidding and get our partnership in the most likely end contract anyway

WAY too much defense for an immediate 4NT

[Free]

hrothgar, on Mar 28 2005, 08:26 PM, said:

Free, on Mar 28 2005, 10:15 PM, said:

I'd just blast to 4NT immediatly, destroying opps bidding and get our partnership in the most likely end contract anyway 

WAY too much defense for an immediate 4NT

Yeah, on some hands. But don't you think one or both opps might have stiff/void in one of your minors? It wouldn't be the first time opps make 11 tricks on such hands...

[the hog]

This depends on how you play the UNT, Jilly. We play it that it is very good or nv vs vul it is weak.

What we don't do is to bid 2NT whenever we have a 5-5 minor suited hand, especially when we won't win the auction. In those cases it just gives away too much information on distribution to the opponents.

This hand is right on the border of being a good hand - the 3 small S cause me some concern. I would bid 2N on this hand and follow up with a raise if allowed to at a reasonable level, else with a double. However let me stress that what you bid really depends on what you and your partner think is acceptable for the bid.

Note that Hrothgar is correct in stating that this hand has far too much defence for a unilateral 4NT bid. Do you really want to bid 4NT and then find that neither you nor your opponents can make anything?

[whereagles]

Indeed. 4NT is too unilateral, especially since pard is still unlimited. The possibility of double is also interesting. After all, if it goes

1S 2NT 3S

pard will not bid 4H with 5 cards and a few points. Even with 6 he might not bid them. But he surely will if you double.

[joker_gib]

Good hand for 2NT for me.

4NT is stronger (and has more shape) and I certainly never bid 4NT with 3 direct losers in a suit !

Alain

[helene_t]

bestguru, on Mar 28 2005, 09:21 PM, said:

When playing 2nt here as unusal good/bad, are there different point ranges for 3nt or 4nt? is 3nt used for something else?

3NT is "natural". Usually you will have a spade stopper and a solid 7-card in either minor, but some people bid 3NT on a wider range of hands.

With this hand I would try to show my 3-card hearts somehow. Maybe first double and then bid 4NT if the opps bid 4♠.

[pclayton]

I'd upgrade this as well. 5 losers, but the hand is super-prime.

K & R calls this a 20.3.

[han]

No call is perfect here, double, 2D or 2NT. If the opponents behave nicely then 2NT is probably the best start. If you follow this up with 3H then you have shown your exact shape, and partner will be well placed to pick a contract (even though this is perhaps a slight overbid).

If the opponents do not behave then 2NT is probably also the best start. I play that a later double by us is take-out (either 1255 or 0355) and shows a strong hand.

Starting with a double puts to much emphasis on your weakest suit, and 2D will have you guessing later.


btw, I don't think that 4NT is stronger at all, just more distributional and less defense (e.g x x KQJxxx KQJxx).

[joker_gib]

Hannie, on Mar 30 2005, 06:37 PM, said:

btw, I don't think that 4NT is stronger at all, just more distributional and less defense (e.g x x KQJxxx KQJxx).

Well, I also said stronger in terms of shape, HCP have nothing to do in these hands !

By the way, the hand you give is stronger because there are only 4 losers !

Alain