[kenrexford]

As to bidding RHO's suit as natural, I had two great stories from round one of the 2005 Vanderbilts, each that call.

The first was a delayed bid (because partner did not know what a direct bid showed -- natural). 1D-P-1S-P-2D(alerted as showing four hearts)-P-2H-2S-P-3NT-X-P-P-P. Making 3NT. As the 3NT bidder, I held 98-A1098-AJx-xxxx and expected partner to probably have two of the top three and three of the top four spade honors, probably a stiff heart, probably a doubleton diamond, and probably some good clubs. Hence, 3NT seemed to have play.

Dummy hit with KQJxx-xx-xx-AKxx. I won the heart lead and switched to a small spade, floated and winning. The marked deep hook in diamonds (duck if RHO splits) eventually leads to 9 tricks. (Spades split 4-2)

The second was more fun. Holding K8-K9xxx-Ax-Axxx, I heard 1C-P-1H, to me. Now, I should have good hearts, but we were NV and I was looking for a board, so I overcalled 2H. My LHO did not believe me and bid 3H. Pard did not believe me either and bid 3S, doubled.

A heart hit the table, and partner was looking at J10xx-void-Kxxxx-xxxx. The heart lead was trumped in hand, then diamond-diamond, both following, ending in hand. A third diamond was sent at dummy and ruffed, pard's LHO ditching a heart. Pard ruffed another heart, played to the club Ace, and ruffed another heart. A fourth diamond was ruffed on dummy, LHO being unable to beat the dummy's King of spades. On the fourth play of hearts from dummy, pard ruffed with his spade Jack and poor LHO could not overruff the Jack either.

That's two diamonds, one club, two spade ruffs in dummy, and four spade ruffs in hand. Nine tricks.

See, natural overcalls of RHO's suit are neat.

[cherdano]

Gerben42, on Nov 3 2005, 05:00 PM, said:

Another success for the natural sandwich NT.

Dealer: W Vul: All Scoring: IMPs

♠ J32 ♥ K854 ♦ 63 ♣ 7652 ♠ AT97 ♥ 96 ♦ AT9 ♣ AJ94 ♠ Q865 ♥ JT32 ♦ KQ5 ♣ 83 ♠ K4 ♥ AQ7 ♦ J8742 ♣ KQT

Nunes  Rodwell    Fantoni    Meckstroth 
1NT      Pass        Pass          Pass

NS -120

Freeman    Lauria    Nickell      Versace
1♣          Pass        1♥        1NT
Pass          Pass          Double      Pass
Pass          Pass

NS -500

USA 9 IMPs

In my opinion this hand is too weak for a natural 1NT.

Arend

[Gerben42]

Quote

In my opinion this hand is too weak for a natural 1NT.

If you need more then:

* It will come up even less.
* Partner will have less when it comes up.
* If partner has less AND it comes up, it will play even worse than this 2 down.

I know, when they have responded light I might miss a game. But how many times do I have to pay up before I finally get my game?

[MickyB]

cherdano, on Nov 4 2005, 07:44 AM, said:

In my opinion this hand is too weak for a natural 1NT.

Arend

Yes, and it seemed a strange situation to use it - against a pair like Meckwell, who open and respond light, you are more likely to have a game on and much less likely to be doubled when you haven't.