[Cyberyeti]

MP swiss pairs

Partner opens a 12-14 no trump, do you invite with either of these ?

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[mw64ahw]

No to both

[mike777]

No but haven't played wk NT in years, take it with a grain of salt

[jillybean]

1. No
2. No at MP,but it's very close. yes at IMP?

[1992m]

What sort of level is it? I would say most intermediate types will pretty blindly invite with 11 regardless of their hand. Therefore if partner does happen to have a max and 3N is making, you're likely to get a really sucky board if you pass. On the other hand if partner has a minimum and 1N is the limit, you're likely to have a lot of company in 2N minus whatever. Theoretically I think passing is better, but in practice you might well get a better result by inviting.

[DavidKok]

Those mental gymnastics are so frustrating. You think 'theoretically' passing is better, but because the field is unaware of this, you must also discard this insight? What exactly does it mean for passing to be 'better', other than producing superior scores in the long run?

Sorry for the hostility, but I think the math is simply false. If you have a good understanding of your odds there is very little reason to invoke field behaviour.

[mikeh]

DavidKok, on 2026-March-13, 15:10, said:

Those mental gymnastics are so frustrating. You think 'theoretically' passing is better, but because the field is unaware of this, you must also discard this insight? What exactly does it mean for passing to be 'better', other than producing superior scores in the long run?

Sorry for the hostility, but I think the math is simply false. If you have a good understanding of your odds there is very little reason to invoke field behaviour.

I’d go further. I consider my judgement to be quite good compared to the average field. Ok, not the last day of the Blue Ribbon Pairs, lol.

So why would I intentionally ignore what my judgement suggests in favour of trying to do what ‘the field’ will do?

Say I’m a boxer with a devastating left hook….i decide that most boxers don’t have the ability to throw a good left hook, so I decide I won’t use it.

[alibodin]

Playing a weak NT I pass both hands are flat 11 with 4333

[Cyberyeti]

Well I passed the first one.

of course partner had Kxx, 98x, Kx, AK10xx so that was 30% when the clubs behaved.

The second one I thought I needed to make something happen, partner had actually downgraded a 4333 15 so 3N was normal, but still couldn't be made except that opening leader had a pretty much automatic opening lead from ♣KJ10xx into partner's A87 which butchered the suit for the defence and allowed it to make.

[1992m]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-March-13, 16:35, said:

Well I passed the first one.

of course partner had Kxx, 98x, Kx, AK10xx so that was 30% when the clubs behaved.

The second one I thought I needed to make something happen, partner had actually downgraded a 4333 15 so 3N was normal, but still couldn't be made except that opening leader had a pretty much automatic opening lead from ♣KJ10xx into partner's A87 which butchered the suit for the defence and allowed it to make.

Hi Steve,

I have to ask, what the heck happened on B7 (I googled and found the results)

Cheers

[Cyberyeti]

1992m, on 2026-March-13, 19:30, said:

Hi Steve,

I have to ask, what the heck happened on B7 (I googled and found the results)

Cheers

Partner fell off the planet and forgot the system, I fell off the planet and thought 3+1 = 5 keycards, at least it was pairs and we both did it on the same board. I showed 6+♥, exactly 3 spades, partner thought I showed 4 spades.

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-March-14, 04:45, said:

Partner fell off the planet and forgot the system, I fell off the planet and thought 3+1 = 5 keycards, at least it was pairs and we both did it on the same board. I showed 6+♥, exactly 3 spades, partner thought I showed 4 spades.

I find this can be a fairly frequent occurrence as well as the decision whether to invite or not.
I had a similar situation a few weeks ago; I accepted an invite and went down badly when partner had zero controls, but 11 points! On another hand I invited, rejection, making.
These two hands are a close decision and the outcome may be defined by both the quality of the play and defence.
One other point I don't think has been mentioned is the vulnerability.
.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I would pass.

I also think that inviting with the 1st is better than with with the 2nd,
if you invite, you may discover a 44 in hearts.

With regards to field: I am not sure, the field will be downgrading a lot,
if at all. If your p is more conservative than you, than it may be right to
be less conservative.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-March-14, 05:34, said:

Hi,

I would pass.

I also think that inviting with the 1st is better than with with the 2nd,
if you invite, you may discover a 44 in hearts.

With regards to field: I am not sure, the field will be downgrading a lot,
if at all. If your p is more conservative than you, than it may be right to
be less conservative.

With kind regards
Marlowe

Pard is way more conservative than I am, I would never have downgraded the hand he did in the second case