[Echognome]

Here were two recent bidding decisions I had to make with shapely hands.

1) From a recent cup match at the local club.

Scoring: IMP

(1♦)* - ?

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*Precision 1♦ - Shows 11-15 hcp, could be short.

You have not agreed much with partner, except 2♦ is natural. He will probably understand 2NT if that is what you want to bid.

2) From recent BBO play.

Scoring: IMP

(1♦)* - ?

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You have nothing agreed with this partner, so any bid you make you hope he understands.

[coyot]

1) I would bid plain 2♥. I don't know who has all the spades on this board, but
bidding a two-suiter and forcing player to 3rd level could turn out to be a bit costly. After 2♥, I can still introduce clubs later if it seems that partner has some values.

2) Double here would show more values and less shape than I have - bud 2NT happily and if the opportunity arises, bid clubs at 4th level, maybe even fifth if they bid game confidently and partner does not double with his likely heart stack.

[pclayton]

1) 2♥. Seems like a fair description.

2) 2♥ or 4♣ (followed by 4♠).

[whereagles]

1. If pard understands 2NT, that's what I bid. Otherwise just a plain 3♥ will do.

2. 4♥, showing the two-suiter in the blacks. Chances are pard will understand this..

[mike777]

1) 1H.
Great problem hand thanks for posting. I have no defensive tricks so I considered 2h or 2nt but rejected them. I want to keep the bidding low, show my length and both suits. With 6-5 even vul I am willing to bid alot with this hand. Sometimes a one level overcall can be more preemptive than a 2 level wjo. RHO is limited and my pard is an unpassed hand. Lot of meat on this hand to discuss.

[luis]

1: 3♥ very offensive hand.
2: 4♥ spades + clubs of course.

Luis

[han]

1) 3H if I dare. I'm not comfortable taking two bids on this hand, and I don't like to show a 2-suiter when I'm weak and my major is significantly better.

2) 4C followed by 4S. If I was confident that partner would interpret either 4D or 4H as both black suits with much better clubs then I would use that, but obviously we have no idea what we are doing.

[P_Marlowe]

1) 2NT, since you said, he will understand.
2) 2NT

Marlowe

[mike777]

I did not consider 3H as that distorts my heart length. I thought that was a cardinal sin in Spain if not Orange Holland?

[luis]

mike777, on Feb 14 2006, 08:30 PM, said:

I did not consider 3H as that distorts my heart length. I thought that was a cardinal sin in Spain if not Orange Holland?

Who is in Spain?
QJ98xx is a very offensive heading for hearts, the QJ98 combo will work for 4 or 5 winners if you play the hand but won't take any tricks on defense. So I think it is fair to bid 1 more, if you add the shape I didn't bid 4 only because I'm vul but wouldn't mind if somebody decides to jump all the way to 4♥

[Al_U_Card]

1) the more information you give on this hand, the worse it will go for you. I would tend to bid 1H and then shut up unless pard begged me to bid at some later stage.

2) Pard would not pass 4H so that is what I would bid. Ideally, 2NT would be length in the unbid suits, but this hand has so much offensive potential that you will be sacrificing (or bidding to make depending on pard's cards) at 4S or higher so block as much of their bidding as you can.

[han]

luis, on Feb 14 2006, 03:38 PM, said:

mike777, on Feb 14 2006, 08:30 PM, said:

I did not consider 3H as that distorts my heart length. I thought that was a cardinal sin in Spain if not Orange Holland?

Who is in Spain?
QJ98xx is a very offensive heading for hearts, the QJ98 combo will work for 4 or 5 winners if you play the hand but won't take any tricks on defense. So I think it is fair to bid 1 more, if you add the shape I didn't bid 4 only because I'm vul but wouldn't mind if somebody decides to jump all the way to 4♥

I feel the same way, and btw, who is in Holland?