[FrancesHinden]

Scoring: IMP

1♥ 2♠ x P
?

---

48-board IMPs, teams of 4 KO match.
What do you do?

[the hog]

I pass this one. Too many downsides to bidding and aiming for a slam is really very optimistic indeed.

[nige1]

FrancesHinden, on Jun 8 2008, 12:36 AM, said:

Dealer: South Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠ A1092 ♥ KJ976 ♦   ♣ AK32

1♥ (2♠) _X (_P) ?? 48-board IMPs, teams of 4 KO match. What do you do?

IMO _P = 10, 2N = 9, 3♣ = 8, 4♣ = 7, 3N = 4, 3♠ = 2.
If partner has 5 or more clubs you may regret passing but, sometimes, hands like this play badly because of ♠ over-ruffs. Playing a 12-14 notrump, If you don't pass then 2N is probably enough.

[rogerclee]

nige1, on Jun 8 2008, 01:15 AM, said:

IMO _P = 10, 2N = 9, 3♣ = 8, 4♣ = 7, 3N = 4, 3♠ = 2.

2NT = 9? 3♣ = 8? lol

Anyway I think passing is too serious a position at these colors. I will bid 4♣, since 5♣ should play quite well, and if 6♣ is on, this is the best way to start.

[skjaeran]

Passing here is too dangerous and unilateral to me. I'm not that afraid they'll make, eventhough it IS possible. I'm more concerned about missing out on a better score. +300 is bad if we have +600 available, +500/800 even more so if 1370 is there.

I'll make the slight overbid of 4♣.

[mike777]

1) I concede 0454 hand are tough
2) I will try 3 clubs.
3) I thought pass is very very close

[FrancesHinden]

You play strong NT.
I don't know if it makes any difference at all, but

- this is in boards 25-32
- before this set you were 29 imps up, and so far you have gone for 300 against nothing (which won't be duplicated) but made a very dodgy vul game
- LHO has twice won the Venice Cup

[jdonn]

I bid 4♣ and am very optimistic about where it may lead. Not sure why it has been called an overbid. I mostly agree with skaerans post. nige1s rankings seem quite..... well lets just say he was smoking some of the good stuff at the time 2NT deserves about a 1.

[nige1]

FrancesHinden, on Jun 8 2008, 11:43 AM, said:

You play strong NT.
I don't know if it makes any difference at all, but
- this is in boards 25-32
- before this set you were 29 imps up, and so far you have gone for 300 against nothing (which won't be duplicated) but made a very dodgy vul game
- LHO has twice won the Venice Cup

IMO it does makes a difference that, with less than half the match to go, you are 29 imps up. I guess the main thing is not to mastermind the deal with some disastrous ulilateral effort that will demoralise team-mates. Perhaps passing 2♠X is a bit of a position to take but should be worth a plus score -- even against a Venice Cup holder Also, if you are playing a strong notrump, then 2N seems an underbid. JLall, Jbonn and Co all suggest 4♣, which seems fine on values but IMO is a bit commital if partner could hold say
♠xxx ♥x ♦AQJxx ♣Qxxx
Bracing myself for more derision from rogerclee and Jdonn, my revised view is
3♣ = 10, _P = 9, 4♣ = 8

[pclayton]

I'm sitting. We might or might not have a loser in the majors (pard could be 2-2), but there's a lot of work involved with 6♣ on a 4-4 fit.

[FrancesHinden]

At the table I passed.

I think the only real choice is between pass and 4C, anything else is too wimpy.
I think on reflection 4C is possibly right, because although partner's double doesn't promise support for both minors, the 'death' distribution of 3=2=5=3 seems much less likely given our spade length.

Anyway, in ascending order:

3NT = -100
2NT = +120
3C = +170
Pass = +500
4C = +600, +620 or +1370

Partner has
QJ (!)
A10
98xx
QJ10xx

I'm not totally convinced you will get to slam after a 4C bid as the source of tricks in spades is a little unexpected from both sides.

At the other table the player with partner's hand rather feebly passed 2S and scored up +150, so we were pleasantly surprised to be 8 imps in on the hand.

[paulg]

Bidding the slam looks too tough given partner has no bid except 5♣ over 4♣.

Given they have a 9-card diamond fit they may also run from 2♠-X.

Paul

[nige1]

cardsharp, on Jun 9 2008, 06:33 AM, said:

Bidding the slam looks too tough given partner has no bid except 5♣ over 4♣.
Given they have a 9-card diamond fit they may also run from 2♠-X.

Partner might try 4♥ over 4♣ to offer a choice of games. But 6♣ seems hard to reach.

[FrancesHinden]

cardsharp, on Jun 9 2008, 12:33 PM, said:

Bidding the slam looks too tough given partner has no bid except 5♣ over 4♣.

Given they have a 9-card diamond fit they may also run from 2♠-X.

Paul

Well, partner could bid 4S (good 5C bid) over 4C, but not clear that he will.

LHO has no reason to run from 2Dx looking at a 6241.