[jdonn]

skaeran, on Sep 22 2009, 02:57 PM, said:

The OP states the agreement as 54/45 in the unbid suits and may be lighter than a TOX.

From that it's clear to me that partner could also be stronger. (I've never played sandwich NT - natural is absolutely standard where I play.)

4522 and something like 15-17 hcp seems reasonable in this context.

I'm bidding 4♠.

I think you're reading too much into my (careless?) language. It IS lighter than a regular takeout double. By "may be lighter" I didn't mean to imply it's normal to bid 1NT on strong hands, just that it can be chosen on hands on which, if you were playing 1NT natural, you would have made a takeout double.

Personally I don't think a strong (54)22 makes any sense since partner will bid on the assumption you are weak, perhaps taking a bad sacrifice. But I don't play this convention anyway when I can avoid it.

[benlessard]

maybe a (54)40 ?

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Sep 21 2009, 07:39 PM, said:

You have agreed with partner to play 'sandwich notrump' understood to mean a 1NT overcall after 1X P 1Y shows at least 4-5 or 5-4 in the other two suits and may be lighter than a takeout double. You are in second seat.

(1♣) P (1♦) 1NT
(P) 2♠ (P) 2NT

What would partner's auction mean if partner is
- Intermediate?
- Expert?

After you decide that, what would you do in each case, w/w at imps, holding (hidden)

Spoiler

9xxxx Kx Jx JT9x

? (ok you might not have bid 2♠ but here you are)

It is pointless to try to interpret this bidding without knowing more about your overall system structure. For instance what would partners 2♣ or 2♦ overcall have been in this auction. Also what were your options after 1NT? Would 2♣ or 2♦ have been natural? Was 2♠ something other than to play?

[Winstonm]

I think "oops" is right but it means, "Oops, I forgot the system" and 2NT shows an opening NT.

[peachy]

I don't see my hidden hand...
If it is an intermediate, to me it is clear he forgot Sandwich and has 15-17, and is now trying to recover from the goof (illegally if opp asked what 1NT is and he heard the answer).
If it is an expert, I don't know what 2NT could be but I am not passing, of course. He has something worth bidding on, but what?

[jmcw]

If 1NT shows less than and opener with 5/4 either way
then 2NT shows at least 5/5
Both are limited to about 11/12 points.

I'm not buying the 'oops' arguement my partner is way too good for that. He's making some sort of forward going bid my best guess is 5-4-0-4 and I'm banking on a max. AJT9x AT9x - QJTx.

[kayin801]

"Expert": Could partner have the minors 5/5 and no good way to show it? If your agreement here is that 2NT directly would show the two lowest unbid (majors) then partner with both minors but the desire to interfere is improvising (if your partner likes to do that). Though why you'd want to show 5/5 in the minors on this auction is beyond me.

On that same line of thought, and more likely, if the opps play a short club, maybe he has hearts and clubs, 5-5, and again no good way to show it, and the heart suit is too crappy to overcall hearts. 1D tends to show SOME length here but the clubs could be 2 or 3 cards and partner has something like Ax, Jxxxx, x, KQJxx (bad example hand, but you get the idea) then I think partner is improvising.

I think I'd lose my partner if I did this too often, but just saying some people might.

Intermediate: Either partner forgot 1NT isn't strong or partner thinks 1NT is still strong and is super-accepting your club xfer (if you play it)

[bid_em_up]

Carl, on Sep 22 2009, 10:17 AM, said:

I'm still stuck at DNE.

Does Not Exist

(I think, although it stumped me for quite sometime also, so it could be wrong).

[Fluffy]

snadwich NT is so standard around here that I would always think or it showing extra shape natural for an expert.


for intermediate I am passing right now.

[FrancesHinden]

It's not so much partner's standard, perhaps maybe more partner's knowledge of the laws that's relevant.

There seem to be 3 possibilities

1. Our agreement is that 1NT shows the 2 unbid suits, but partner has a natural, strong NT bid.

He heard me alert 1NT, then bid 2S. 2S is a natural weak take-out, I assume (no reason to play it with any other meaning). Anyone who understands the UI law knows that it's pointless to bid 2NT now, because even if we get to game we're going to get adjusted against.

So with an educated partner this auction doesn't isn't; with an ignorant (or unethical) partner, it doesn't really matter, because the TD is going to be at the table fairly soon.

2. We've forgotten that we agreed to scrap the sandwich NT. Partner's 1NT was systemically natural all along. Now the auction makes some sense, partner should be showing a spade fit and a maximum, but seriously suggesting playing in NT to keep him as declarer. I can't remember what my hand was now, but I assume I'm either going ot pass, bid 3NT, 3S, 4S or make some sort of game try.

3. Partner has a genuine sandwich NT. Now I'm making this up, but on the assumption that all natural-sounding bids are natural, I suppose he's got a maximum with something in their suits.

[campboy]

I'm going to go along with "partner must have forgotten". I can't imagine a hand that can bid again after 2♠ that wouldn't double or bid 2NT (or something similar) last time. If I'm right I shall be annoyed since partner must have twisted my arm in order to get me to play the wretched convention in the first place