[Kalvan14]

Scoring: MP

P-(1D)-?

---

If you pass, LHO bids 1N, which is passed back to you

If you double, LHO bids 1N, and N doubles; E passes.

E-W play 2/1, same system as you do.

[luke warm]

i'd double now, intending to pass whatever partner does.. but after (1nt) and his x, i guess i bid 2C (what does his x mean?)

[Kalvan14]

Penalty: good 7-8 hcp up to max pass

[Elianna]

I'd pass throughout (I find that usually when I make a take out double, my hand looks a bit different).

If I chose to double (not an impossibility) I'd definitely pass partner's double. Sure, they may have half the points, but I usually tend to respect partner's pen dbls.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I am tempted to double, I am not 100% sure,
I can resist, but I would pass partners double.
I am not very tempted to bid 2C direct, but if
1NT comes back I will bid 2C.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Gerben42]

Clear pass in direct seat if you ask me. Then after 1NT pass pass, I'd double.

[Al_U_Card]

As dangerous as it seems, I like the initial pass with the 2C balancing bid. It shows this type of hand and they can only pass (likely) or double (LHO needs a stack to do so) which is not likely at imps. Pard has 5-8 hcp and they will mesh well with yours.

[pclayton]

If I'm playing standard, I don't make a TOx initially, but I'd make a 1N overcall for takeout playing Overcall Structure.

I don't let the opponents play their highest scoring (MP-wise) partial when I have a reason not to, so I will balance with 2♣ (Double shows a diamond-oriented hand).

[tysen2k]

I think you need an "other" on your poll because I'm tempted to do a direct 2♣. Not a pretty suit, but double is not right on this hand. I do want to compete and 2♣ nicely shuts out the 1-level for the opps. Pass throughout is my second choice.

Tysen

[mikeh]

I pass throughout.

Over 1♦, this is not a takeout double. I lack controls (I continue to be amazed at the number of peole who do not grasp this very basic concept of hand evaluation: look at those who doubled 2♠ on K10xx Qxx Kxxx QJ on a recent thread, after opening that hand red v white at imps)

I lack sufficient majors to stretch with an understrength double and it is a BAD sign that my strongest suit is my shortest.

Having passed, then passing again is routine.

No matter what your methods, passing and then reopening is asking for trouble, and for what?

Yes, 1N may be their highest scoring partial but they have not made it yet. You like either major partner leads, and your KJ♦ are far more likely to score 2 tricks on defence than on offence.

Meanwhile, let me ask the (natural) 2♣ bidders a question. On the auction 1♦ (P) 1N: which suit is the 1N bidder likely to be longest in?

Hint: it is not a major nor is it a red suit.

If you balance 2♣, LHO may have an easy double (BTW, Al, this is mp not imps, but even at imps, the double is easy: while it is usually wrong to make thin doubles of partscores, that does not apply to 1 or 2 level minors, unless you fear a redouble), and now opener, with 4=4=3=2 or 4=4=4=1 can keep the doubling cube rolling should your poor innocent, and broke, partner try to rescue.

If you double, most players use that as showing a strong hand with good ♦: something a tad shy of a strong 1N overcall with good ♦, inviting a ♦ lead.

And those that do, often play 2♣ here as a weak takeout of 1♦: which may actually be better here than natural, but it still runs the risk of the doubling beginning.

I am all in favour of competing and as I so often write, I am not a star at mps. Maybe bidding is the percentage mp action, but my readng of the posts so far suggests (to me) that most of the bidders are not looking very deeply into this hand, but instead are merely counting hcp. I defend better than most, and I do not need to get a top in the auction, and certainly want to avoid a bottom. I suspect that all of our posters are above average defenders (at least in a club context)

[whereagles]

Pass throughout. My hand is very defensive: I have no problems letting opps play this one.

If something I would bid 2♣ right away, just to mess up LHO's majors. But, given I know LHO will bid 1NT, there are no majors to preempt, so I'd definitely pass

[mike777]

x over 1D.

I am a big fan of light takeout x's after partner is a passed hand.

Having a flight A player declare 1nt is going to doom my score anyway, so I take the risk.

[hrothgar]

Kalvan14, on Dec 21 2005, 05:58 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

P-(1D)-?

---

If you pass, LHO bids 1N, which is passed back to you

If you double, LHO bids 1N, and N doubles; E passes.

E-W play 2/1, same system as you do.

Pass throughout...

Hand really doesn't appeal to me on offense
We're I forced to bid, I prefer a taekout double to 2♣

[han]

Pass throughout. This was an easy question. I'm not tempted to balance over 1NT, and the initial take-out double is really unappealing to me. I expect partner to lead his best major, so we should be off to a good start!

[Al_U_Card]

Since most of my experience is in MP at clubs.......(admittedly not the best place to learn and practice top-flight bridge) the 2C balance has as many ways to win as lose and they have to get you more than down one dbld. Invariably they will bid some number of diamonds (in the clubs the "regulars" all know that you must never let the opps play at the 2 level in a minor) and sometimes pard has 3 C cards and will push to 3C over 2D! 1NT is the MP king of partscores so it is like playing chicken in a jalopy......strap yourself in and go for the adrenaline rush!

Against good opps or at other venues and forms of scoring I might well sell to 1NT and see what happens but it would be sooooo hard (maybe i like pain a bit too much )

[akhare]

Kalvan14, on Dec 20 2005, 09:58 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

P-(1D)-?

---

If you pass, LHO bids 1N, which is passed back to you

If you double, LHO bids 1N, and N doubles; E passes.

E-W play 2/1, same system as you do.

Pass throught -- in my experience, in the 1♦ - 1N sequence, responder's best suit is often guess what -- ♣.

Why would you even consider a direct X w/ a balanced hand and 3-3 in the majors and not enough points to make up for it?

Atul

[mike777]

Kalvan14, on Dec 20 2005, 10:16 PM, said:

Penalty: good 7-8 hcp up to max pass

Once you agree to play light take out x after a passed partner, partner should not x 1nt with 7-9 hcp! If partner x's 1nt I expect to kill it!

[Kalvan14]

My experience has always been that in MPs it never pays to be too shy, and that if you have to speak it is often done earlier than later.
I doubled: not a classic t/o double, but again if you do not get in now you might have to consider balancing against 2♠ In the posted hand, you'd be lucky (the bidding box comes back to you with just 1N), but a double now would certainly show values in diamonds. So if you do not double at first opportunity, your best bet is to balance with 2♣.

the bidding goes:
P-(1♦)-X-(1N)-X-P *-(2C)-P-(P)-X-(2D)-X- all pass.
(*): not completely happy, but still we have at least half deck, and the opening lead. And it is well known that the worst partial oppos can play is 1N non-vul

Any consensus on the opening lead?

[Winstonm]

Late to this thread but I pass and pass and then pass some more. This hand is pure defense with no redeeming offensive value so why should I suggest we play the hand in our 4/3 major or our 5/2 club fit? I'd like to have some shape or some tricks before I got involved - here I have neither.

The auction 1D-P-1N-P-P-? seems silly to get in now. Partner heard the bidding and would stretch to bid a good major as a prebalance, especially at MPs, and the auction means either the opps have a diamond fit or LHO has clubs.

Maybe this is why I don't play MPs, because even if you could prove to me it was right to bid I wouldn't do it.

Winston

[Kalvan14]

A passed partner who pre-balance in the sandwich position between an unlimited opener and a guy who has answered 1N over 1m shows more courage than sense, IMO.
MP are MP, and a honorable part of the bridge game. IMP are a different kind of fish; still an aggressive method of overcalling can stem a trickle of negative partials.