[ahydra]

Hmm, I thought I had standard Acol bidding down pat. But then this happens:

♠x
♥QJxx
♦Jxx
♣KQxxx

1S-1NT
2D-???

A pragmatic option is to pass, but partner will kick you under the table when he has 16-17 points and sees dummy. 2S keeps the auction open (and would be an easy choice holding a doubleton spade) - but is it right with just a singleton, or even a void if we swap the ♠x for a ♥x? 2NT/3C clearly risk getting too high. 2H should be a 6-card suit.

So what is the correct call here?

Thanks,

ahydra

ps. My LHO's hand on this deal was ♠AKQJ ♥765 ♦1098 ♣432. Rather curious for a deal shuffled and dealt by hand!

[hrothgar]

ahydra, on 2012-October-08, 07:44, said:

Hmm, I thought I had standard Acol bidding down pat. But then this happens:

♠x
♥QJxx
♦Jxx
♣KQxxx

1S-1NT
2D-???

A pragmatic option is to pass, but partner will kick you under the table when he has 16-17 points and sees dummy. 2S keeps the auction open (and would be an easy choice holding a doubleton spade) - but is it right with just a singleton, or even a void if we swap the ♠x for a ♥x? 2NT/3C clearly risk getting too high. 2H should be a 6-card suit.

So what is the correct call here?

If you aren't willing to pass 2♦ then you shouldn't have bid 1NT to begin with...

[Codo]

I pass too. Yes, this may miss game opposite 16-17, but unluckily my partner opens a lot more 11-12s then 16-17s...

[awm]

Pass. Partner rarely has 16-17, and even if he does this is the sort of hand (misfit, soft values) where game will fail pretty often despite the high card totals. Of course there are various conventional methods designed to deal with this "problem" but it's really pretty rare that you miss a better-than-mediocre game. Of course, playing in a 5-1 spade fit when you correct is a live possibility.

[wank]

yes anything other than pass is bizarre. you are permitted to be maximum for your call on occasion.

[Cyberyeti]

As said above, if you're not passing 2♦ (or bidding 2♠), don't bid 1N and this is a flat broke 2♣ for many acol players.

I play a bent version of acol where I have a much safer pass over 1♠-2♣-2♦ than I do if I respond 1N, as partner's failure to rebid a GF not necessarily balanced 2N over 2♣ denies a 15 count. The downside is that I will be in game with 15 opposite 9 and a misfit, the upside that I'll be in game opposite 16-17.

[Gerben42]

Pass in tempo. Perhaps partner does have 16 but game wasn't on