[WellSpyder]

---

Vul vs NV, imps. 1♦ shows 4+ (4-card majors, weak NT). What's your call? Is it close?

[helene_t]

I pass. My diamond holding doesn't look like something that will make game very often, and if we have game partner is still there. The fact that we are red and it is IMPs make my decision easier - white/white at MP I would do something. Probably 1♥. 1NT gets a zero on the Nigel scale, being even worse than 2♣ (which also gets a zero). I have seen good players doubling with this hand although I slightly prefer 1♥.

[wank]

it's a pretty clear pass. 1h would be ok with this shape, but should have a better suit. you don't have so many points that you need to invent a bid.

[ggwhiz]

As above. I overcall 4-card suits as often as anyone but this one has too many warts.

It may go 1♠ on your left - p - 1nt back to you. Would you double now? I wouldn't (pard is an aggressive balancer) but if you do at least it approaches what you have.

[Hanoi5]

I need the heart ten for a 1♥ overcall.

[Hanoi5]

I need the heart ten for a 1♥ overcall.

[gszes]

PASS

The side that opens the bidding plays most of the hands for a reason. It is just
plain not as safe to stick in a bid here when lho is unlimited they know their p has
opened the bidding and we do not really have tricks for offense if the opps decide
to x us at unfavorable.

There really does not seem to be any big hurry to bid anyway. If lho shows weakness
and the opps are letting the hand die at 1n (after lho bids 1s) or 2d it is not too late
to come in with a tox. Most other circumstances pass and hope declarer refuses to play
you for 15 count and silence during the bidding and you get a good result because of it.

[neilkaz]

I hate to pass but I must. Red vs White is not a good time to mess around as PD will expect more ♠ if we X and a better ♥ suit if we o/c. Give me AQ98♥ and I'll venture 1♥ with a PD who knows that I can overcall a good 4 carder at the 1 level when my strength is at least close to an opening bid.

[mikeh]

I was pleased and surprised to see all posters passing.

xxx in a suit bid on your right is a death holding, and the heart suit is nowhere near robust enough to want to make us bid it, even at the one-level.

1N without a stopper is fashionable in some parts, but is generally only used over a minor opening that could be short....once opener promises 4+, it makes little sense. In addition, I think one needs at least a decent average hand for such an action, and this is a bad 15.

[gnasher]

ggwhiz, on 2014-April-07, 04:48, said:

It may go 1♠ on your left - p - 1nt back to you. Would you double now?

Yes.

[lamford]

gnasher, on 2014-April-07, 14:48, said:

Yes.

As would I. This thread belongs in the beginner's forum, as does the one person who voted for double (and I have not checked who that was, so if it is a very strong player, I might have to eat my words).

I see it does not appear to be a public poll...

This post has been edited by lamford: 2014-April-07, 15:29

[kuhchung]

Mostly curious as to what "standard" is after 1D p 1S p 1N x. From what I understand, standard (old fashioned?) was penalty with diamonds.

[mikeh]

kuhchung, on 2014-April-07, 15:34, said:

Mostly curious as to what "standard" is after 1D p 1S p 1N x. From what I understand, standard (old fashioned?) was penalty with diamonds.

I think it is takeout of spades, and includes a willingness to play diamonds (altho it certainly doesn't promise primary diamonds).

A prototypical holding would be 1=4=4=4 with opening values. Partner is supposed to bid a black suit if possible, but can definitely bid diamonds 'to play'. He can also pass, of course, with suitable defence.

This is a far more likely scenario than a hand that wants not only to defend 1N (with an unlimited LHO), and can penalize diamonds, and note that this is a hand that is on opening lead against 1N, so doesn't need to make a lead-directing double.

Besides, with the sort of hand that can defeat diamonds all by itself, it can choose to bid 2♦, since is seems very unlikely that 1N is going down, based on diamonds, AND that LHO has nowhere to go.

[gnasher]

1♦ p 1♠ p
1NT x

and

1♦ p 1♠ p
2♦ x

are different from

1♦ p 1NT p
p x

and

1♦ p 1NT p
2♦ x

because in the first two sequences you can have a good hand that wants to make a takeout double, and on the last two sequences you can't.

[WellSpyder]

lamford, on 2014-April-07, 15:28, said:

As would I. This thread belongs in the beginner's forum, as does the one person who voted for double.

Fair comment, perhaps - as someone said to me, pass is the bid you would make in a bidding quiz. In practice, though, both 1♥ and double were chosen in a recent county A team match, so perhaps some people find it more difficult to pass in practice than they do in theory?

[whereagles]

For me this is a 1NT wtp. Not surprised at all to see the theoreticians pass.

[mikeh]

deleted

[whereagles]

[gszes]

mikeh, on 2014-April-07, 12:39, said:

I was pleased and surprised to see all posters passing.

xxx in a suit bid on your right is a death holding, and the heart suit is nowhere near robust enough to want to make us bid it, even at the one-level.

1N without a stopper is fashionable in some parts, but is generally only used over a minor opening that could be short....once opener promises 4+, it makes little sense. In addition, I think one needs at least a decent average hand for such an action, and this is a bad 15.

we are all reading your posts and learning keep up the good work:))))))))))))))))))))

[mycroft]

Hmm. I might, but I might not. They have 21 (well, okay, 19) and I have 15. They have not yet found a fit, and there may not be one. I have 5 losers in their suits, and 4-6 points over there isn't going to cover many of them. Magically we make when partner has hearts, but it's going to go 1NT-X-2♠ (or 2♦, which is actually better for us) then, and we're playing 3♥ with the same problems (it's a 6-2 or 5-3 spade fit, and the diamonds are under the bad hand, and...

Am I doubling in this auction? Of course I am. But nobody but me plays 4-card majors, weak NT over here :-)