[mr1303]

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Playing a vanilla 2/1 system. What do you plan on bidding here?

[JLOGIC]

1N, will bid 2S over 2H

[benlessard]

raising to 2S directly has worked very well for me in the past. I understand the reasons why many will strongly hate it but its still my bid. IMO with maximum values & a decent trump holding giving a mere preference also has serious drawbacks, especially if you tend to respond light.

[JLOGIC]

I just woke up in a panic/sweat about this hand. It went:

1S p 1N(semi forcing) p
2C p

We play 14-16 NT and always pass with balanced hands so 2C promised 4. What should I do? 3H and 4H are natural. Maybe 4D should be an unspecified monster splinter for clubs, then partner can ask. Keycard doesn't make sense, but maybe natural with like 8 diamonds does? I didn't want to risk it. Maybe 4N should be a monster 5C bid, but how will partner evaluate? I didn't wanna bid 5H exclusion and give away the hand. Maybe I should just bid 6C, but I decided to pass since LHO will balancce with hearts, now I can reopen with a 4H splinter.

Disaster struck, LHO was myself and read my tempo perfectly even though I only tanked for 2 seconds. He (I) passed out 2C with 7 hearts and a 7 count.

At least I might win imps against benlessard who gets to 4S on 1S P 2S 3H 4S and goes down while I make 170 in clubs.

[rhm]

I "violate" system and bid 2♣.
Of course this may turn out poorly, but getting to the right strain by overbidding tends to be less of a calamity than ending up in the wrong strain by taking the low road and not describing your hand. You could end up in 1NT (unless forcing) down or in 2♠, when 6♣ is a good contract.
Chances are that LHO will bid hearts next and in this case I prefer having bid clubs already.
Besides if the hands fit decently, 2♣ might turn out not to be much of an overbid.
I may end up in a hopeless game, but I may also end in a lay-down game or slam, hard to reach otherwise.

Rainer Herrmann

[the hog]

Playing 2/1 this is an obvious pass. I cannot believe anyone would think of anything else.

[ArtK78]

This thread is beginning to sound like one of the occasional humor articles in The Bridge World where the question is:

You hold

xxx
xxx
xxx
xxxx

What is your call?

"I bid 6NT playing partner for as little as A Ax A AKQJxxxxx"

I think Rainer is right - this hand is good enough to violate system and bid your suit. Hopefully we can manage the auction after that start.

[lalldonn]

I start 1NT. Over 2♣ I actually have a bid to show a game forcing club raise with a heart splinter if I'm playing bart (2♦ then 4♥) but if I'm not I would just try to be practical and bid 5♣, over 2♦ I likewise would just bid 5♦ I guess, and over 2♥ I would rebid 3♣, since I think uncovering a club fit is the best course to finding big things if they exist.

I can respect starting with 2♣ but it's a little too much of a stretch for me. At least the Ax is partner's suit, not the void.

[mr1303]

Secondary question. If you bid 1NT, and partner comes back with 2H, what do you try now?

[mike777]

mr1303, on 2012-June-20, 15:20, said:

Secondary question. If you bid 1NT, and partner comes back with 2H, what do you try now?

2s just as you expected.

2h did not make your hand better.

fwiw I dont have a way to show a long weakish minor on this auction so I live with this system hole.

[mgoetze]

mr1303, on 2012-June-20, 15:20, said:

Secondary question. If you bid 1NT, and partner comes back with 2H, what do you try now?

JLOGIC, on 2012-June-17, 14:35, said:

1N, will bid 2S over 2H