Do you bid?

[Adam Lea]

MPs, no-one vuln. You hold:

JT863
Q76
8
AJ96

LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

I pass

Partner will expect a stronger hand to overcall a weakNT

Co Wiersma

[Dave Flower]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

What do the next two players bid ?

Dave Flower

[Will in New Haven]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

I presume partner and RHO passed. I bid 2S. Bids directly over a weak NT should be sound, in my opinion, because partner will try for game rather frequently so you have to take action to contest the partial.

[Adam Lea]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Oh bugger I've done it again. It should be RHO opened 1NT, not LHO. This
is what comes of trying to post several hands quickly.

[jogs]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Oh bugger I've done it again. It should be RHO opened 1NT, not LHO. This
is what comes of trying to post several hands quickly.

If LHO had opened, it would be a reluctant pass.

Since RHO opened, it is an easy pass.

[Dave Flower]

I'm tempted to bid 2D (Astro), planning to pass 2H.
However, I think I'd only do it if I was in need of a top.

Dave Flower

[Player]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Pass.

[p***@infi.net]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

My general rule over weak notrumps is not to bid with less than about 11 hcp. The weaker they are, the stronger we need to be to act, since our focus shifts from driving them out of 1NT to not missing a game our way. Not many play weak notrumps here in ACBL land so I will defer to others with more experience if they have a different philosophy.

To handle odd ranges, I play the same system over any strength notrump, except the minimum usual strength is 23 minus their minimum hcp: 23-15 = 8 versus 15-17; 23-12 = 11 versus 12-14.

[KWSchneider]

On 06 Mar 2017 11:27 AM ,***@infi.net wrote:

<snipped>

My general rule over weak notrumps is not to bid with less than about 11 hc=
p. The weaker they are, the stronger we need to be to act, since our focus =
shifts from driving them out of 1NT to not missing a game our way. Not many=
play weak notrumps here in ACBL land so I will defer to others with more e=
xperience if they have a different philosophy.

I disagree. As far as doubles are concerned, you need to have a solid balanced opening. But for overcalls, shape is the key, not strength. There is no guarantee who owns the hand so interference is critical when merited.

[jogs]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

If the quality of the hand were improved and you had
a call that shows both 5 spades + 4+ minor

QJT86
763
8
AJ96

then I would bid it.
2S: 5 spades + 4+ minor
advancer could bid 2NT to ask for minor.

[Adam Lea]

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
what happened:

AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96

N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP

3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

[p***@infi.net]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

2C looks odd from this side of the pond, Was it Stayman, with the agreement that 2C then 3C would sign off? But then why would East volunteer 3H?

Just out of curiosity, what movement produces a 14 top?

[Travis Crump]

Post by p***@infi.net

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

2C looks odd from this side of the pond, Was it Stayman, with the agreement that 2C then 3C would sign off? But then why would East volunteer 3H?
Just out of curiosity, what movement produces a 14 top?

Probably 2/1/0 matchpoints instead of the 1/0.5/0 matchpoints we use in
the US. Though a 15 table web movement would work too.

[Adam Lea]

Post by p***@infi.net

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

2C looks odd from this side of the pond, Was it Stayman, with the agreement that 2C then 3C would sign off? But then why would East volunteer 3H?
Just out of curiosity, what movement produces a 14 top?

2C was intended as Stayman, 3C was probably some attempt to play in one
of the long suits. West was a weak player.

A Mitchell movement with 8 tables gives 14 MPs available on every board
with a 2,1,0 scoring system.

[p***@infi.net]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by p***@infi.net

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

2C looks odd from this side of the pond, Was it Stayman, with the agreement that 2C then 3C would sign off? But then why would East volunteer 3H?
Just out of curiosity, what movement produces a 14 top?

2C was intended as Stayman, 3C was probably some attempt to play in one
of the long suits. West was a weak player.
A Mitchell movement with 8 tables gives 14 MPs available on every board
with a 2,1,0 scoring system.

I see. I've heard of 2-1-0 scoring, but over here I've never seen anything but 1-.5-0 .

Looks like you were fixed by West not simply bidding or showing hearts, but usually I'd be glad to escape playing against a 4-0 split.

Such random results from enemy bidding won't go away. You will find more of your good scores coming from declarer play and defense as you improve. My goal in bidding is to avoid silly results, such as playing 5-1 fits or failing to bid game with 27 hcp. I do like to ahve tools for investigating slams -- forcing bids, strength showing bids, splinters, RKCB. You can usually gain several percentage points each session by avoiding poor slams or bidding good ones. Competitive bidding is pretty much the toughest part of the game.

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

Several auctions you have posted have shown very strange decisions - why
on earth did west bid 2C ? Over a normal 2D transfer most N's will
double to show diamonds and E bids 2H promising at least 3 (should pass
with a doubleton). Now W will clearly compete to 3H if N/S bid again
and may well invite game anyway so I would expect nearly everybody to
play in hearts.

[Adam Lea]

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

Several auctions you have posted have shown very strange decisions - why
on earth did west bid 2C ?

I have seen this from inexperienced players who don't play transfers,
they bid Stayman with a 5 card suit, not appreciating that this only
helps them find a 5-4 fit, not a 5-3 fit.

As for strange decisions, yes it seems that at the two clubs I play at,
people often do odd things, but I seem to get on the wrong side of it
more often than I feel I should (if an action really is poor, it ought
to fail more often than succeed). Since I am the only common factor I
feel I have to take a critical look at my own decisions, hence posting
hands on here and see if I can find any common factor in the replies. I
used to be able to get >55% regularly at club duplicate, but over the
last nine months seem to struggle to even get to 50%, and I cannot put
my finger on what has changed in the last year. Nine months is too long
to write it off as a spell of bad luck or just one of those things. In
addition, the pair of grandmasters playing against the same opponents
and with the same boards don't have much problem getting >60% most of
the time, so if it really was about the randomness of the field, why
aren't they affected?

[Douglas Newlands]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by Adam Lea

Post by Adam Lea
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
LHO dealer and opens 1NT (12-14). All bids over 1NT are natural. Your call.

Thanks for the responses so far, a tendency to pass with this hand,
which is what I did (we weren't playing two suited overcalls). This is
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP
3H made 10 tricks for a woeful 2 out of 14 MPs for NS. Again, cards
lying favourably for EW. The traveller was all over the place. Only one
other pair was in a heart contract; 4H-2. Two NS pairs found 3S= and
3S+2. One pair was in 3D-2, one pair in 4CX-3, and one NS pair somehow
ended up in 3C-4 (don't ask!).

Several auctions you have posted have shown very strange decisions - why
on earth did west bid 2C ?

I have seen this from inexperienced players who don't play transfers,
they bid Stayman with a 5 card suit, not appreciating that this only
helps them find a 5-4 fit, not a 5-3 fit.
As for strange decisions, yes it seems that at the two clubs I play at,
people often do odd things, but I seem to get on the wrong side of it
more often than I feel I should (if an action really is poor, it ought
to fail more often than succeed). Since I am the only common factor I
feel I have to take a critical look at my own decisions, hence posting
hands on here and see if I can find any common factor in the replies. I
used to be able to get >55% regularly at club duplicate, but over the
last nine months seem to struggle to even get to 50%, and I cannot put
my finger on what has changed in the last year. Nine months is too long
to write it off as a spell of bad luck or just one of those things. In
addition, the pair of grandmasters playing against the same opponents
and with the same boards don't have much problem getting >60% most of
the time, so if it really was about the randomness of the field, why
aren't they affected?

Good players are much better dummy players.
The play of indifferent to bad contracts even further separates out
the really good dummy players.

Bidding, at pairs, is a matter of just getting to the normal contract
unless you _know_ there is a better place. Just play a normal system
and get to normal contracts. 1N-2D-2H seems to be the normal
uncontested auction for this hand. The 2D start tells partner something
and involves them in the auction which is always good.

doug

[David Goldfarb]

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by Adam Lea
AQ75
J3
KJT642
Q
- K942
A9842 KT5
75 AQ93
KT8743 52
JT863
Q76
8
AJ96
N E S W
1NT P 2C
2D 2S P 3C
P 3H AP

Several auctions you have posted have shown very strange decisions - why
on earth did west bid 2C ? Over a normal 2D transfer most N's will
double to show diamonds

If the opponents are playing weak notrumps, do not use doubles of
artificial responses as lead-directing. Much better is to use double
to show general values and a desire to compete. On this hand, doing
that will get you to your spade fit.

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by David Goldfarb
If the opponents are playing weak notrumps, do not use doubles of
artificial responses as lead-directing. Much better is to use double
to show general values and a desire to compete. On this hand, doing
that will get you to your spade fit.

I play that with about half my partners, but I doubt anybody in this
club does that.

[jogs]

http://www.acbl.org/learn_page/how-to-play-bridge/introduction-to-duplicate/convention-cards/commonly-used-conventions/

This is a list of common conventions.
------------
http://www.acbl.org/learn_page/how-to-play-bridge/introduction-to-duplicate/convention-cards/commonly-used-conventions/

This is capp over 1NT.

I prefer revise capp.

vs: strong or weak NT

2C: puppet to 2D by pard.
then 2 Major is major + minor

2D: majors

2H: hearts

2S: spades

Dbl: strong or clear-cut opening lead

2NT: minors

Be liberal with interfering when non-vul.
Be cautious when vul. Never is close to correct.

When you bid 2C, often opponents will relieve you of the obligation of bidding again.