a***@yahoo.co.uk
2018-03-26 23:15:59 UTC
Here is a hand where I advised a novice incorrectly as to what to do with a distributional weak hand opposite partners opening bid:
2
AJT9642
T86
63
red against green, MPs
The novices play Acol, weak NT. The partner of the novice was not a novice, he is an experienced players who regularly partners one of the novices to help bring her along.
Her partner opened 1D, and RHO overcalls 1S. How inconvenient. After I was called over for help I had a think and decided that it would be best to pass first then come in later, which would tell partner about the long suit but weak in HCP. It only occurred to me later that punting 4H would be a decent shot. Needless to say this didnt work.
N E S W
1D 1S P 4S
P P ?
I told her it is a choice between pass and 5H, and it is a guess. She chose to pass. Unfortunately the full deal was:
Q84
Q5
AKJ94
KQ5
J9753 AKT6
87 K3
Q 7532
JT842 A97
2
AJT9642
T86
63
5H is cold, 4S is one down. West has learnt the strategy of bidding to the level of the fit, which worked well here. East had an awkward nice hand but no long suit, and not suitable for a 1NT overcall, but didn't want to pass, hence the overcall.
Sometimes it is right to pass first then bid later to discourage partner from getting excited if they have a strong hand. Other times it can give the opponents the chance to barrage you out of the auction if they have immediately found their fit. This was the latter case.
2
AJT9642
T86
63
red against green, MPs
The novices play Acol, weak NT. The partner of the novice was not a novice, he is an experienced players who regularly partners one of the novices to help bring her along.
Her partner opened 1D, and RHO overcalls 1S. How inconvenient. After I was called over for help I had a think and decided that it would be best to pass first then come in later, which would tell partner about the long suit but weak in HCP. It only occurred to me later that punting 4H would be a decent shot. Needless to say this didnt work.
N E S W
1D 1S P 4S
P P ?
I told her it is a choice between pass and 5H, and it is a guess. She chose to pass. Unfortunately the full deal was:
Q84
Q5
AKJ94
KQ5
J9753 AKT6
87 K3
Q 7532
JT842 A97
2
AJT9642
T86
63
5H is cold, 4S is one down. West has learnt the strategy of bidding to the level of the fit, which worked well here. East had an awkward nice hand but no long suit, and not suitable for a 1NT overcall, but didn't want to pass, hence the overcall.
Sometimes it is right to pass first then bid later to discourage partner from getting excited if they have a strong hand. Other times it can give the opponents the chance to barrage you out of the auction if they have immediately found their fit. This was the latter case.