[ArcLight]

---

RHO bids and opens 1♠, your bid please



(please use standard methods, no ultra modern unnatural overcalls)

From Hugh Kelseys "How to Improve Your Bridge", p 82

[Echognome]

I pass for now. No other bid looks comfortable to me. The closest alternative is 1NT. I may survive it, I may not. Let me see what the other two players on my left have to say first and then I can come in later if need be. The other benefit of passing is that if the opponents buy the contract, they will never place you with all of the outstanding points.

[Winstonm]

Routine pass. No reason to get involved now - minor suit games need 11 tricks and partner is still sitting over there.

Winston

[Gerben42]

Pass for me too. Too few ♥ to double, and even too few ♥ to bid 1NT!

[hrothgar]

I'd bid 1NT with xx in Hearts
I don't see why x is that much worse...

[luis]

2♣

[Al_U_Card]

I always pass on these but I hate it AND I feel that I took too much time in making the pass and now everyone "knows" that I have "something"...

[inquiry]

Pass, here is a case where kelsey is dead on.

[awm]

This brings to mind a hand from my districts NAP trials a few years back. My partner opened 1♥. RHO held a 4441 seventeen-count, but didn't want to bid notrump with a singleton and therefore passed. I passed, and LHO passed it out with AQxx xx xxx xxxx. Partner made 1♥ for +80, and the opponents were ice-cold for 4♠. RHO was furious at his partner for passing out 1♥ rather than making the "obvious" 1♠ balancing call. Personally, I can't help but think that RHO, with the huge hand, was at fault.

Does this relate to this hand? Well, sort of. Certainly the chance of a major suit fit is less here -- I think if we reverse the heart and diamond holding a 1NT call is actually pretty clearcut. Nonetheless, I'd still bid 1NT on this hand. I don't expect partner to balance with 8-9 hcp flat, and I want to be in game opposite that.

[Winstonm]

awm, on Dec 2 2005, 11:58 AM, said:

This brings to mind a hand from my districts NAP trials a few years back. My partner opened 1♥. RHO held a 4441 seventeen-count, but didn't want to bid notrump with a singleton and therefore passed. I passed, and LHO passed it out with AQxx xx xxx xxxx. Partner made 1♥ for +80, and the opponents were ice-cold for 4♠. RHO was furious at his partner for passing out 1♥ rather than making the "obvious" 1♠ balancing call. Personally, I can't help but think that RHO, with the huge hand, was at fault.

Does this relate to this hand? Well, sort of. Certainly the chance of a major suit fit is less here -- I think if we reverse the heart and diamond holding a 1NT call is actually pretty clearcut. Nonetheless, I'd still bid 1NT on this hand. I don't expect partner to balance with 8-9 hcp flat, and I want to be in game opposite that.

I'm not sure I see the point here: with AQxx, xx, xxx, xxx and a NT overcall, I'm not inclined to look for either a speculative 4/4 spade fit or game.

With the posted hand, I know I wouldn't much like playing 1N X'd with a wide open heart suit and no source of tricks.

Winston

[han]

I agree with all that Adam says, but I also think that changing the diamonds and hearts is a difference between night and day. This hand has much less potential for game, and the chance that we will play in a 5-1 heart fit is significant if I overcall 1NT. I'm much less worried that partner will transfer into diamonds when I overcall 1NT with 4-4-1-4 shape, and if he does, it will usually be a 6-card suit.

[Chamaco]

1NT

In a world of light bidders (open and respond ultralight), I use the in-quick/out-quick approach.

Passing risks either to be stolen blind, OR that we'll feel the urge to show our values when the auction is at a higher level.

I might consider passing only if I were sure that opps open and respond ultrasoundly (e.g. opening guarantees 12-13 hcp and responses guarantee 6-7 hcp).

[bridge2k]

Pass is not my choice. I have to speak out with such a hand. Any bid may distort the hand description somehow. I choose 1N.

[cherdano]

I voted 1NT here but I have since changed my mind. I will pass and hope that I can make a takeout double of hearts later.

[Fluffy]

Clear 1NT to me

[ArcLight]

Kelsey recommended passing, because of length in openers suit.