[Phil]

NV / Vul, teams

QJx x AK8xxx Qxx

(2♦*) - pass - (2♥**) - ?

2♦ is Precision, no five card major, 4-5 clubs, 12 cards in non-diamonds.
2♥ is a search for the best spot. Opener usually doesn't pass with 4315.

[gwnn]

complicated explanation (I prefer "one card away from 4415)

3♦

[karlson]

I would bid for sure.

[ArtK78]

This is a very dangerous situation to bid at the 3 level on a marginal hand. It is very tempting to bid, but I think I would pass.

As much as I hate the Precision 2♦ bid, on this hand it has given responder a great deal of information (and to your side as well, which is one of the reasons I dislike the bid). Responder will be very well placed if he has a hand which can penalize you.

This is almost certainly a part-score hand. Bidding here, if both sides can make, may gain you 6 IMPs. But you could easily lose 4-5 IMPs if neither side can make anything, and much more if they can double you.

[pooltuna]

ArtK78, on Sep 27 2010, 11:40 AM, said:

This is a very dangerous situation to bid at the 3 level on a marginal hand. It is very tempting to bid, but I think I would pass.

As much as I hate the Precision 2♦ bid, on this hand it has given responder a great deal of information (and to your side as well, which is one of the reasons I dislike the bid). Responder will be very well placed if he has a hand which can penalize you.

This is almost certainly a part-score hand. Bidding here, if both sides can make, may gain you 6 IMPs. But you could easily lose 4-5 IMPs if neither side can make anything, and much more if they can double you.

not so bad at least we have a license to steal so I would try 3♦ and let the opps try to figure out what to do when they are V.

[ArtK78]

pooltuna, on Sep 27 2010, 12:59 PM, said:

ArtK78, on Sep 27 2010, 11:40 AM, said:

This is a very dangerous situation to bid at the 3 level on a marginal hand.  It is very tempting to bid, but I think I would pass.

As much as I hate the Precision 2♦ bid, on this hand it has given responder a great deal of information (and to your side as well, which is one of the reasons I dislike the bid).  Responder will be very well placed if he has a hand which can penalize you.

This is almost certainly a part-score hand.  Bidding here, if both sides can make, may gain you 6 IMPs.  But you could easily lose 4-5 IMPs if neither side can make anything, and much more if they can double you.

not so bad at least we have a license to steal so I would try 3♦ and let the opps try to figure out what to do when they are V.

Unless I am mistaken, the 2♥ bid was to play. So the opps have already decided what to do as far as offense is concerned.

Seems to me to be too much of a fielder's choice if you bid 3♦. They will defend when it is right, sometimes doubled, and they will bid one more when it is right. The only times you will gain from bidding is (1) when both sides make and pushing them up one level will produce a plus score for your side, or (2) your side has a game. From partner's failure to act in direct seat, it seems unlikely that your side has a game.

[whereagles]

Totally obvious 3♦ bid.

Pard has some cards because opps are at a part score. That plus the fact RHO, who is the only one who can double this, sits behind our suit makes it very safe to bid.

[jdonn]

As a plus I generally play 3♣ here shows a good 3♦ bid, so partner is not going to hang me when I bid 3♦.

[ArtK78]

whereagles, on Sep 27 2010, 01:24 PM, said:

Totally obvious 3♦ bid.

Pard has some cards because opps are at a part score. That plus the fact RHO, who is the only one who can double this, sits behind our suit makes it very safe to bid.

Yes, pard has some values, but he doesn't have to have much. RHO would not take any action beyond a signoff if he has a only a minimal fit or even no fit with any of opener's three suits even when they have near game values between their two hands.

Besides everything else, our black suit values are very soft.

[gnasher]

I'd lead a trump.

[aguahombre]

And how do we know what "2H**" is? I would assume to play, but with a double asterisk, maybe not. Don't have Josh's 3C bid available, unfortunately so it would be nice to know if the auction is alive.

[Phil]

aguahombre, on Sep 27 2010, 03:20 PM, said:

And how do we know what "2H**" is? I would assume to play, but with a double asterisk, maybe not.

See added footnote above.

[nige1]

Phil, on Sep 27 2010, 10:35 AM, said:

NV / Vul, teams QJx x AK8xxx Qxx
(2♦*) - pass - (2♥**) - ?
2♦ is Precision, no five card major, 4-5 clubs, 12 cards in non-diamonds.
2♥ is a search for the best spot. Opener usually doesn't pass with 4315.

IMO _P = 10, 3♦ = 9, _X = 8.
The decision is close. At the table, you might well pass. Competing at this level with a weak hand opposite a passed partner when opener has announced a great defensive hand is fraught with danger. Nevertheless, at favourable vulnerability, with a singleton ♥, it is tempting to risk a pre-balance with 3♦ and and hope to escape alive. One problem is that partner may hazard 3N on inadequate values. Double is more flexible but has a worse downside: you have so little defence that opponents may make 2♥X vul, if partner elects to pass for penalties. If your enterprize goes wrong, then just apologise.