[paulg]

One of the big reasons that I like watching vugraph is to see when the experts make different bids or plays to me. In this case I may be looking for insight where there is none, but watching a very good player recently he made decisions on these two hands that I may not of.

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What do you think is the best call on these hands?

[Mbodell]

On the first hand pass > 1♥ > X > 2♥

On the second 1♥ > X > 2♥ > pass

[Poky]

1st: 1♥ 80%, pass 20%
2nd: 1♥ 70%, double 20%, pass 10%

[WellSpyder]

Hmmm, I'm nowhere near agreeing with either previous poster. Using Poky's marking system I would give
Hand 1: Pass 70% 1♥ 30%
Hand 2: Double 40% Pass 30% 1♥ 20% 1♠ 10%

[marcD]

I think this is definitely a style issue. I would pass both hands facing a passed hand (if the partner had not passed, you need to play italian style to be able to bid 1♥ on the 1st). The alternatives (1♥ on the 1st, double on the second) are more than likely to draw a roadmap for the declarer on how to play the hand. I realize this is extremely conservative by today's standards (at least on fora)

[marcD]

I think this is definitely a style issue. I would pass both hands facing a passed hand (if the partner had not passed, you need to play italian style to be able to bid 1♥ on the 1st). The alternatives (1♥ on the 1st, double on the second) are more than likely to draw a roadmap for the declarer on how to play the hand. I realize this is extremely conservative by today's standards (at least on fora)

[phil_20686]

I would bid 1H on both. On the first I think pass is ok, dont feel strongly about it, but I would bid, not that worried about going for a number or anything. Often oppos were just going to play in 1NT and i quite fancy a heart lead from xx with those nice pips. On the second I think not acting is pretty bad, I would bid 1H because I expect our primary gain to be when partner has 4-5 hearts and can raise to the 3 or 4 level. I realise that dble gets all 3 strains into play but it still doesn't really feel right to me.

I presume you would think Pass and 1H are normal, so i'm guessing they dbled the second one?

[gordontd]

 paulg, on 2011-February-25, 03:56, said:

he made decisions on these two hands that I may not of.

Have you been spending a lot of time with teenagers, Paul?

 paulg, on 2011-February-25, 03:56, said:

What do you think is the best call on these hands?

I'd pass the first and bid 1♥ on the second, but I see lots of good players bidding 1♥ in situations like the first and doubling on the second.

[655321]

1) Pass, not even close to bidding.
(edit) well maybe bidding is not as bad as I first thought, maybe I really would bid 1♥ at the table, not sure.

2) I would bid 1♥, if we were w/r I would probably double instead, but at equal vul there doesn't seem much point in pretending that this aceless nine count is an opening hand with support for the other suits. OTOH we do have 5 hearts and some points, so...

This post has been edited by 655321: 2011-February-25, 05:10

[andy_h]

Yeah I wouldn't dream of overcalling on the 1st hand when partner passed over 1C and we are r/w.
On the 2nd I like 1H, somehow double feels a bit weird with this measly nine count.

[JLOGIC]

I would bid 1H on both of them, but could imagine a pass on the first one is the majority action even though I don't like it at all.

Some very good people might X because it's white opp a passed hand on the second one, but that is basically a psyche to me and is undisciplined. State of the match etc would impact that decision.

[bluecalm]

I prefer style when both are 1♥'s.
I am closer to passing the 1st one than bidding anything else than 1♥ on the second.

[dake50]

1. Can you imagine how weak my partner gets his major in? Esp over 1C?
PASS - no blab to help them.
2. Playing Roman-like jumps my 2H shows 5+H with 4+S.
So 2H.

[Free]

Pass on the first hand, I don't see the point in bidding with this crappy hand.

1♥ or Dbl on the 2nd hand, no strong feelings about either but 1♥ is probably the "normal" action.

[whereagles]

I don't really see what 1♥ aims to accomplish on 1st one, but ok.

On 2nd one I'd try a michaels cue.

[Phil]

1. I would pass. If pard wants to lead a spade against 3N, I won't be upset. If my hand were all hearts, I would overcall.

2. Double. Had this discussion before and I am in the minority on this one.

[gwnn]

nice happy 1♥ on both cases. the first one is rather minimal but the second one is not bad at all.

[bluecalm]

Quote

Pass on the first hand, I don't see the point in bidding with this crappy hand.

Quote

I don't really see what 1♥ aims to accomplish on 1st one, but ok.

Partner will not lead a club vs their 3NT.

[xxhong]

I pass for both hands. When it is unlikely to be our hand, I just don't want to give them distributional information. Of course, when you hit a huge H fit, you may be able to outbid them and make a lot of hearts, which is a rather rare case. Both hands are not close to a opening hand (about one King weaker), so I really don't have to bid them.

[whereagles]

 Phil, on 2011-February-25, 11:45, said:

2. Double. Had this discussion before and I am in the minority on this one.

Aye. Stand your own ground