[Phil]

I had two hands yesterday where I had a difference in evaluation compared with my counterpart.

All IMPs, short matches.

#1

NV

♠Qx ♥AK8xx ♦AQTx ♣xx

1♥ - 2♥;
?

#2

♠AKJ7xx ♥Jx ♦Jxx ♣xx

1♣ - 1♠
1N - ?

Our 1N opening is a great 14 to 17. 2♣ XY is available if you want so you do not have to jump to game.

[ewj]

Must admit I would bid 3♦ on the first, and 2♣ then 2♠ on the second...

[bluecalm]

Intuitively it's 3♦ and 2♣->2♠ but I wouldn't be surprised to be wrong on either.
I am more confident about 1st one though.

[gszes]

HAND 1

The majority of the time when p has a max I want to be in game so I intend to invite.
The major problem is how to invite and a lot depends on your partnership style.


In my style I would bid 2s since any help reviving the spade Q will go a long way
to helping us make game. I cannot bid 2s however if p has the ability to jump to
4s. I limit p to 3s with a max and 4/5 card spade support. Opener can then decide
where to play (ie this hand would convert back to hearts).

3d might seem like a decent help suit game try but i really dont need much help
in the dia suit headed by AQT. P may be too happy with xxx xxx KJxx Axx (double
fit an great dia help) where as a p with Kxx xxx Jxxx Axx will down play their hand.

HAND 2

I have a weak 2 bid not even close to the top opposite a partner pretty much
limited to a not so great maximum of a minimum opening bid. See little upside
here for game and am happy to settle in 2s. I am not happy with the idea of
trying to preempt the opps further with my AK for defense so I would not bid
3s if it was a preemptive bid.

[JLOGIC]

Game trying on hand 2 is insane to me...would invite with hand 1

[nigel_k]

On the first hand I would invite opposite a constructive raise and pass opposite a standard raise.

On the second hand, you didn't give the vulnerability but the insane option (3♠ not 2♠) looks about right to me.

[Codo]

I invite on both.

[JLOGIC]

Ah I see what happened, thought the second hand was 5332 and was wondering what planet i Was on lol. I would invite with hand 2 also

[Fluffy]

Hand 1 I would invite, 5.5 losers, 2 fitting cards don't even produce game on a finese, so jumping to game must be wrong.

Hand 2 I would invite, but I want to play 3NT mainly, if partner has 2 spades at least by 1NT. Anyway no need to decide just yet, 2♣->2♠ and raise 2NT to 3NT

[Phil]

Without telling you want I did, here's partners hand on both:

1. ♠Axx ♥Jxx ♦98x ♣Axxx

2. ♠Q ♥ATx ♦KTxx ♣AJT9x

Knowing partner's hand do you want to be in game on both? One? Neither?

[dake50]

On #1, I have a 3H rebid that asks prime cards to go 4H.
The theory is no help suit tried so scatterred A,K needed.
On #2, try 2C->2S, maybe partner can see 6xS for tricks -
I surely see no side entry to this hand, 3NT must have
Spades come in, so I'm sorely tempted to insist 4S if game.

[ahydra]

Looks like we want to be in game with hand 2 but not hand 1; unfortunately I'd invite on both and get to the dodgy game on the first one.

ahydra

[wank]

Phil, on 2012-October-29, 14:00, said:

Without telling you want I did, here's partners hand on both:

1. ♠Axx ♥Jxx ♦98x ♣Axxx

2. ♠Q ♥ATx ♦KTxx ♣AJT9x

Knowing partner's hand do you want to be in game on both? One? Neither?

i would have invited on both and yes i'd like to be in game on both opposite partner's hand.

[akhare]

HSGT on #1 and 2♣ -> 2♠ (invite) on #2.

[Phil]

I invited on 2, but not 1. Pard bid 3N on the 2nd and I chose to pass. Would you run to 4♠?

On 1, the hand nor the defense couldn't have been friendlier. I received the ♠J lead and a diamond shift. I rose Ace, ♥AK (Q dropped) and misguessed diamonds (KJxx was onside) so I made 4. Lose 6.

On 2, neither 3N or 4♠ is that great double dummy, but 4♠ is better. I think the opening leader had something like xx Kxxxx Axxx Qx. On a trump lead, you need to time it right and guess diamonds. 3N wasn't making and we lost 9 to the 170 at the other table.

[nigel_k]

On 2, I would bid 2♣ then 3♠ which I think leaves partner with a very clear 4♠. If it went 2♣-2♠ and he bid 3NT then you have to guess.

When there is a chance to play in 3NT with an eight card major fit, I really prefer it if both partners know about the fit and can choose whether their hand is right for 3NT, rather than just ending there because one player chose to conceal their suit length. Hence my preference for 3♠ to let partner decide. There is a risk of 3♠-1 when you could have stopped in 2♠, but playing the right game is pretty important.

[lowerline]

Phil, on 2012-October-30, 11:35, said:

I invited on 2, but not 1. Pard bid 3N on the 2nd and I chose to pass. Would you run to 4♠?

On 1, the hand nor the defense couldn't have been friendlier. I received the ♠J lead and a diamond shift. I rose Ace, ♥AK (Q dropped) and misguessed diamonds (KJxx was onside) so I made 4. Lose 6.

On 2, neither 3N or 4♠ is that great double dummy, but 4♠ is better. I think the opening leader had something like xx Kxxxx Axxx Qx. On a trump lead, you need to time it right and guess diamonds. 3N wasn't making and we lost 9 to the 170 at the other table.

I think it's normal to be in game with both hands at IMPs... 4♥ making on the first and 4♠ down one (probably) on the second.

Steven

[jogs]

Phil, on 2012-October-29, 14:00, said:

Without telling you want I did, here's partners hand on both:

1. ♠Axx ♥Jxx ♦98x ♣Axxx

2. ♠Q ♥ATx ♦KTxx ♣AJT9x

Knowing partner's hand do you want to be in game on both? One? Neither?

I'm in the school of bringing back plus scores. Would have passed
both hands. Partner seems to have the absolute max and it still
isn't clear that games are better than 50/50. I plan to continue
to pass in the future.

[han]

jogs, on 2012-October-31, 10:02, said:

I'm in the school of bringing back plus scores.

How do your teammates react when you miss a game and you give them this argument?

[JLOGIC]

It is better to have bid game and lost than to have never bid game at all