[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the following hand occurred in a 2-Table IMP Pair Tournament, you are playing
with your son, in 4rd seat, red vs green, you hold

♠T93
♥AKQ4
♦T63
♣A73

The bidding starts as followes

(Pass) - 1♣ - (1♠) - X (1)
(Pass) - 2♦ (2) - (2♠) - ??? (3)

(1) neg. X, you told you son, that low level X are for takeout, showing the other suits
(2) does not promise reverse strength, a common style in Germany / Europe
(3) your bid? Playing with a serious partner, and your bid playing with your 10y son?

You play a 5 card major system with 15-17NT, open 1C with 3 in the minor, 1D with 44 in the
minor. You have the agreement, that your son is allowed to get creative in the 3rd bidding
round, in case it matters. And also in case it matters, you agree with your sons 2 bids.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: You shattered the confidence of your son in the 2nd bord, as you double your wife, which was
playing with your 2nd son in a making 3NT contract, you did have 8HCP, facing an opening bid,
a reasonable halfstop in their suit and a discovered / agreed upon 8 card fit, this was not enough.
Your goal was to finish before them in the standing.

[DavidKok]

Spoiler

I'd bid 3♠ with a serious partner, which seems to describe my hand reasonably. That third spade is a bit awkward - partner might well have a 2=2=5=4 and offer a single or partial stopper by bidding 3NT, but could also have ♠AQx or so in a 3=1=5=4 or the likes. I think if partner has a stopper 3NT will often be better than 5♣ as we have a complete pancake shape and partner (almost) certainly has got at most two hearts, making our values partially wasted. At matchpoints I'd consider 3♣, there is a very good chance that we have two spade losers and a minor suit loser in clubs and also don't have 8 quick tricks after they knock out partner's presumed spade stopper in 3NT. At IMPs I am too scared to miss game with 25+ HCP and a club fit, and 3♠ seems like the best route to offer partner more options.
I suppose we could double but I don't like these generic repeated doubles - partner has already shown their suits, where are they going to go? And if they decide to introduce a good heart doubleton we don't have a way to offer COG 3NT versus 5♣.

If we are trying to keep it simple I might have to bid 5♣ and hope for the best.

[mw64ahw]

2♦ response to the X?

[jillybean]

With a serious partner 3♠ is obvious, easy.

With an offspring it looks like my only choice is to blast to game in a minor.
5♣
Maybe 6 😉

[P_Marlowe]

mw64ahw, on 2024-February-29, 16:33, said:

2♦ response to the X?

4+ diamonds, his second suit.

[mw64ahw]

P_Marlowe, on 2024-February-29, 23:30, said:

4+ diamonds, his second suit.

Sorry, I read your son was in 4th seat and that was your hand😁

[jillybean]

Uwe, how long are you going to keep us waiting?

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2024-March-01, 23:36, said:

Uwe, how long are you going to keep us waiting?

Hi,

I like the suggestion 3♠ and understand 5♣.
3♠ may get you to the best contract, which seems to be 4♥ in a 4-3,
although partner will have a tough call to make, he has

♠ x
♥ Jxx
♦ AQTx
♣ KJxxx

You could argue with the opening bid, but lots of experienced players would open
the hand. Neither of those bids crossed my mind, I did briefly consider X, but
there is no chance that may son would have been able to handle it, similar to a
3♠ call.
I went with 3♥ and was left there to play it, which was ok and I made it.

In case you wonder, we ended up 3rd, but my wife and younger son came behind us,
target achieved.
In my original post I mentioned the 2nd board, but incorrectly mentioned I doubled
my wife.
I did doubled my younger son, my wife commented "See, now even Dad does not believe
your bidding."
He likes to bid like a tiger, ..., and knowes I like to go tiger hunting, ... no respect,
and the making of the doubled contract wont help in future table encounters.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Forgot to add, if you make 4H you end up 2nd, on the other table your son and wife
reached 2NT - 8, and a red game beats a green game, even if the opps score int only in
undouble undertricks.
The laughter reached your boring (as usual) table. -8 was moms fault, I agree with my
little son, if you have a major suit fit, you play the major.