[jmcw]

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Playing Imps would you bid or pass?. Is it close? At the table the choice made cost the match.

[steve2005]

im passing. were 14 pts but 3-3-3-4. partner couldn't bid so unless he has a balanced 12 I don't like our prospects and could go for a number

[akwoo]

In part due to lack of Lebensohl, my usual agreements are for sound actions in direct seat, so partner could have up to a balanced 14 or even an unbalanced 14 with a bad suit. Hence double.

[eagles123]

I am really reluctant to pass here, so I would probably bid 2N keep the auction alive. Not too keen on X

[barmar]

I'm passing. My shape is as bad as it gets, the ♠K isn't really working except as a stopper for NT. Partner is probably short in spades, yet he couldn't make a takeout double, so he's not very strong. Meanwhile, RHO can be pretty strong, but couldn't act because of the misfit.

Balancing against 1st seat weak 2's is very different from balancing against normal 1-level openers, as all the inferences from the previous two passes are different.

[barmar]

akwoo, on 2013-September-23, 16:39, said:

In part due to lack of Lebensohl,

Maybe you should fix that

[akwoo]

barmar, on 2013-September-23, 18:12, said:

Maybe you should fix that

Once my partners can remember new minor forcing consistently... (well, I'll probably introduce DONT first)

[ggwhiz]

Mike Lawrence calls 3 card length in the opponents suit the death holding, well worth a downgrade at least. If partner has 3 spades as well (or 2) we are in big trouble unless I bid 2nt and they have the horses to bid 3nt.

They will bid 3nt on too many hands where we can't make it and we may be in the ashcan already so I'm passing.

[DJNeill]

Pass. I don't like being aggressive with length in their suit, particularly with this shape.

[TylerE]

X for me. 2NT is terrible, regardless of what it means, on these cards.

[PhilKing]

2NT 10
Pass 7
Double 4 (on the Nigel scale)

I don't really think double will work well here at all. If our hand is worth anything on offence, it will be in no trumps.

[ArtK78]

This is a borderline case.

In my partnerships, I prefer that direct actions over preempts are sound. So having 14 HCP in balancing seat should require an action on my part, as we may have a game. If I am going to act, I will bid 2NT, which is the least lie.

However, as stated above, this is a very dangerous hand to balance on. Since I have KT9 of spades, partner may be short in spades but did not act, so he doesn't have anything approarching classic takeout double shape with moderate values. Partner could also have a moderate balanced hand, much like mine, in which case 3NT will have play. Or partner could have less power with a balanced hand or less power with shortness in spades.

All things considered, I think that my choice will be to bid 2NT. But this could be very wrong.

[the hog]

Double is very poor as it will probably wrongside the contract and your shape is not right.
I would chance 2NT and, "yes", it is chance.

[TylerE]

X at least gives us a shot at getting to the right strain, which 2N essentially gives up on.

[awm]

I'd bid 2NT, nominally 15-18 balanced with a spade control. I think double is terrible. Pass could easily be correct, but I like my spot cards and they say it's a bidder's game. On the Nige1 scale:

2NT = 10
Pass = 9
Dbl = 3

[jmcw]

Pass was the call made at the table. Partner's hand

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[the hog]

TylerE, on 2013-September-24, 18:41, said:

X at least gives us a shot at getting to the right strain, which 2N essentially gives up on.

Really? If you double and pd bids 3H either directly or via Leb, you will get a S lead through your K. If you bid 2NT, partner can bid 3D to transfer.

[gwnn]

jmcw, on 2013-September-25, 00:24, said:

Pass was the call made at the table. Partner's hand

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You should miss game when both hands are (close to) at the top of their ranges, ergo well bid. I don't mind 2NT that much but I wouldn't do it.

[Mbodell]

I think yes it is close but I bid 2nt with second choice pass. Partner does not have to be short in spades and a weak nt opposite my hand is going to want to be in game.

[CSGibson]

It really depends on partnership style. If we make aggressive doubles in the direct seat, I am much less likely to balance with 2N - but my inclination is to balance with 2N anyway given that we are red, they are white, and it is teams. If the colors were reversed, I'd be much more inclined to pass. I think it is a very close decision.