What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for October 2009

Arie Meydan made the best submission for the month of October.

Hand: Dealer West with NS vulnerable, IMPs

5  Q9742  J7642  62

AKQ107  A  K83  J753

Bidding:	West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1	1
	1NT	Pass	Pass	2
	Pass	Pass	Pass

Comments:     EW were playing Precision, the short D version. NS were playing two suited overcalls and so South could not have had a 5/5 shape. Could you please comment on the relative merits or otherwise, not only of the actual sequence but also on other possible North's and South's bids?

1. Instead of 1, South could have also bid 1NT or doubled.
2. At the second opportunity, South could have also passed or doubled for take-out.
3. After 2 by South, North could have corrected to 2 (false preference, in case South is 6/4), 2 (natural, as logically this could not have been a cue bid) or 2.
4. The rationale of passing 2 is "no double no trouble". How would you rate it in comparison to the other three North's alternatives?

The other two hands:

9864  J1065  Q9  KQ8

J32  K83  A105  A1094

The defence allowed South to ruff hearts twice and make (mercifully) 6 tricks.

Sartaj's Reply:

Hi Arie,

This is a difficult hand.

One thing I have noticed is that precision-style diamond and sometimes the 2+ short club often end up stealing opponents' best fit. I am planning on raising this matter with my partner to try and think of an improvement instead of the standard "cue-bid opponents' suit" strategy which is not working very well.

Onto your questions

1. 1 seems quite clear.

2. While I take the point about two-suited overcalls, I don't like 2 on the second round. In general, bidding poor suits in competition is something worth avoiding (unless we hold compensating length in the same suit, say Jxxxx+)

I'd prefer a value showing double.

3. North's choices are all rather ugly although 2 catering for a 6/4 North has appeal.

Not sure about 2 being natural. In my partnership, 2 would sound like a good club raise. But, again, as I said earlier, this possibly needs to be reassessed.

All the choices are equally yucky, although 2 might be the way to go on the grounds that partner will probably expect a weak hand with a 5-card suit (we did not bid over 1NT).

4. Cannot really crime passing 2. However, when partner takes two bids vulnerable, North should realize that we have fair amount of points between us. The risks of being doubled are not that great. So looking for a better spot has something going for it.

 All in all, a very difficult hand

Sartaj

Hi Sartaj,

Thanks for the detailed reply. It is some comfort that Tom and I (who are not a regular partnership) mishandled a hand which even you consider difficult.

I think (hindsight is wonderful) that in view of West's NT (likely to have Jxxx) and North's silence it would have been prudent by Vul South not to bid again. Also the logic of the situation is that 2 or 2 by North would indicate a 5+suit and disgust with the black suits' holdings, while retaining the option of playing in 2 if South has a good 6-carder. It costs nothing but is more flexible than 2.

Best regards, Arie

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