IAC Forums

Chew the Fat! => Sleight of Hand => Topic started by: veredk on March 19, 2023, 11:00:55 PM

Title: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: veredk on March 19, 2023, 11:00:55 PM
The bidding:
p, p, 1  !H, p/ 1NT, 2  !C, p, p/2  !H, ppp.

Two tables in the tournament reached 3NT.
One played by the opener making 3N+1 and the other by the responder making 3N.

Opener's hand:
 !S AJT4,  !H AQJ85,  !D J2, !C Q7

Responder's hand:
 !S 872, !H 94,  !D AK75,  !C K842

What did we do right and what was wrong?

Does opener have a bid after  !C 2?

Thank you, Vered
Title: Re: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: Masse24 on March 21, 2023, 02:34:54 AM
I think finding 3NT is difficult.

Just so I'm clear on the auction:
P  -  (p) - 1 !H - (p)
1N - (2 !C) - P - (p)
2 !H - all pass.

By putting the opponent's bids in parentheses, reader's can differentiate between bids.

Responder is thin for 2NT over 2 !C, though it's possible. 2 !H, though showing only two hearts, was mildly timid. Opener has a bit more than minimum, so even though partner denied having spades, opener might consider a cooperative double to show a desire to continue but with no clear bid. With both of you taking the low road you're never reaching this thin game.

But I think your result was quite normal.
Title: Re: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: veredk on March 22, 2023, 01:30:41 AM
Thanks Todd.
So you are suggesting that after
P  -  (p) - 1  !H - (p)
1N - (2 !C) - opener now should X instead of passing to convey to partner that he is not dead minimum and would like to continue investigating.
Title: Re: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: Masse24 on March 22, 2023, 03:28:57 AM
Not really. More suggesting that to stumble into 3NT, one of you must be aggressive. That would be one path. Personally, I would pass.

I think your result was fairly normal. 
Title: Re: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: EddyHaskel on March 28, 2023, 12:22:48 PM
Just open 1N in the first place.
Title: Re: How to bid to 3NT?
Post by: wackojack on March 30, 2023, 10:50:39 AM
I remember this hand and gave my opening bid a lot of thought.  Open 1NT or 1H?
Open 1NT
Advantages:
It is has 15HCP and is worth 16 and so gets over my strength
It right sides the contract ensuring that I am declarer.  eg   !C Q7 is best led up to esp if partner has Axx. 
Disadvantages:
If partner has 4 spades and fewer than 8HCP then I miss the 4-4 spade fit.
Open 1 !H
Advantages:
I will always find a 4-4 spade fit or a 5-3  !H fit if there is one.
Disadvantages: If partner has 9-10 HCP I am unlikely to find a 3NT contract. 

I decided to open 1 !H and my robot responded 1NT.  This gave me a problem.  Normally I would only pass 1NT if I had 12HCP trusting that partner had a hand worth fewer than 13.  On this occasion though I decided to pass hoping that partner did not have a hand worth 10HCP (partner had already passed)  Also robots do not shout at you if your decision does not turn out well.

As far I remember this was the final contract and my robot partner mad 9 tricks.

I think this was a MP tourney.  Maybe at imps I would go in favour of a 1NT opening bid.