[hrothgar]

Here's an insane hand from a Team's event up in Portland: Curious how people might handle it

Red versus Red, partner opens 2♠ in first seat

You hold the following:

♠ T
♥ AQ962
♦ VOID
♣ AQJTxxx

I (honestly) had no clue how to handle this hand (I considered everything between pass and an immediate 5♣) I eventually decided

1. That we were vulnerable and it was IMPS and that passing might be very wrong
2. It was better to go slowly and try to find a heart fit than bash into game

This produced the following auction

2♠ - 3♣
3♠ - 4♥
4♠ - P

Any thoughts or comments? (Obviously, anything can be right with a freak. On this one, passing would have worked best. However, I'd be interested to understand what other folks might consider.

[matmat]

the decision may very well depend on on p's preempting style. it really is too bad that leaping michaels is not available over p's preempt

i'd probably 3c, then over 3s i'd try 4c again. p kinda sounds like 7222 or 7231 or such on your auction...

a few days ago my p opened 4♠
i had
K
AKQJTx
xxx
Kxx
now what?

preempts, work, as they say...

[FrancesHinden]

Believe it or not, I had a hand very similar to this not so long ago. We play transfer responses, so we bid

2S - 2NT (clubs)
3C (forced) - 3H
3S - 4H
5C - Pass

without playing these methods, I would bid it the way you have. I haven't seen partner's hand yet, but I bet the 4S bid was wrong, and he should have bid 5C. You have shown a monster heart-club 2-suiter.

(last time the hand came up 5C went two off, but it was the right spot and a flat board)

[pclayton]

hrothgar, on Oct 1 2007, 05:02 AM, said:

Here's an insane hand from a Team's event up in Portland: Curious how people might handle it

Red versus Red, partner opens 2♠ in first seat

You hold the following:

♠ T
♥ AQ962
♦ VOID
♣ AQJTxxx

I (honestly) had no clue how to handle this hand (I considered everything between pass and an immediate 5♣) I eventually decided

1. That we were vulnerable and it was IMPS and that passing might be very wrong
2. It was better to go slowly and try to find a heart fit than bash into game

This produced the following auction

2♠ - 3♣
3♠ - 3♥
4♠ - P

Any thoughts or comments? (Obviously, anything can be right with a freak. On this one, passing would have worked best. However, I'd be interested to understand what other folks might consider.

The insufficient 3♥ call is a very imaginative way to efficiently get your suits in. Over 3♠, you can try another 3♥ which gives you room for cue bidding, and show your extra suit length. 4♥ would be weaker. Sort of a fast arrival thing.

Assuming you bid 4♥, not 3♥, I would pass 4♠.

I won't repeat my rant a few months ago about how lousy new suit responses to a weak 2 are.

[jdonn]

I think you bid it right. I don't see insisting on clubs over 4♠ since that leaves you with a lot of heart losers.

[bhall]

Sounds like partner was 6=2=4=1 and should have bid 5♣, unless his spades were near solid. Without special methods (like Frances' transfer responses), I think you must explore for other game contracts naturally. Even slam is possible.

The only middle road I see is that you could ignore the heart suit and rebid 4♣. ♦ taps might set 4♥ by removing your entry to the ♣ suit. But that's too pessimistic a view for me.

[whereagles]

I usually place pard with a normal hand, say,

KQxxxx
xx
xxx
xx

and see what I'd like to play opposite that. 2♠ is a nice spot, though if you're feeling lucky and hope for ♥K, 5♣ might be another choice.

[jdeegan]

Why not pass 2♠? The 6-1 fit is playable. Our combined HCP are unlikely to produce game on brute force in the face of a misfit. The pass on my right increases the chance that partner's second suit is diamonds. Also, if LHO balances, I will be better placed at my next turn to bid.

[han]

I'd bid 5C over 4S. I really don't believe 4S will make and 5C... well still might on a lucky day.

[gwnn]

matmat, on Oct 1 2007, 03:11 PM, said:

the decision may very well depend on on p's preempting style. it really is too bad that leaping michaels is not available over p's preempt

i'd probably 3c, then over 3s i'd try 4c again. p kinda sounds like 7222 or 7231 or such on your auction...

a few days ago my p opened 4♠
i had
K
AKQJTx
xxx
Kxx
now what?

preempts, work, as they say...

considering your pd's tender age, i think your pass was fine.