[cnszsun]

Scoring: IMP

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After 2 pass, your RHO opens 2♠ in 3rd seat, Is 2nt a popular choice now?

[skjaeran]

Being a light opener, I might in fact decide to pass this, since a game our way is heavy odds against.

If I've got to act, my bid would be 2NT, since I don't fancy X-ing with three small ♥'s.

[asc]

It's OK for me-my resourses are clear now, and I don't have 4 cards in ♥. Practical bid -especially if we don't use Lebenshol.

[jdonn]

2NT works for me.

[mikeh]

It's a tough job, but it's my job... to bid 2N on these hands. Yes, of course, we'd prefer a longer/stronger stopper, and a better hand... but I'd prefer to be 4 inches taller and 20 years younger.... and neither is going to happen, so I get on with life.

[kenrexford]

What possible other call makes any sense here?

Double is sick.

Change the majors, and make this a 2♥ opening, and there are some merits. But, in the actual auction, 2NT does not preempt us as to hearts. Instead, it actually allows partner to show exactly how many hearts he has, and he need not worry about showing his strength because we have shown ours already -- he just adds.

Add in a heart honor (maybe move over th clube King) to have Kxx in hearts, and I'll still overcall 2NT. The problem will be whether I fib and bid 3♥ in response to 3♣ (which I assume to be Stayman -- systems on).

[Fluffy]

I would double, but NT can be better

[Apollo81]

I would double.

[Halo]

2NT

Pass is the only alternative, but that's not how I play the game.

[Echognome]

I also believe it's somewhat dependent upon style. Playing Echo Club or Gnome Club, for example, I will pass as the best partner can have is a poor, balanced 12 count.

Playing a natural, sound opening system, such as 2/1, I will bid 2NT as it's too risky to pass.

[jdonn]

Echognome, on Jun 15 2007, 06:26 PM, said:

I also believe it's somewhat dependent upon style. Playing Echo Club or Gnome Club, for example, I will pass as the best partner can have is a poor, balanced 12 count.

Playing a natural, sound opening system, such as 2/1, I will bid 2NT as it's too risky to pass.

Isn't that essentially true in any normal system?

[mike777]

wow is double really that sick? I understand 2nt but double seems to be a reasonable option here and one I might pick. I am not passing.

[Codo]

to call double sick is silly. Only downside: YOu miss a fourth Heart, bad luck.
You missed another spade stopper, so 2 NT is as sick as double.

My pd with some 3442 and 10 will never bid when I pass now, so I double now with 2 NT a second choice.

[Echognome]

jdonn, on Jun 15 2007, 03:41 PM, said:

Echognome, on Jun 15 2007, 06:26 PM, said:

I also believe it's somewhat dependent upon style.  Playing Echo Club or Gnome Club, for example, I will pass as the best partner can have is a poor, balanced 12 count.

Playing a natural, sound opening system, such as 2/1, I will bid 2NT as it's too risky to pass.

Isn't that essentially true in any normal system?

Actually it isn't, but I wasn't very good at explaining it. We open lighter on unbalanced hands than most, but we do not open lighter on balanced hands.

[kenrexford]

Codo, on Jun 16 2007, 01:44 PM, said:

to call double sick is silly. Only downside: YOu miss a fourth Heart, bad luck.
You missed another spade stopper, so 2 NT is as sick as double.

My pd with some 3442 and 10 will never bid when I pass now, so I double now with 2 NT a second choice.

Actually, there are a lot more problems with double than simply missing a fourth heart.

Your heart suit is not simple three-card, you lack even a helpful honor in hearts.
Your strength in HCP's and in defense is understated when you double, with insufficient avenues to both clarifying the poor hearts and showing the good overall strength.

Besides, who needs two spade stoppers here? I may be out there for occasionally overcalling 2NT with a mere bolster, but a full stop works well enough.

The upside to doubling is ease in finding the minor contract, admittedly, when 3♣ or 3♦ is the ideal contract.

[Echognome]

kenrexford, on Jun 16 2007, 12:16 PM, said:

The upside to doubling is ease in finding the minor contract, admittedly, when 3♣ or 3♦ is the ideal contract.

Even though I find the choice between pass and 2NT, I think the upside of double is actually that you have Lebensohl (or variant) available, whereas over a 2NT call, you usually do not have as precise methods.

[pclayton]

I like double. If pard bids 3x, I will know about his strength and can try 3N. If pard bids 2N Lebensohl, I'll be happy we are playing in a suit.

If I bid 2N, how can I ever get out in 3 minor, unless we are doubled?

[jdonn]

pclayton, on Jun 16 2007, 03:21 PM, said:

I like double. If pard bids 3x, I will know about his strength and can try 3N. If pard bids 2N Lebensohl, I'll be happy we are playing in a suit.

If I bid 2N, how can I ever get out in 3 minor, unless we are doubled?

I think the analysis between 2NT and double is actually pretty straightforward. For simplicity I'll assume

3m in an 8+ minor suit fit > 2NT > 3♥ in a 4-3 heart fit

though of course there are no guarantees I think that is your general order of preference if partner is weak. Double is better either if partner passes (very unlikely), or if he is weak and you get to play in 3 of a minor. Double is worse if partner is weak with exactly 4 hearts, or weak with 4333 (also unlikely). If partner has 5+ hearts it's not relevent since you get to hearts either way, although maybe then 2NT is better to hide the strong hand. All told, I certainly don't think double is sick or even close, I simply prefer 2NT. As I think Phil implied could happen, if they double 2NT I will redouble to get us to a minor as I thank them for saving me.

[Halo]

Interesting post. I have to think hard about the fact that double is impossible for me.