[Little Kid]

Scoring: IMP

(P)-1♥-(1♠)-2♥
(2♠)-?

---

You open 1♥ in second seat. What do you bid next? Is it obvious?

[rogerclee]

3H

[nigel_k]

3♥.

I expect either three hearts or two spades to make and this takes away the three level if they wanted to make a game try. 4♥ is too much and they have already exchanged enough information that they won't just take the push to a bad 4♠.

As to whether it is obvious, I'd like to say it probably is obvious but I don't know if that even makes sense.

[Apollo81]

3♥. Among other things, it takes away LHO's ability to make descriptive game tries.

[jdonn]

I pass. Vul at imps I'm donating a number if hearts don't break since my hearts aren't good, and I don't think there is much gain since I think I'm likely to go minus a small amount no matter what I do. I think this bidding 3 over 2 here is an overused strategy and should generally be avoided with 5 lousy trumps.

[whereagles]

3♥ seems clear. Closer to 4 than to passing lol.

[aguahombre]

My first thought was that 5-5 made up for the lack of a 6th heart, but Josh doesn't think so, and I was already smirking about my opening bid. So, he convinced me to get out of the auction. Partner might still bid 3H with four of them.

[Fluffy]

I would bid 4♥ seems like I am crazy cos people ain't even trying for game.

[jdonn]

Fluffy, on Jan 13 2010, 04:08 PM, said:

I would bid 4♥ seems like I am crazy cos people ain't even trying for game.

Yup.

Seriously do people just blindly follow personal rules like they always bid 4♥ (or 3♥) here when 5-5? It doesn't matter that our suits are bad, we have a singleton king in their suit, we are vulnerable and likely to be doubled any time we have badly overreached? Have people tried constructing a range of hands for partner on which he won't bid 3♥ himself? I know we never know if the opponents will make the right decision, but seeing how we will tend to do in hearts is a good start.

[Fluffy]

yeah yeah, I probably answered too quickly, 4♥ is an attemp to get the opponents accept the transfer, whenever I read that 4♠ over 4♥ is almost always a good decision my read is that I should bid 4♥ more often and so I try.

Ok it might be a bit suicide here . But my non jump raises are SOUND

[Codo]

The most conversative bidder of all ages considered 4 ♥? So slam must be a good bet.
I try 3 ♥ 5-5 makes up for the missing 6. trump.

[P_Marlowe]

3D.

For us 3D is a gametry, well, it can be argued, that I dont have
a game try, but 3D also showes values, and I do have distribution
as compensation for the lacking values.

And it is certainly not obvious, 3H is ok as well, 3H being to play.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[hanp]

I think 3H is clear, really surprised jdonn is passing.

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Jan 13 2010, 03:50 PM, said:

I pass. Vul at imps I'm donating a number if hearts don't break since my hearts aren't good, and I don't think there is much gain since I think I'm likely to go minus a small amount no matter what I do. I think this bidding 3 over 2 here is an overused strategy and should generally be avoided with 5 lousy trumps.

Where do I pitch my tent 'cause I am in your camp on this hand

[jillybean]

Pass, this could be the discipline that Frank Stewart writes about in the January Bulletin

Quote

Discipline in the bidding is taking the action you know is best when a tiny voice in your head is urging you to take a flyer. Discipline is having a reason to bid and being willing to pass when no bid is just right. Discipline is acknowledging that you have a partner and letting him use his judgement

[Fluffy]

I hope you don't pass and the raise partner's 3♥ to 4 jilly.

[Vilgan]

I'd pass. I don't know that bidding 3♥ has a lot of advantage to it while it poses some serious dangers. I have a partner, and most of the time that I want to be in 3♥ I'll hear them bid it, and now I'm not badly positioned for those times when I didn't really want to be in 3.

I think its also a bit dependent on partnership style. If 2♥ is always a good raise, then you are safer bidding 3. For partnerships who are more competitive (good thing usually imo) I think its good to not hang partner and let them have their say.

[jillybean]

Fluffy, on Jan 14 2010, 08:34 AM, said:

I hope you don't pass and the raise partner's 3♥ to 4 jilly.

lol I hope not but I know I have done worse in the past and will continue to make terrible bids, I just have to hope it happens less and less often.

[mikeh]

To me, this is a wtp pass.

We don't want to be at the 3-level here if partner has only 3 trumps....on the auction, he will have some spade length most of the time, and most of the time that will be very bad for us.

If it goes pass on my left, which it will much of the time, a law-abiding partner will bid 3♥ with 4 trump.

[aguahombre]

jillybean, on Jan 14 2010, 08:26 AM, said:

Pass,  this could be the discipline that Frank Stewart writes about in the January Bulletin

Quote

Discipline in the bidding is taking the action you know is best when a tiny voice in your head is urging you to take a flyer. Discipline is having a reason to bid and being willing to pass when no bid is just right. Discipline is acknowledging that you have a partner and letting him use his judgement

Yeh, even though not all of Stewart's stuff is mainstream, that article reminded me of more than one post on various fora --where a pass was scoffed at in favor of "getting busy" in auctions.

In this case, the "disciplined" pass would very well provide a favorable swing -- and partner is still alive to make the final choice if the bidding dies and she has an extra heart.