[bftboy]

Scoring: MP

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1NT (15-17) by LHO, 2♠ by P (DONT), 3♥ by RHO, described as game forcing values without a spade stopper. what is our action and why?

btw, I appreciate the discussion of these competitive situations. I think it is already helping me to get more of them right.

[whereagles]

One could argue that dbl or 3♠ should invite pard to save, but I'll just bid a practical 4♠ here.

[jdonn]

I say 4♠ mostly intended as a save, opener almost surely has a heart fit so why not make them guess?

[GREYMOON]

Ok, I think we can establish that opps are going to make 4H quite easily. The question is will they bid 5H if pushed? Looks like 5H has a very good chance of making as well.
Hence, I would pass the 3H bid!
My reasoning is that if the opposition get to 4H, I will bid the standard 4S as expected of me. This will probably yield in a double, but that I can handle. 5H on the other hand, I cannot.
So, my stance is to exhaust the options of the opposition before I make my last call.

[aguahombre]

bidding later, what I could have bid earlier hasn't worked well for me in the past. 4S is fine.

[jdonn]

Passing then sacrificing later doesn't exhaust the opponents of options, it gives them more options.

[cherdanno]

GREYMOON, on Feb 17 2010, 01:08 PM, said:

Ok, I think we can establish that opps are going to make 4H quite easily. The question is will they bid 5H if pushed? Looks like 5H has a very good chance of making as well.
Hence, I would pass the 3H bid!
My reasoning is that if the opposition get to 4H, I will bid the standard 4S as expected of me. This will probably yield in a double, but that I can handle. 5H on the other hand, I cannot.
So, my stance is to exhaust the options of the opposition before I make my last call.

Opener almost never has a hand to bid 5♥ on his own. If you pass, he will raise to 4♥, and then responder can bid 5♥ later if that looks right opposite known support. (Yes opener can make a forcing pass over our 4♠ bid, but in your sequence he can show support and make a forcing pass, or he can show support and double in case partner has a really bad suit and opener has spade wastage, etc.

[Rossoneri]

jdonn, on Feb 17 2010, 08:08 PM, said:

Passing then sacrificing later doesn't exhaust the opponents of options, it gives them more options.

You beat me to it.

Put me down for 4♠ as well to make opps guess.

[neilkaz]

Rossoneri, on Feb 17 2010, 08:59 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 17 2010, 08:08 PM, said:

Passing then sacrificing later doesn't exhaust the opponents of options, it gives them more options.

You beat me to it.

Put me down for 4♠ as well to make opps guess.

I have seen lots more bad results than good from passing and sac'ing later.

Perhaps we can take 2♠ and a minor suit trick if the opps push to 5♥ or perhaps RHO has a great hand in the reds and they miss slam.

4♠ for sure. ..make 'em guess.

[Free]

4♠ is pretty obvious to me

[bftboy]

4♠ indeed looks pretty obvious, might even make on a good day. LHO now bids 5♥, which is passed around to you. Your call?

[ArtK78]

I let them make the last guess. Pass.

[andy_h]

Bid game.

[cherdanno]

bftboy, on Feb 18 2010, 04:58 PM, said:

4♠ indeed looks pretty obvious, might even make on a good day. LHO now bids 5♥, which is passed around to you. Your call?

Pass over 5♥.

[pooltuna]

count me with the 4♠ers

[bftboy]

to sum up the 3 competitive problems I posed, there is a clear consensus to first do the right thing, that is, bid what your hand tells you to bid. Don't overthink it (which is what I've been doing). then once you do the right thing, stay disciplined and do the right thing again. thx all

[kenrexford]

I'm torn between 4♠ and 4♣. 4♠ has the merits others have provided. 4♣ gives everyone (partner included) more information as to the last guess, and it helps us on defense (but helps the opponents know how the defense will likely go). 4♣ also helps the opponents if they defend, however.

I suppose with boss trumps I bid 4♠. Same auction, but our suit is hearts, and I bid 4♣.