[xx1943]

Scoring: IMP

1♥ pass 1♠ pass
???

---

You have a nice hand with 17 HCP and a great heart suit.
1♥ should be the standard opening. to think about 1NT seems abstrus to me.

Partner responds 1♠. Now you have a choice of evils.

2♥ is a great undebid
2♠ promises normally a 4-carder and is an underbid too
2NT without any stopper in the minors grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
3♣ is forcing and can be a 3-carder but on 632???
3♦ is just more worse than 3♣
3♥ should show a 6-carder, but seems the best lye with that monster 5-carder
3♠ should definitely show a 4-carder


Looking forward to hear the opinion of the experts

[gwnn]

2NT, 17-19 hcp balanced with stoppers in the minors.

[Fluffy]

you can either bid 2NT or 2♣ others don't really fit.

with 2NT you commit yourself to game, maybe a good option given your concentration.


2♣ with 2NT next in mind to show 16-17 balanced is the other option althou it looks like an underbid to me.

[andy_h]

Don't want to complicate things, 2NT. What I would bid had partner responded 1NT.

[gwnn]

Fluffy, on Jun 16 2010, 10:18 AM, said:

with 2NT you commit yourself to game, maybe a good option given your concentration.

in most standard systems 2NT is not forcing

[billw55]

Quoting Meckstroth from a panel column not long ago:

"Balanced hands rebid NT!! No exceptions!!"

[jdeegan]

3♥ seems the best choice given the possible continuations. Pass is OK. 3♠ gets 4♠. 3NT works. 4♥ may be the only makable game. Must be because I have the expected 17 HCP, and ♥ is a playable trump suit even opposite a small singleton. DUHHH.

[gszeszycki]

Dealer: South
Vul: N-S
Scoring: IMP
♠ AKT
♥ AKQJ9
♦ 54
♣ 632
1♥ pass 1♠ pass
???

This hand has a TON of potential and is better than most balanced 18-19 count hands but it should make every reasonable effort to avoid playing the hand. Attempting to right side this contract (make p declarer) should be a primary consideration. The best bid to try and accomplish this mission would appear to be

3s

this has many ways to win

1. p might have 5 puny spades and would never have rebid them maybe 4s best
2. p might have 4 small spades and 8-9 balanced (with both minors stopped) and rebid 3n rightsiding 3n
3. with xxxxx xxx Axxx x p might now be very happy to bid 4h they may or may not bid 4h over 3h (I probably would at imps)
4. p has 5 small spades a minimum and passes this has GOT to be better than 2n played from your side.

thats my case now let the arguments fly:)

[gwnn]

potentially airborne arguments:

3S shows 4 spades.
I have 3 spades.

So I don't bid 3 S.

[jjbrr]

meh, I'd bid 3♠. I have a ten-trick hand, not a nine-trick hand.

[peachy]

2NT is not forcing (18-19 balanced) so if we are happy playing in 2NT if partner passes, then 2NT it is. I think that is best. This hand is difficult, despite its balanced shape, it doesn't really look like a NT hand, and it is not strong enough to force to game.

[marcD]

I think it is either 2NT (right on values , my hand is worth 18+, but misdescriptive) or 2♣ intending to rebid 2♠ if partner does not pass .2♣ is a clear post mortem winner . Sorry partner, thought we were playing gazzilli

[hanp]

May we please please play gazilli?

I've never bid 3S on a 3-card suit, not going to start it now. Not like it's going to lead us to 3NT from the right side.

[pooltuna]

xx1943, on Jun 16 2010, 05:09 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1♥ pass 1♠ pass
???

---

You have a nice hand with 17 HCP and a great heart suit.
1♥ should be the standard opening. to think about 1NT seems abstrus to me.

Partner responds 1♠. Now you have a choice of evils.

2♥ is a great undebid
2♠ promises normally a 4-carder and is an underbid too
2NT without any stopper in the minors grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
3♣ is forcing and can be a 3-carder but on 632???
3♦ is just more worse than 3♣
3♥ should show a 6-carder, but seems the best lye with that monster 5-carder
3♠ should definitely show a 4-carder


Looking forward to hear the opinion of the experts

2NT has the benefit of possibly getting to an 8 card ♠ fit when partner uses a probably artificial 3♣ or 3♦ call. And for the doubters of wanting to play game wouldn't you want to be in 3NT when partner holds

Scoring: IMP

1♥ pass 1♠ pass
???

---

[bid_em_up]

gszeszycki, on Jun 16 2010, 10:33 AM, said:

3. with xxxxx xxx Axxx x p might now be very happy to bid 4h they may or may not bid 4h over 3h (I probably would at imps)

Partner cannot have this holding. Hands that are only worth one bid should make the immediate raise to 2♥.

[dbsboy]

Tough hand. If gazzili is not your choice, Kaplan inversion would have worked well in this hand.

[gwnn]

if you play gazzilli, how do you bid this? please answer as completely as possible.

[gnasher]

I'd bid a natural 2♣. If we have game on, 2♣ will usually get us to the right game from the right side. 2NT, 3♥ and 3♠ all have a high risk of getting to the wrong game or playing from the wrong side.

The main downside of 2♣ is that it will get us to a ridculous partscore from time to time.

[mcphee]

The choices seem to be 2N and 2C or some number of S. Balanced as we are suggests NT. Its almost an underbid, besides I want the lead coming up to my 6C.

[ggwhiz]

3♠ for me. 3♥ is my 2nd choice but this hand is a much better dummy than declarer on a minor suit lead, could steal a tempo and 4-3 fits are character builders.