[jmcw]

From last nights game.

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A couple of pretty decent players argued that pass is best.

Basically their view is, with 3 ♠ and a terrible ♥ suit, there is no need to pre-emp an unpassed hand, etc, etc.

My choice was 2♥, but with no great conviction.

[Phil]

1♥ for me. With a little conviction.

[the_dude]

1♥ wtp?

I have an offensive hand, including a great shot at game opposite Axx of hearts and a card or two. I certainly want to compete for a partscore. Bidding seems automatic to me.

I really don't like to preempt because a) it would rule out playing in any suit besides hearts, and b) I have defensive tricks in side suits and no tricks in my suit. Partner might really misjudge things if I preempt.

As far as pass goes .. if it's 3♣ or higher when it gets back to me, am I bidding now? My hand still has significant offensive potential if the opponents have not shown overwhelming strength...

[fromageGB]

I have a hand that is fine if partner bids, but not good enough in my view for a call now : terrible suit, insufficient general values. Happy to support partner. Do not want him to lead from his Kx of hearts if we end up defending. After my pass, if they end up in 3♣ they may be unpleasantly surprised by the distribution.

[sasioc]

2♥ for me. I'd prefer to have values concentrated in my suit but I have a 7th heart and reason to suspect that oppo have a large club fit. I'd like to put pressure on opponents and feel that a weak jump shift is not such a terrible description of this hand. I'm aware that it's not fantastically suitable but I don't really think it's suitable for 1♥ or pass either. Fwiw I prefer 1♥ to pass by a long way.

[gnasher]

jmcw, on 2012-January-06, 11:21, said:

A couple of pretty decent players argued that pass is best.

Basically their view is, with 3 ♠ and a terrible ♥ suit, there is no need to pre-emp an unpassed hand, etc, etc.

How did they get from "It's not a preempt" to "It's a pass"?

[S2000magic]

Good suit, lousy defense: preempt.

Lousy suit, good defense: don't preempt.

1♥

[Siegmund]

I voted pass, but I have no argument with 1H. I have a pretty big argument with a vulnerable preempt on a ten-high suit and two outside tricks.

[the hog]

1H. I think passing this is absurd, to be honest. You have a 7 card suit, so what if it is topless?

[the hog]

gnasher, on 2012-January-06, 18:21, said:

How did they get from "It's not a preempt" to "It's a pass"?

And what does having 3 Spades have to do with anything? I think your pretty decent players sound like ordinary club players to me.

[Cthulhu D]

Playing the overcall structure I have no call other than 1H that describes this hand (2H requires a 54 two suiter and 3H would be this hand if I had another AK somewhere), but even playing standard methods I'd do the same thing. The good spades and bad hearts suggest a spade contract might be right in which case I'd bid 1H.

[S2000magic]

Cthulhu D, on 2012-January-07, 05:06, said:

The good spades and bad hearts suggest a spade contract might be right in which case I'd bid 1H.

Planning on making a takeout double later if the opportunity presents itself (and partner hasn't raised hearts); e.g.,

1♣ - 1♥ - 2♣ - Pass
Pass - Dbl.

- or -

1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - Pass
2♣ - Dbl.

[jdeegan]

3♥. I never considered anything else. Give the opponents the opportunity to make a mistake.

[aguahombre]

S2000magic, on 2012-January-07, 21:21, said:

Planning on making a takeout double later if the opportunity presents itself (and partner hasn't raised hearts); e.g.,

1♣ - 1♥ - 2♣ - Pass
Pass - Dbl.

- or -

1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - Pass
2♣ - Dbl.

That would never occur to me with this hand. Would be content if partner introduces a new suit, but this is terribly understrength for an overcall and reopening double. 1H overcall is fine, but I won't overstate its trick taking power for offense or defense by bidding it later the same way I would with AQX KQXXXX AXX X or similar.

[S2000magic]

aguahombre, on 2012-January-08, 03:33, said:

That would never occur to me with this hand. Would be content if partner introduces a new suit, but this is terribly understrength for an overcall and reopening double. 1H overcall is fine, but I won't overstate its trick taking power for offense or defense by bidding it later the same way I would with AQX KQXXXX AXX X or similar.

Good point.

That's what I get for:

1) Not referring back to the original hand before posting, and

2) Posting late at night after an exhausting day.

(Note to self: don't do that again.)

[whereagles]

2H and feeling great about it. I'm ok with 3H as well.

[Venom]

a preemptive hand should have the preponderance of its strength in the bid suit, and limited outside strength that might be more defensively oriented. It also implies that you would strongly like partner to lead the suit if defending. This hand is the opposite.


DHL:

[gwnn]

1H with perfect conviction. I would sooner make a takeout double than pass this (and I agree with their unwillingness to preempt).

[whereagles]

Venom, on 2012-January-08, 15:51, said:

a preemptive hand should have the preponderance of its strength in the bid suit, and limited outside strength that might be more defensively oriented. It also implies that you would strongly like partner to lead the suit if defending. This hand is the opposite.

All that is true but... a preempt also shows a high ODR and this hand has an ODR of around 5. That makes it worth a 2-bid.

1H is perfectly fine, but the advantage of 2H is that LHO will have a significantly harder time raising clubs.