[helene_t]

Matchpoints, red vs white. RHO deals and opens 1NT (12-14)
(1NT)-p-(2♦)-p
(2♥-?

You hold
9xxxx
x
AQJx
KTx

As you don't have any conventions to distinguish five spades from six, you pass in first round.

I suppose you could have asked opps if they regularly open 1NT with a 5-card major, and if they play smolen or crawling stayman, but this is the local club so you assume the answer to the first two questions would be "no" and to the third probably "no agreement".

[sfi]

Given the poll question, is it still possible to allow people to choose more than one answer?

[sacto123]

helene_t, on 2019-February-26, 20:50, said:

Matchpoints, red vs white. RHO deals and opens 1NT (12-14)
(1NT)-p-(2♦)-p
(2♥-?

You hold
9xxxx
x
AQJx
KTx

As you don't have any conventions to distinguish five spades from six, you pass in first round.

I suppose you could have asked opps if they regularly open 1NT with a 5-card major, and if they play smolen or crawling stayman, but this is the local club so you assume the answer to the first two questions would be "no" and to the third probably "no agreement".

Perhaps I am to cautious, but I don't see this as "pre-balancing". LHO's hand has not been limited, so you have no reason to believe that partner has any useful cards. You could be walking into a huge minus score.

[cherdano]

Not sure what I hate more - pass or "other".

[helene_t]

sfi, on 2019-February-26, 20:54, said:

Given the poll question, is it still possible to allow people to choose more than one answer?

Oops sorry, corrected. Now you can

[sfi]

helene_t, on 2019-February-27, 00:36, said:

Oops sorry, corrected. Now you can

Much better, although I no longer have that excuse to procrastinate. 😀

[mcphee]

there is some good news for me when I dble, it's pairs. You pray the great shuffler will remain kind and not give you the zero you may well get. I know my dble carries risk, if I pass and so does next hand we are playing for +50s' because partner is passing.

[wank]

if my partner passed, i'd be calling him an ambulance.

[Tramticket]

Bidding 2♠ has little going for it. I find that opps are bidding on three quarters of the time - so you don't want to suggest a lead. Also, there is no reason to think that opps have more than a seven-card fit and competent opps will be able to double if appropriate (yes, I know you said it was a local club ...).

Much safer to double.

[Cyberyeti]

If I was going to get into this auction, I'd have done so with "spades and another" directly. You could try a double now, but don't be surprised if LHO who was about to bid 3N redoubles and you're heading on to a disaster.

[eagles123]

nothing other than X would occur to me i have to say

[Tramticket]

Cyberyeti, on 2019-February-27, 06:23, said:

If I was going to get into this auction, I'd have done so with "spades and another" directly.

This is better than bidding 2♠ now. But you are still very likely to be defending with an unhelpful spade lead.

[Cyberyeti]

Tramticket, on 2019-February-27, 08:43, said:

This is better than bidding 2♠ now. But you are still very likely to be defending with an unhelpful spade lead.

Sometimes, but partner often tries to hit your minor unless short in spades and looking for a ruff.

[HardVector]

So, for everyone wanting to take some action, what contract are they going to play in? 2h...4h...3m...3N? You have no idea. If they play in hearts, do they have a fit? What is you partner going to do if you pull a 2h contract in which they have 5 decent hearts to play in the mess you have? If they play in 3n, what is a spade lead going to do? Additionally, you are potentially turning a -110 or -140 into a real number...for them. Finally, going forward, you partner will never trust your bids to mean anything in the future, so if you get a decent playing hand that actually should take some action, your partner is going to do the wrong thing.

The glass looks half empty and my rose colored glasses are broke.

[cherdano]

Tramticket, on 2019-February-27, 06:05, said:

Bidding 2♠ has little going for it. I find that opps are bidding on three quarters of the time - so you don't want to suggest a lead.

What are the odds that partner will be on lead? I don't think they will play in diamonds or spades, so the only remaining possible strain where partner is on lead is clubs...

[helene_t]

Thanks all.

I doubled, partner had a weak 2434. 3♣-4, not doubled but a bottom nonetheless.