[mr1303]

Scoring: IMP

---

1C P 3NT to you. Come in with 4C or not?

[pbleighton]

I should pass, but I have to admit I might bid at the table

Peter

[whereagles]

Bid. It's a bidder's game

[Halo]

When I go for 500 I gain one imp. When I go for 800 I lose five imps.

It makes no sense, but hard to resist in when you're playing for points. Just depends whether you think you disturb the opponents more than partner.

[gwnn]

pass and lead ♥x, on a lucky day we might beat this (bad minor breaks, y?)

on a very bad day opps might retaliate by bidding and making 6♣

[kenrexford]

Sure. Take the sac. On a good day, you'll even make. I mean, can't partner have something like Axx-KQ-xxxxx-xxx or Axx-Axx-xxxx-xxx? Even as little as Ax-K9-xxxxx-xxxx has play.

[pclayton]

VERY Very tough at IMPs. Id probably sac and be ready to apologize if we can set 3N or if we go for 1100. -800 wont lose the match.

If i was sure about my lead, Id sit. But the wrong lead and 3N rolls. Im also concerned the other table will have a slower auction like 1C - 1D or 1C - 2C and this hand will get the chance to get in at a lower level.

By the way, if its MPs and you dont bid you need to go back a grade.

[pclayton]

kenrexford, on Mar 16 2007, 04:45 PM, said:

Sure. Take the sac. On a good day, you'll even make. I mean, can't partner have something like Axx-KQ-xxxxx-xxx or Axx-Axx-xxxx-xxx? Even as little as Ax-K9-xxxxx-xxxx has play.

BE Careful what you wish for. With either of these hands we are beating 3N but the opps will certainly bid 5 of a minor over 4S, converting our plus position into a minus.

Im hoping the cards make 3N cold, 4 of a major cheap and 5 of a minor beatable.

[dake50]

'6-5 come alive' Who said that?
Both majors must be right to bid. Especially against wish and prayer 3NT.

[han]

I'd give it a try.

[paulg]

From Jeff's rules ...

56. Grant Baze says, "six-five, come alive." It often pays to bid with 6-5 hands, even when you think it's nuts.

[mr1303]

Well, partner held:

xx
xx
KQJxxx
xxx

True, he should have pre-empted, but we were playing 2D as Ghestem (shudders) and he didn't think he had enough for 3D. LHO had AQxx of spades and was alert enough to lead trumps, so I went for -1100 in 4HX. 6C was on, but then they weren't bidding it after their auction.

[whereagles]

sac pard. What the hell is that, misleading you into an obvious 4♣ bid when he had a WJO available at 2/3 lev????

incidently, sac ghestem as well

[pbleighton]

Pd didn't bid over 1C with that hand at favorable?

Wow.

Peter

[mike777]

mr1303, on Mar 18 2007, 04:31 AM, said:

Well, partner held:

xx
xx
KQJxxx
xxx

True, he should have pre-empted, but we were playing 2D as Ghestem (shudders) and he didn't think he had enough for 3D. LHO had AQxx of spades and was alert enough to lead trumps, so I went for -1100 in 4HX. 6C was on, but then they weren't bidding it after their auction.

What is ghestem? that partner cannot bid 2d weak jump overcall? You need to tell us this stuff...lol.....

[paulg]

mike777, on Mar 18 2007, 11:53 AM, said:

mr1303, on Mar 18 2007, 04:31 AM, said:

Well, partner held:

xx
xx
KQJxxx
xxx

True, he should have pre-empted, but we were playing 2D as Ghestem (shudders) and he didn't think he had enough for 3D. LHO had AQxx of spades and was alert enough to lead trumps, so I went for -1100 in 4HX. 6C was on, but then they weren't bidding it after their auction.

What is ghestem? that partner cannot bid 2d weak jump overcall? You need to tell us this stuff...lol.....

For those who are scoffing ...

(1♣) -2♦ showing the majors is played by many, including Lauria-Versace, Bocchi-Duboin and Fantoni-Nunes.

Given the investment that they put into their methods it is reasonable to assume that this is a sound convention.

p

[david_c]

cardsharp, on Mar 18 2007, 12:12 PM, said:

For those who are scoffing ...

(1♣) -2♦ showing the majors is played by many, including Lauria-Versace, Bocchi-Duboin and Fantoni-Nunes.

Given the investment that they put into their methods it is reasonable to assume that this is a sound convention.

Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that a short 1♣ opening is popular in Italy so they have more reason to overcall naturally in clubs. Personally I think you can afford to pass with a natural club overcall even if 1♣ is short, so it seems to me to be much better to use 2♣/2NT/3♣ for the three two-suiters. (This is the only opening bid over which I would play something approaching "Ghestem".)

But anyway, if you can't overcall a natural 2♦ on that hand, that just solves the problem you had of whether to overcall 2♦ or 3♦.

[pclayton]

cardsharp, on Mar 18 2007, 03:12 AM, said:

mike777, on Mar 18 2007, 11:53 AM, said:

mr1303, on Mar 18 2007, 04:31 AM, said:

Well, partner held:

xx
xx
KQJxxx
xxx

True, he should have pre-empted, but we were playing 2D as Ghestem (shudders) and he didn't think he had enough for 3D. LHO had AQxx of spades and was alert enough to lead trumps, so I went for -1100 in 4HX. 6C was on, but then they weren't bidding it after their auction.

What is ghestem? that partner cannot bid 2d weak jump overcall? You need to tell us this stuff...lol.....

For those who are scoffing ...

(1♣) -2♦ showing the majors is played by many, including Lauria-Versace, Bocchi-Duboin and Fantoni-Nunes.

Given the investment that they put into their methods it is reasonable to assume that this is a sound convention.

p

I'd think the Italian pairs in question would also overcall 1♦ on this hand as well.

This is pet peeve of mine. We take a view based on an assumed fit, since pard didn't take a prior action. If pard makes a normal 1♦ overcall, or preempts (OK, he can't), our temptation to dive is greatly diminished.

I played in the MBC the other day and balanced over a 15-17 NT with a 4=2=2=5, and ended up in a silly 4-2 spade contract. Pard held a reasonable 2=3=6=2 and if he overcalls initially we get to our normal 2♦ contract.

[whereagles]

cardsharp, on Mar 18 2007, 11:12 AM, said:

(1♣) -2♦ showing the majors is played by many, including Lauria-Versace, Bocchi-Duboin and Fantoni-Nunes.

I don't care who plays like that. I'm not going to relinquish one of the most bothersome overcalls of bridge because of some major suit hand that has a dozen alternative ways to be bid.