[kgr]

Bidding as it occured at the table:

IMPs (teams)

---

You opened 1♣, natural but can be 2-card (openings 5cM and 4cD)
2♣ was natural.
What is your call?

Out of interest, what would be your call if the bidding would be:

IMPs (teams)

---

[Endymion77]

1 - Pass
2 - Double

[mikeh]

I don't understand the first question. Is there any sensible alternative to pass? If you ask me, there is a high likelihood that LHO forgot his methods and he has a Michael's hand. If so, and assuming that there has been disclosure that his call was systemically natural, then he is going to have to pass 2♥ (unless he has a huge hand) and miss an easy game. If he raises hearts, and we find he has a michaels hand, then we know two things. Either he doesn't understand the issues or he is unethical, and we're about to get a score adjustment.

On the second auction, I think we have to double but I don't like it. It is almost always preferable to hold a stiff heart than a void, since declarer, alerted by the auction, will sometimes be able to repeatedly endplay partner, plus, when we have a void, there is often a modicum of trump length in dummy and even a possible ruffing value....which we could destroy if only we could lead a trump at some point.

[monikrazy]

Hand 1 pass.

Hand 2 I much prefer 3C to double.

[gszes]

this looks like a standard

hand 1 pass (and thank lho for warning us of the danger to our club holding)

hand 2 x

[P_Marlowe]

#Q1 pass
#Q2 3C

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kgr]

mikeh, on 2014-January-15, 10:36, said:

I don't understand the first question. Is there any sensible alternative to pass? If you ask me, there is a high likelihood that LHO forgot his methods and he has a Michael's hand. If so, and assuming that there has been disclosure that his call was systemically natural, then he is going to have to pass 2♥ (unless he has a huge hand) and miss an easy game. If he raises hearts, and we find he has a michaels hand, then we know two things. Either he doesn't understand the issues or he is unethical, and we're about to get a score adjustment.

On the second auction, I think we have to double but I don't like it. It is almost always preferable to hold a stiff heart than a void, since declarer, alerted by the auction, will sometimes be able to repeatedly endplay partner, plus, when we have a void, there is often a modicum of trump length in dummy and even a possible ruffing value....which we could destroy if only we could lead a trump at some point.

2C by LHO was really natural.
How do you rate bidding 2S after (1st or) 2nd auction? Or is 2S showing 5-6?

[kgr]

First auction: everyone passes
Second auction: Some DBLs and some 3C's...Is 2S also an option? I would prefer to bid 2S above 3C or is 2S promising 5-6?

[mikeh]

kgr, on 2014-January-16, 10:54, said:

First auction: everyone passes
Second auction: Some DBLs and some 3C's...Is 2S also an option? I would prefer to bid 2S above 3C or is 2S promising 5-6?

On the 2nd, 2♠ is definitely an option, and I think it quite close. I would personally want a slightly better spade suit to bid 2♠....but I wouldn't argue much with anyone who disagreed. I like my A AK for defence, notwithstanding the 6 card suit and void in hearts, but I say, again, it is close.

[the_clown]

1.Pass clearcut as others suggested

2. I would certainly double in case partner has a penalty pass. I have AK A and if partner has a real penalty pass I expect 500-800. I would take me something like KQxx - Qxx KQxxxx to not double with a void.