[AL78]

Back to online bridge for the first time in months and same old rubbish, big hand bias the other way, dreadful final score because I can't defend. Here is a competitive decision that came up:

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Matchpoints. NS were playing four card majors (Acol). Do you compete in diamonds or pass?

[helene_t]

Could partner have opened a weak 2♦? But of course, he could still have a decent 6-card suit with a flaw. If that flaw is a 4-card spades (hard to see what else it could be) he may reopen.

So I think it is an easy pass if a weak 2♦ was available, and otherwise just a not so happy pass. 3♦ may be lawful as partner has a 6-card suit, but opps play 4-card majors so they may be in a 4-3 fit, in which case it is too dangerous to bid 3♦.

[Gilithin]

It is a very easy pass. You are 4333 with no high ♦ honour, your partner passed originally eliminating most of the hands where a raise would be right and (assuming UK rather than Dutch Acol) the opps could easily be in a 7 card fit. Is there actually any feature of the hand or auction that makes you think bidding is going to be a good decision?

[DavidKok]

With my regular partner I have an automatic raise. Partner will have 6 diamonds with a flaw at least 90% of the time (the remainder mostly being 5-5 minors too weak to open or bid 2NT, which I am also happy to raise, and sometimes a lead-directing bid). Bidding 2m on a five-card suit (and we even allow 5-card 2♦ openings, so it would still need an extra flaw) is just losing bridge - you only get to play it there when it's wrong, the rest of the time you will have told opps the distribution for their declarer play. I hope your partner feels the same way about 2m overcalls.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

[AL78]

We don't play weak twos in diamonds. Evidently I misjudged badly. After some thought I decided to raise, expecting a decent six card suit vulnerable and gambling on one off when opps can make 2♥. I got punished for it.

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The dreaded -200. That is what happens when I try to be more aggressive in very marginal situations.

[DavidKok]

West misbid twice. I would open that hand, and I would not overcall 2♦ with that balanced 5-card suit. Don't take the blame, it will make your game worse.

[AL78]

DavidKok, on 2022-February-11, 04:41, said:

Don't take the blame, it will make your game worse.

I think the others have a fair point, with no ruffing value and little trick taking potential I should have erred on the side of caution. I did contribute mostly to the poor results overall, my defense was dreadful, the effect much worse when I am defending 14/20 boards. I was tired from an early start and working in London all day, so on another day I would have cancelled. I find it very difficult to focus when tired.

[helene_t]

3♦ is one of those bad bids that might well work in practice. Here, South might have doubled and North taken it out, and if you defend well you might take 3♥ down.

[DavidKok]

AL78, on 2022-February-11, 06:52, said:

I think the others have a fair point, with no ruffing value and little trick taking potential I should have erred on the side of caution.

Personally I disagree. As I said in my partnership this is a nearly automatic raise to 3♦. Partner is supposed to have ruffing value, and selling out to 2♥ at matchpoints when there is a reasonable alternative (a 9-card fit! With a probable 4-3 spade Moysian on the side, so your values are working! We have the heart 'length', so not many wasted values in their suit!) is poor strategy.

[LBengtsson]

DavidKok, on 2022-February-11, 04:41, said:

West misbid twice. I would open that hand, and I would not overcall 2♦ with that balanced 5-card suit. Don't take the blame, it will make your game worse.

That is so right. Agree. West is not thinking

1. If you can not open at 1 level why overcall at 2 level?
2. Lead-direct. NO! N/S have found fit and South will play hand
3. East did not make bid in 3rd hand so no shape and/or weak.
4. Partner will think you have more shape than 5422 to overcall 2♦
5. Partner will be confused why you did not open 2♦ - flaw?
6. You have some defense AK and A
7. If they play in Moyse fit, partner will have 4♥. Leading ♦s could make South lose control of hand.
8. Three quick tricks is always opening hand imo. So West should open 1♦
9. West has easy rebid after 1♦ opener. If was 3343 shape agree with 11 points in Acol could make next bid difficult, but not with 2254 and suit with AKxxx
10. Bridge is opening bidders game, not a overcallers one lol

[helene_t]

LBengtsson, on 2022-February-11, 09:00, said:

2. Lead-direct. NO! N/S have found fit and South will play hand

they only found the fit after W made the overcall. Btw, a raise doesn't guarantee an 8-card fit in this auction

[AL78]

helene_t, on 2022-February-11, 09:09, said:

they only found the fit after W made the overcall. Btw, a raise doesn't guarantee an 8-card fit in this auction

Even without the overcall North is raising hearts, so they will always find the fit.

[AL78]

LBengtsson, on 2022-February-11, 09:00, said:

5. Partner will be confused why you did not open 2♦ - flaw?

We weren't playing weak twos in diamonds, so partner could have a top of the range weak 2♦ hand for the overcall, marginally short of a 1♦ opener (which is what I was expecting).

[Douglas43]

Two level overcalls, vulnerable, on a flat hand with an empty suit, are very unlikely to pay dividends. And next time when it would be right for advancer to compete, they will be guessing whether to bid or not.