• When responder bids over partner's takeout double

    From ais523@21:1/5 to All on Mon May 25 22:38:49 2020
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the
    takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the
    opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I
    might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid
    suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent
    something nonstandard if I don't have to.

    --
    ais523

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  • From nrford100@21:1/5 to All on Mon May 25 18:30:28 2020
    On Monday, May 25, 2020 at 5:38:52 PM UTC-5, ais523 wrote:
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the
    takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the
    opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid
    suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent
    something nonstandard if I don't have to.

    --
    ais523

    Statistical analysis shows that on this auction, you are competing for a part score, barring highly distributional hands. Thus I worry more about showing partner where I live than showing HCP, so I would Dbl to show 4 hearts and bid 2H to show 5+ hearts.

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  • From Co Wiersma@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 26 11:32:02 2020
    Op 26-5-2020 om 00:38 schreef ais523:
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the
    takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the
    opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid
    suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent
    something nonstandard if I don't have to.

    Spades is one of partners suits. The natural meaning of double is
    clearly penalty. Of cause you can make the agreement that double be
    negative, and so force parnter to bid over 1S. Likely bidding 2 hearts
    on the next round would then mean a strong hand.

    Co Wiersma

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  • From John Hall@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 26 10:19:57 2020
    In message <rahhdp$ja8$1@dont-email.me>, ais523 <ais523@nethack4.org>
    writes
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the
    takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the
    opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I >might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as >nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    Can't the invite be 2S? If you want to invite game in hearts, then a
    bid that will allow partner if minimum to sign off in 3H seems OK and
    would allow 2H to be purely competitive. Admittedly you could be in
    trouble if partner has only three hearts for their take-out double, but responder's bid of 1S has made that less likely.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid
    suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to >disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent
    something nonstandard if I don't have to.


    I think after (1C) - X - (1S), a double by you has to show 4 spades.
    Otherwise it's too easy for responder to psyche a 1S bid.
    --
    John Hall
    "It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless
    information."
    Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

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  • From Travis Crump@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 26 12:18:10 2020
    On 05/25/2020 06:38 PM, ais523 wrote:
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the
    takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the
    opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid
    suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent
    something nonstandard if I don't have to.


    I wouldn't be concerned with the opponents playing 1S. Most people
    nowadays play 1S as forcing, and even if not partner can take another
    bid if they have extras. If partner doesn't have extras and we have a
    minimum, the opponents have near to at least game values.

    I also don't see the problem in bidding 2H on a 5 or 6 count when you'd usually require 8 or 9. A 4-10 point 2H is still a narrower range than a
    0-8 1H.

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  • From ais523@21:1/5 to Travis Crump on Wed May 27 12:17:42 2020
    Travis Crump wrote:
    On 05/25/2020 06:38 PM, ais523 wrote:
    (1C), X, (1S)
    [snip]
    I also don't see the problem in bidding 2H on a 5 or 6 count when you'd usually require 8 or 9. A 4-10 point 2H is still a narrower range than a
    0-8 1H.

    I'd normally bid 2H with a hand worth 8 over (1C), X, (P).

    I guess an even more interesting situation is if the bidding started
    with two passes: (P), P, (1C), X; (1S). At this point, 1S being passed
    out is a real danger; you can expect partner to be fairly strong, and
    the 1C bidder might be (but does not have to be) quite weak.

    So I guess my main question is what the "low end" for a 2H overcall is.
    I agree that it makes sense that a 4-count should be enough; but what
    about, say, a 0-count?

    I guess part of the argument here is how strong partner has to be to
    reopen the bidding (but if partner has spades, then they'll likely
    stay quiet even with a hand much stronger than a typical takeout
    double); if there's any chance that the opponents will pass out 1S
    rather than trying for game, then either this hand needs to keep the
    bidding alive, or else partner needs to try again.

    --
    ais523

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  • From judyorcarl@gmail.com@21:1/5 to John Hall on Wed May 27 08:25:45 2020
    On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 5:23:43 AM UTC-4, John Hall wrote:
    In message <rahhdp$ja8$1@dont-email.me>, ais523 <ais523@nethack4.org>
    writes
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the >takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the >opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I >might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as >nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    Can't the invite be 2S? If you want to invite game in hearts, then a
    bid that will allow partner if minimum to sign off in 3H seems OK and
    would allow 2H to be purely competitive. Admittedly you could be in
    trouble if partner has only three hearts for their take-out double, but responder's bid of 1S has made that less likely.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid >suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to >disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent >something nonstandard if I don't have to.


    I think after (1C) - X - (1S), a double by you has to show 4 spades. Otherwise it's too easy for responder to psyche a 1S bid.
    --
    John Hall
    "It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless
    information."
    Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

    And even to psych even without intending to, with 5432 in the suit. You absolutely must not allow them to take your suit away. The purpose of the double of 1S is not to collect a number, but to keep open the chance of playing spades yourself.

    Carl

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  • From judyorcarl@gmail.com@21:1/5 to Travis Crump on Wed May 27 08:28:43 2020
    On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 12:18:13 PM UTC-4, Travis Crump wrote:
    On 05/25/2020 06:38 PM, ais523 wrote:
    This is a sequence which my current partnership seems to be on shaky
    ground about, and it isn't clear that it's fixable in a natural system.
    So I was wondering how other people treated it.

    The sequence in question is when LHO opens, partner doubles, and RHO
    bids, e.g.

    (1C), X, (1S)

    Without RHO's bid, it's easy to distinguish a minimum response to the takeout double from an invite (via jumping if necessary).

    Once RHO bids, though, things get harder. Suppose I have hearts and a
    spade shortage. I might want to compete to 2H, because letting the opponents play in 1S is almost certainly a bad idea (they'll make it). I might also want to invite in hearts; it's quite possible that I'll hold
    a good hand on this sequence (especially if the opponents play 1S as nonforcing, which is rare but not unheard of). Without the intervening
    1S bid, the invite would be 2H, but that's no longer possible.

    It strikes me that this dilemma might be solved with an artificial use
    of the double (the natural meaning would be "choose between the unbid suits", but that maybe isn't so useful in this situation), or perhaps
    with an artificial use of the lower cue 2C (which would work here but
    not in all sequences, e.g. (1S), X, (2D) leaves you with no useful
    cue bid because 2S is too high). Is there any standard solution to disambiguating bids in this sequence? I don't really want to invent something nonstandard if I don't have to.


    I wouldn't be concerned with the opponents playing 1S. Most people
    nowadays play 1S as forcing, and even if not partner can take another
    bid if they have extras. If partner doesn't have extras and we have a minimum, the opponents have near to at least game values.

    I also don't see the problem in bidding 2H on a 5 or 6 count when you'd usually require 8 or 9. A 4-10 point 2H is still a narrower range than a
    0-8 1H.

    But how do your partnership play spades after opener takes 1S out?

    Carl

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  • From Travis Crump@21:1/5 to All on Wed May 27 18:04:39 2020
    On 05/27/2020 08:17 AM, ais523 wrote:
    Travis Crump wrote:
    On 05/25/2020 06:38 PM, ais523 wrote:
    (1C), X, (1S)
    [snip]
    I also don't see the problem in bidding 2H on a 5 or 6 count when you'd
    usually require 8 or 9. A 4-10 point 2H is still a narrower range than a
    0-8 1H.

    I'd normally bid 2H with a hand worth 8 over (1C), X, (P).

    I guess an even more interesting situation is if the bidding started
    with two passes: (P), P, (1C), X; (1S). At this point, 1S being passed
    out is a real danger; you can expect partner to be fairly strong, and
    the 1C bidder might be (but does not have to be) quite weak.

    So I guess my main question is what the "low end" for a 2H overcall is.
    I agree that it makes sense that a 4-count should be enough; but what
    about, say, a 0-count?


    I base my willingness to bid in this auction much more on shape than HCP
    so it is harder to pin down a firm line. I'd probably pass with xxx KJxx
    xxx xxx, but bid on x QTxxx xxxx xxx.

    I guess part of the argument here is how strong partner has to be to
    reopen the bidding (but if partner has spades, then they'll likely
    stay quiet even with a hand much stronger than a typical takeout
    double); if there's any chance that the opponents will pass out 1S
    rather than trying for game, then either this hand needs to keep the
    bidding alive, or else partner needs to try again.


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