16 January 2011

To bid or to trap

Some people are hunters others just bid their contracts ignoring the opponents as much as possible. Here's a hand:
5
K Q 9 8 6
6
A K T 8 6 3
You're favourable or non-vul against vul. Your partner deals and opens 1, right hand opponent bids 1 and it's up to you. Your agreements state that when the auction goes 1x and an opponent overcalls a suit below 2x opener will always reopen with a double unless they have an extreme shape in which case they will bid.

It seems like there are only two options, pass aiming for a penalty when partner doubles or abandon the penalty and bid a natural and forcing (but not game forcing) 2. Just to be wacky though I'll throw in a natural 2NT showing 10-12 and a heart stop (cos that's what you've got right??).
I've tried not going to influence this by stating my own opinion but I'll sneak in a vote after a couple of other people.

Updated: I'm glad the votes were reasonably well split, shows it was a good problem. There was a furious debate when the hand came up at the club between the "what's the point they'll run to spades" group and the "they won't always run and 1100 is so much fun" group. At the table I was the 1 bidder and didn't get trapped but I'd be trapping rather than bidding. As it happens they'll run to spades, you'll bid clubs and end up in the making 3NT you would have got to if you'd bid 2 rather than trapping. Boring huh.

1 comment:

  1. HBJ
    I would always go for the trap pass praying for partner to double. These types of deal are fraught with dangers. You and your partner could have a complete misfit...therefore it is essential to defend. If the oppo discover a spade fit, then the odds favour partner holding some clubs......or a few spades of his own. 2NT really is a no-no with just a stiff spade. 2C you can't be crimed for but then again a juicy penalty might well be lost.

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