Two Balanced 11-Counts

Today's panelists: Barry Rigal, Brian Oxley, Curt Hastings, Ed Davis, Mike Shuster, Robb Gordon, Roberto Scaramuzzi, Steve Altus, Joel Wooldridge, Web Ewell, and David Milton

I guess balanced 11-counts are a topic near and dear to everyone's heart. Or religion. I seem to have kicked off a serious system debate---half the respondents think that better methods would solve the problems. Different methods would solve them, but these problems are here because they are hard for the methods in common use.

IMPs, short matches.

  1. favorable, you hold  S:xxx H:A542 D:KJ9 C:Kxx

    CHO RHO YOU
    1D: 1H: ?

    Almost no one liked his choice. I figured that would be the case, but I liked mine at the table. Just about everyone wanted to play that double denied 4S:. Odd...how many partnerships actually play that? In my experience, not many.

    BARRY
    2C:. I've never done this before but it is easy to be brave on paper. I prefer 2H: (diamond raise) to Neg double or 1/2NT. The attraction of bidding 2C: is to bid 3D: over 2D: and raise 2NT to 3NT. Yes each of these could work badly but tant pis. I suppose 1S: could work very well also -- that is too rich for me. [It'd never occur to me, particularly if it showed five spades. --Jeff]
    BINKLEY
    I'll double, and over parner's rebid: raise 2D: to 3; bid 2NT over 2C:; raise 1NT to 2; and bid 1NT over 1S:, hoping to recover. If partner makes a stronger rebid (unlikely), I'll make a forcing rebid in diamonds, indicating slam interest.
    CURT
    This hand illustrates deficiencies in standard methods. [Most problems indicate deficiencies in the methods in use. --Jeff] I would like to be able to double showing (nominally invitational or better) values with no biddable suit, but I'm probably not playing that. Passing won't solve my problem, since I'm not interested in defending 1H:x (they rate to score at least 4 trump tricks and probably 2-3 more). If we can get 500 out of them, we probably can make a game anyway. So I guess I'm endplayed into 2NT, although that feels like a transfer to -50 quite often, and it will work out atrociously if partner has H:Qx or H:Jxx.
    ED
    Pass. If you play double denies four spades, then you can double to show a hand with enough values to bid but with no good bid and partner will bid 1NT with a balanced minimum hand. However, most play double shows exactly four spades so double is out. The choices as I see it are then to make a limit raise in diamonds or to pass and then cue bid when partner balances with a double. The disadvantage to the LR is obvious... you will be playing diamonds on hands where you belong in NT. The pass and then cue bid approach shows 10+ HCP and a balanced hand with a desire to play NT from partner's hand. The heart holding could be anything from xxx to AQx (sometimes partner has Jxx). The disadvantage of passing is that the auction doesn't always go like you expect and you might not be able to clearly show your strength. Of course, if you pass aginst overly agressive opponents, it might continue with 1NT on your left, pass, pass back to you. I play inverted minors on over overcalls so I bid 2D: when holding a LR in diamonds, bid a direct 2H: (which I would on this hand) to show a balanced invitational or better hand with a stopper in hearts and pass and then cue bid to show invitational or better values but no heart stopper. [That's two bids to show hands without direction. What's 2NT if 2H: shows a balanced hand with invitational (or better) values and a heart stop? --Jeff] ... [Ed's partner, Jill Meyers, bid 2H:. --Jeff]
    MIKE
    2H:. This is a limit raise in diamonds, no? 2D: would be overly conservative; 1NT anti-positional. If you play double as denying 4 spades then that would probably be better.
    ROBB
    Well, I would double, denying 4 spades. I assume I can't do that here. 1NT. Now, can we change our system?
    ROBERTO
    This is a complicated hand. I would really like partner to bid notrump first, unless we can run off nine tricks (not unlikely: give partner AQxxxx in diamonds, C:A and three or four small spades, for example) I assume you are playing (shudder) standard, which makes this a hard problem (playing weak NT it's much easier: if partner opened 1D:, this is a choice of games problem If he opened 1N and they overcalled 2H:, you just double).

    I considered doubling, but I found out I can't handle any spade continuations by partner. It's close between 2H: (L+ in diamonds) or an agricultural 2N. I pick 2N because I don't really know that partner's continuation over 2H: is really going to help (if he bids 2N or 3D: are you going to pass or bid 3N?) [I'd pass. I said, "limit raise in diamonds" and he said, "let's play a partscore." It's not as if this 4333 beauty has improved on the auction. --Jeff]

    WEB
    1NT, the least distorting call. Making a negative double without 4S:, bidding 1NT with this good a hand, bidding 2NT with this heart stopper, or raising diamonds with only 3 pieces are all too terrible to contemplate.
    DAVID
    Partner will have at least 4 diamonds here (can he really be 4432?) it is close between a 1NT underbid and a 2H: (under trump) cue bid. Wish I had a heart spot to make a more aggressive call.

    1NT first. 2H: (guaranteeing support second)

    STEVE
    Double, denying four spades of course. [I'll treat this as an abstention, as everyone realizes that this would be a non-problem if we were playing that method. --Jeff]
    JOEL
    2H. This helps rightside the notrump, and get the strength of my hand off my chest. If partner bids 2S: or 3C:, I'll bid 3H:. If partner bids 2nt or 3H:, I'll bid 3nt.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    2H:. My lower honor is in trumps, and I have sharp cards outside. Sounds like a trump contract. I'm hoping to be able to talk partner into bidding notrump at some point.
    WINNING ACTION
    not double. Just about anything else, though a diamond raise rates to be best, as partner has  S:AQ10x H:--- D:Q10xxxxx C:Qx. He might get us too high in diamonds, but he'll at least pull a double of 3H: and will take us out of notrump to a diamond contract.
    VOTES/CONSENSUS
    2H: 3
    1NT 3
    2NT 2
    Pass 1
    Dbl 1
    2C: 1
    Abstain 1
    Nothing remotely resembling a consensus
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    Anyway, I agree that it's obvious that a Kokish double denying four spades would be lovely on this hand. Finding out that partner has five spades before the opponents blast you to the three or four level is also helpful at times. I think that's much more likely to come up and matter---I know it comes up a lot. It is open to question, however, whether the problems hands like this cause are sufficiently severe to give up that advantage. I'm inclined to say, "no, it isn't." This is a particularly rude choice and I don't object too much to any of several choices. Move a single card around and this hand would have been easy to bid. For example, move the D:J to hearts and 2NT is obvious. Move the S:2 to diamonds and 2H: is obvious.

    I still like the limit raise. I'm not fond of Ed's plan to pass; the bidding just doesn't go the way he expects very often, I find. Maybe his opponents don't bid as much as mine. Or maybe his partners are more predictable.

  2. none vul, you hold  S:AJx H:KQ10x D:Jx C:108xx

    CHO RHO YOU LHO
    1D: 1S: Dbl Pass
    2H: 2S: 2NT Pass
    3C: Pass3H: Pass
    3NT Pass?

    a) Do you agree with your previous bidding?

    Most did, but a few thought that this was a total non-problem, as they'd've bid 4H: earlier. That makes their next round simple.

    ROBB
    No. I would have bid 4H: over 3C:.
    ROBERTO
    I might have bid 4H: on the previous round.

    Most were happy with the auction, though the consensus is that we have a maximum. Some would even force game.

    BINKLEY
    I would have bid 2NT directly the first round (but 3NT if vul) -- my cards are placed wonderfully in this auction, and I even have help in partner's suit. And at IMPs, the 9-trick game seems a better bet, especially with my holdings.
    ED
    No, I would have bid 3NT over 2S: but 2N could work out best.
    CURT
    I think you did a reasonable job of describing your hand.
    MIKE
    Previous bidding was impeccable.
    BARRY
    Yes 2NT is fine though I am not sure if I would have found it.. I guess so.
    WEB
    I agree with the bidding completely.
    DAVID, STEVE, JOEL
    yes
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    I perpetrated this sequence. I like it OK.
    WINNING ACTION
    The farmer at the other table bid 2NT the first time and wasn't involved in this decision, so we have a chance to do better.
    CONSENSUS
    Yes
    b) What now?

    There are two camps, those who think that partner is 1444 with a probable stiff spade honor, and those who think he's denied four hearts. Those who think he's 1444 generally bid 4H:.

    BARRY
    3C: here sounds very much like a 1-4-4-4 shape -- with 1-4-5-3 I can't say I'd bother. 3NT over 3H: suggests a spade honor or bad trumps. Still bad hearts hardly matters does it with the ruffs coming in the short hand. Unless playing with a known loony [I resemble that! --Jeff] (who might have a 1-3-5-4 shape) I bid 4H:.
    ROBB
    4H:.
    ROBERTO
    I'll bid 4H:. I think partner has 1453 shape with some reason to want to play 3N (bad hearts or a spade honor or both). Either way, I think I can score up one more trick in hearts by taking one or two ruffs in dummy.
    DAVID
    Partner probably has a stiff spade on this bidding. Does he have a stiff honor? We know that his hearts are not great and he may be assuming you have only three of them. In any event, I am not playing 3NT. I bid 4H:.

    The other vocal group thinks that partner should not have 1444 or he'd've bid 4H: (or possibly 3S: with a stiff honor) the previous round.

    ED
    Pass. Partner may have 2-3-4-4 but I think 1-3-5-4 with some extras is considerably more likely. I'd pass 3NT since partner is suggesting it thinking I have only one stopper. I expect something like  S:x H:Jxx D:AKQxx C:KJxx.
    MIKE
    Partner doesn't have four hearts; I have 2 Spade stoppers. Good here.

    Partner already knew you had 4H:. To me, this says "What game, pard?" and partner could have said "I'm not sure, 3S:"... showing 4H: and a spade honor, presumably or 3 good hearts and a stiff spade. Partner instead said 3NT a strong suggestion of contract after you've bid hearts twice. Why wouldn't partner bid 2H: over the negative double with say  S:Kx H: Axx D: AKxx C: xxxx? (I know 1NT would be reasonable, too) [1NT would be my choice. --Jeff] Couldn't partner have say...  S:x H: AJx D: AKTxx C: Q9xx... I can't imagine bidding 2C: over [the double] with that hand (partner doesn't show clubs with a negative double, partner shows hearts and 4 is enough to make that the right strain opposite 1354 hands, but partner can have more) And why can't partner have a 3-card club suit with say...  S:Kx H: Axxx D: QTxx C: AJx? Opposite this, 4H: is hopeless and 3NT is excellent.

    I think these four think partner has four hearts, but are considering 3NT anyway.

    BINKLEY
    In spite of my answer to (a), this auction looks like partner has a low singleton in spades, and that spades are likely to be 6331 around the table. [Seems more like 7321 to me as LHO didn't raise to 2S: or 3S:. --Jeff] I'll get a low spade lead, but may need to let RHO in twice (e.g., partner has a 3-ace minimum). But in a case like that, 4H: is making: 6 trumps (two spade ruffs in his hand), 3 side aces, and a long diamond. And against 4H:, a spade lead gives me the tempo, instead of them (as opposed to a club lead). So I'll raise to 4H:. Shows you what I deserve for being so hasty in answering (a).
    CURT
    4H:. Sounds like they will knock out a spade stopper on the go. That means you can lose the lead only once. Partner probably has no 5-bagger, so we'll be hard pressed to take enough tricks on the fly. Add to that my good secondary cards (H:T, D:J, C:T8) protecting me from slow losers, and its not unreasonable to expect to get up to 10 winners.
    STEVE
    Pass. I don't think there's enough evidence that any strain is better than 3NT, and you've described your hand (other than the club fit), so I see no reason not to pass.
    JOEL
    Partner may have opened diamonds, but this auction sounds like partner is unusually weak there with 4 hearts. Something like  S:Kxx H:AJxx D:xxxx C:AQ--and opposite that hand it's much better to play in 4H:, thus that's what I'll bid.
    WEB
    Pass.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    Pass.
    WINNING ACTION
    4H:. Partner had  S:Q H:A98x D:Axxx C:KJ9x. 3NT wasn't hopeless, but both clubs are offside. 4H: isn't cold, but trumps are 3-2 and there's no ruff lurking.
    VOTES/CONSENSUS
    4H:: 7
    Pass: 5
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    I'm not sure what partner has. I think this one is a "know thy partner," which I didn't. Is he the "looney" with only three hearts? Or is he the simple man who thinks he's just bid out his pattern, even to the point of showing his stiff spade honor?
Jeff Goldsmith, jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov, Oct. 6, 1998