On Apr 20, 7:06=A0pm, "raija d" <musti...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Local sectional IMPs, solid average+ opponents and partner.
>
> RHO opens first seat. We are vul, they are not.
>
> RHO =A0 You =A0 LHO =A0 Pd
> 2H =A0 =A0 =A0 P =A0 =A0 =A0 3H =A0 =A0 =A0 P
> P =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ?
>
> Your hand:
> Q109xx-xxx-J-AQ10x
>
> What is your call?
> Second choice(s) if any?
> And reasoning?
>
> TIA
> Raija
I would bid 3S for the following reasons:
1. Partner is marked with some cards since LHO didn't bid or
investigate game. So at worst, I would place partner
with about 9 hcp at least.
2. Partner is marked with about two hearts or less given LHO's raise.
LHO is less likely to raise on a singleton and
cards to risk going for a minus when 2H is making.
3. With heart shortness partner is more likely to have some spades.
4. LHO is very unlikely to have a spade stack. With a spade stack he
would want to make it easier for the
opponents to come in at the two level. Also, why would he risk
going down in 3H if his side could play in 2H
making exactly two?
5. I hold both the spade ten and nine so since the opponents are
certain not to have good intermediates in the
trump suit, it is less likely LHO will double looking at great
trumps. Also, the spade intermediates makes it
more likely I can pick up the suit for no loss when partner has
something like S AJxx.
6. Game is quite possible. Give partner something like: S Kxxx H x
D xxxx C Kxxx and you would want
to be in 4S but partner could have more like: S Kxxx H xx D
Axxx C Kxx. I am not saying partner will
always raise to 4S when it is correct however he will some of the
time with his even better hands.
7. Even if our side doesn't get to 4S it is still possible 3S will
make and 3H will make so our side avoids
an adverse part score swing.
8. If 3S goes down an undoubled trick or two it will either be a small
loss or a small gain when 3H is making.
9. There is a small gain when 3S makes and 3H doesn't make.
10. In the worst case if LHO doubles 3S, I don't think partner is
going to sit for 3Sx when you are backing
into the bidding. For example, give partner S x H xx D
AQxxx C Kxxxx, I would think he would bid 3NT to
tell me to pick a minor especially since when I backed into the
bidding I should have some shape and suggests
that there is an alternative place to play.
11. Finally, the 3H bid suggests more that LHO is trying to keep our
side from something rather than trying to trap
us because with a 13-14 hcp count and some spades, LHO could just
pass 2H and play it there for a plus score
when 3H might go down.
So in short, I think bidding 3S has the upside for a possible game or
part score swing while the downside is more likely to relatively
small.
Eric Leong
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