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Stolen Bid.

20 high card points but not really enough for a strong 2 level opening. However, just as you contemplate how the auction will go after you start with your longest suit at the one level, your right-hand opponent opens the suit in front of you!

 

Well, it looks like South has stolen your bid! What are you going to do about it? It’s Teams style and your opposition are playing 5-card majors.

Our opponents are vulnerable. So, we should be able to cast aside any thoughts that they have psyched. They do have an opening, or in third seat, pretty close to opening bid with at least 5 spades. Do we want to try a double as we do have 4 hearts or perhaps bid a rather over-weight 1NT overcall? They seem to be our bidding options. However, our Panel do not see that bidding is a good idea, despite some risk of missing a game.

No doubt and no action from Michael:

Michael Cornell “Pass: Are you serious?  If partner has a long suit, (probably diamonds), he is allowed to bid.

Pass in sleep – if partner actually has hearts, we are still beating this big time,200 or 300. To double and then bid 2NT is crazy. We are 3 off if partner has nothing and we were probably going plus!

 

Stephen Blackstock “Pass: Well-trained partners will reopen with a double, which should lead to +500/800. If there is no reopening, partner will be very weak and we may have no game, and any plus will be fine. If the worst comes to the worst and we miss a game, that isn’t the end of the world – at this vulnerability, it will cost only 6 imps or maybe 3 imps.

Of course, if West passes, it must be in tempo. Any break in tempo will make it difficult for an ethical partner with no clear action, and “help” one who doesn’t understand his obligations.”

 

So, not just pass but do so in tempo.

 Andy Braithwaite “Pass: and hopefully take some hundreds in defence if this ends the bidding. I have an easy Heart lead to tap declarer and gain control of the hand.”

Kris Wooles “Pass: Yes, I can envisage that with the right cards we could make a vulnerable game but equally with a horrible misfit (despite my points) things could go awry. Partner could still bid if North passes.”

Nigel Kearney “Pass: I may regret this but if I double and have to bid 2NT over partner's 2, that doesn't look like it will play well. I can double for takeout if the opponents bid diamonds.”

Bruce Anderson “Pass: if North now passes and partner has length in hearts or clubs, with one or two key cards, we could miss game. But double, the only other choice, could work out badly. South is in a poor contract and his/her partner may not be able to bid, while we may have no playable spot if I double. Partner is unlikely to balance if North also passes, but with a singleton spade and a weak(ish) hand. partner should strain to bid as I must have a strong hand with length in spades. If partner passes the hand out then obviously South will struggle in 1.  At worst, we may lose 5 or 6 imps if we miss game. If the vulnerability was reversed, I would double.”

So, there are some thoughts about bidding:

Pam Livingston “Pass: I will take my chances in defending with them being vulnerable and us not.  I could bid 1NT after all, I have 5 tricks. Double is an option, looking for a heart fit, but if we don't, things are going to get messy.”

and, finally, one who takes the plunge, just:

Peter Newell “Double: Close between Pass and Double.  I lean towards double as think there is a reasonable chance partner has 4+ hearts (given that they probably have only 1 spade and did not have a diamond pre-empt. So, they have less than 6 diamonds likely leaving 7+ cards in hearts and clubs).

So, we are chance of making a part-score and occasionally game in hearts or clubs.  If partner bids 2, I’ll bid 2NT – fine on points but a little light on tricks given my spade length will not be a source of tricks.  If we pass, and 1 is passed out, I expect only to get +100, and they might make.

If North bids 1NT and it gets passed back to me, I can double, but partner will not expect 20 hcp and so will pull the double. If South bids 2 over 1NT, I can double and things should work out ok. So, it’s close but I’ll start with a double. At Pairs, I am more firmly in the double camp.

Well-reasoned but this day Peter’s partner did not have the hand Peter anticipated. He was correct about East having only one spade but he did not anticipate that in defending 1, East would score a ruff with that spade, and that ruff would come from the third round of hearts!

 

The East hand is hardly everyone’s standard pre-empt though might classify for some as an aggressive weak 2 in diamonds. That would lead to a minus score for East-West unless South overcalls 2…and the double from West should be heard throughout the country! Don’t tell me that East would be ashamed of their opening and bid again.

Meanwhile, 1 would be going a couple maybe even three down, fine compensation for missing a game that cannot be made! “What did you do with your 20 -count when they opened 1?”. “I never bid!” Wise and a winner this time.

A Black 2-Suiter

 

A nice- looking hand. So, how would you start proceedings? Your bid?

Richard Solomon

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