Should S explore NT after N has rebid C?
Mark:
This is a case where no one has done anything wrong, but the
poor result is predictable. The 1 club opening is clearly right. The
1 diamond response is not wrong, but a 1NT response on this hand is more
practical and enterprising. There are 7 very nice HCP and a balanced hand, with
an honor card in spades and 1.5 honors in hearts. It is a perfectly descriptive
bid, whereas 1 diamond is ambiguous. It could be unbalanced, and it could be
very weak or very strong. When the chance exists to make a descriptive bid, one
that narrowly describes your hand, that is always recommended. After a 1NT bid
by South, North has an easy decision to bid 3NT. There's no guarantee that 3NT
can be made or is even likely to be made, but luck has it that it can't be
beaten if played correctly, and luck tends to favor enterprising bidders.
Why is it easy for N to raise 1NT to 3? You have a well above minimum opening
bid. More importantly, you have 7 "sure" tricks and a possible 8th in
the Q of spades. The spade Q is, indeed worth an extra trick, even with the K
offsides, because of South's J. Wouldn't it be enough for N to bid 2NT if S
bids 1NT? NO! The powerful trick taking club suit makes 3NT a good bet opposite
any ordinary 1NT bid. South should pass if North bids 2NT over 1NT. South has a
solid 1NT bid in the first round, but no extras. If N bids 2NT it is asking S
for extras, and those aren't there. The extras are in the N hand. N is the
decider, so don't pass the buck.
Now for South's original (not wrong) 1 diamond
response. It puts North in a difficult position. 3 clubs, rather than 2 clubs
is the best bid, but it takes up room and isn't fully descriptive. South would
have a difficult choice about what to bid next. 3NT is the best of some
imperfect choices, so you might land on your feet after all. The 2 clubs chosen
by N is very conservative and might work out well on some other hand. However,
it conveys a minimum opening and is neither forcing nor encouraging.
In summary, both partners bid understandably but much
too cautiously, with the usual result, a low board compared to some or
most other pairs.
No comments:
Post a Comment