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[Event " 8/11/11  RR Teams, Parsippany Regional"]
[Site ""]
[Date ""]
[Board "21"]
[West "Pete"]
[North ""]
[East "Brian"]
[South ""]
[Dealer "N"]
[Vulnerable "NS"]
[Deal "N:7.QT.JT9852.AJ93 JT64.976.KQ4.852 AQ9832.J85.6.K74 K5.AK432.A73.QT6"]
[Scoring ""]
[Declarer ""]
[Contract ""]
[Result ""]
{My choice did not work out well.  What would yours be?  Would you choose
differently at matchpoints?  

Answers from the mitdlbc-discuss list and my conclusions begin on the next
page.  First, an overview of your sensible options:

Pass:  certainly, this is a minimum hand for action, but pass seems incredibly
wimpy, especially at IMPs.  A pass will likely end the auction.  At
matchpoints, this could produce a fine swing.

Double:  the flexible double is often the favorite of bidding panels.  The
values and 3-suit support are correct for the bid.  Brian and I were playing
Lebensohl:  his direct bid of a suit would show interest in game; 2NT asks
doubler to bid 3\C, for a variety of continuations, most likely a weak
signoff.  (I have read that you should not play Lebensohl as a passed hand -
with nothing better to do, pass and take your penalty.  You have to discuss
and then remember such an exception.  You might consider this, as you ponder
your choice.)

2NT:  an absolute minimum for this bid, and the spade stopper could not be
thinner.

3\H:  the suit is anemic, but this also could work out well.\n
 \n
This deal is instructive, with issues you may not yet have considered. 

[Please turn to the next page.]}
[Auction "N"]
Pass Pass 2S +
[Hidden "NES"]
[Application "BridgeComposer; Views=003F"]

[Event " 8/11/11  RR Teams, Parsippany Regional"]
[Site ""]
[Date ""]
[Board "21"]
[West "Pete"]
[North ""]
[East "Brian"]
[South ""]
[Dealer "N"]
[Vulnerable "NS"]
[Deal "N:7.QT.JT9852.AJ93 JT64.976.KQ4.852 AQ9832.J85.6.K74 K5.AK432.A73.QT6"]
[Scoring ""]
[Declarer ""]
[Contract ""]
[Result ""]
{<i>Jason Ciano:</i>  My teammate quickly chose Double.\n
<i>Adam Grossack:</i>  Asked next, this teammate quickly chose 2NT.  He then
proceeded to convince Jason this was correct.

<i>Paul Perkowski:</i>  I'm not thrilled, but I'm bidding 3H at both IMPs and MPs. 
2NT is the obvious alternative, but with only Kx as a stopper, opponents
should be able to flush out your K and still maintain communication, putting
you at a serious disadvantage. ... double can miss a 5-3 heart fit or end up
in a 4-3 minor fit at the 3-level, so it's no sure-shot to get to the right
strain. There's no action that doesn't have risk.  Goes to show what we all
know - preempts can be effective!

<i>Waldorf:</i>  A very tough hand. This situation is relatively common.  At least
the vulnerability is favorable.  Woolsey says that the more Aces you have, the
more inclined you should be to play NoTrump.  But that heart suit is so bad
....   But the shape is so poor .... 

I think my first choice is 2NT.  Nine tricks may be easier than ten in hearts.
 I'm not going to get doubled by a passed hand and it's only 50 a trick.  3\H
is second.  Not vulnerable against vul, I would also consider a pass.  At
matchpoints, I promote the pass.  We may get 200 against a\n
partscore. If we do have a game, we may take a lot of tricks on defense. 
Alternatively, others will be going down and we probably go plus. Even if we
do have a viable contract it will be difficult to find it.  A red/white weak
2-bid is usually a pretty good hand.

<i>Steve McDevitt:  </i>Double. If partner can muster up 3 of a minor without
Lebensohl I will bid 3\H. If partner goes through Leb I will let her sign off.
 A direct 3\H precludes partner showing a minor with or without values. Seems
very unilateral to me with only 5 of them and those spots. 2NT also shuts out
the minors. Double will get you to the right strain and level.

<i>Gary Schwartz:</i>  Add my vote for double.  Matchpoints or IMPs.  You have
support for the 3 unbid suits and enough strength for safety at the 3 level. 
3H is way too unilateral for a balanced hand with only 5 hearts.  The fact
that you have a single stopper in the opponents' suit isn't enough to bid NT
without a known source of tricks. 

<i>Pete Matthews:</i>  I soon dismissed Pass and 3\H from consideration, and
eventually chose the flexible double (so much for those bidding panels). 
Brian correctly went through 2NT to sign off in 3\D, which went down two. 
Pass, 2NT, and conceivably 3\H would have produced a positive score.  At
matchpoints, Brian would have taken his best shot over the double, and passed.
 At IMPs, passing would have been inexcusable:  -670 would have been the whole
match, not just a bottom board.  Had we not been playing Lebensohl, Brian
might have tried a natural 2NT.}
[Auction "N"]
Pass Pass 2S +
[Hidden "NS"]
[Application "BridgeComposer; Views=003F"]
