North (You)
T 8 7 6 4 2
—
Q 9 7 6 5
9 5
Your partner kindly opens the bidding with 2NT (20-22 balanced). Should you transfer and bid 4S? How good a proposition do you reckon 4S will be?
I'm preparing a post sometime soon on the Deal program made by Thomas Andrews. Where I'll go into more detail about this very nice piece of software. I've already run some simulations for double-dummy play in a spade contract above opposite various balanced NT range hands. I'll put the answers up in due course.
I would transfer and bid diamonds.
ReplyDeleteI think this might be a little too adventurous. You might find slams, but a priori double-dummy they're only 15% of the hands. Partner will get to 5S too often if you make a slam try with this hand though I fear.
DeleteTransfer and bid game, independently of what we hear. Anything else is simply bizarre bridge
Delete(off/on topic - there is a debate going on on a Polish serious bridge forum whether strong 2 NT is the worst commonly used opening bid (I do not think it is, but some arguments are rather strong))
A 6-1-4-2 Yarborough would be enough for game, I think. No guarantees, but you just can't afford to stop in 3 when you have no way to find out how well the hands fit.
ReplyDeleteSage words. You're just about right, I think. A quick look at distribution of the number of [double-dummy] tricks opposite 6=1=4=2 Yarboroughs is:
Delete8- tricks: 21%
9 tricks: 35%
10 tricks: 34%
11 tricks: 9%
12+ tricks: 1%
Avg. number of tricks = 9.3
My partner opened 2C so not a problem. However I cannot imagine missing game opposite 2N.
ReplyDeleteAh, then you weren't put to the test. But everyone should find 4S on this hand.
Delete