gnasher, on 2011-April-15, 05:10, said:
When the opponents have opened 1NT, the situation is different in several ways:
- You have lost a whole level of bidding, so it is harder to bid accurately when you're in the game zone.
- Because opener has shown 12-14 HCP, it's less likely that you have 13 opposite 13, so there is less benefit in trying to cater for that possibility.
- If we act with a balanced 13, and partner has a balanced 5, we won't be able to find our 4-4 fits. We will sometimes be able to find our 5-3 fits, but only at the cost of sometimes playing in a 5-2 or 5-1 fit. Our alternative to finding a fit is to defend 1NTx or 1NTxx.
- If we do end up in a poor contract, the opponents will be comparatively well-placed to double us.
-We lost a whole level and it is less likely that we have 13+13, but game requirements for us are reduced by A LOT ! Hand will be played almost double dummy and defense will have no communication whatsoever. I will take that over 13+13 hcp 3 NT anytime, where i have no idea which defender has what.
-If u act with balanced 13 and pd has 5 same goes for them, his pd may have 5.
-We may end up in a poor contract and they may double us true, again, same goes for them if it is his pd who ends up with poor hand.
Everything u said can be applied for other side. But i just cant imagine a strategy, where EACH and EVERY single time when our side has 14+13, 13+13, 14+12,14+11,14+10,13+12,13+11,12+12 they will play 1 NT in peace.
Two other things i would like to mention about the dangers of being too conservative vs weak NT.
-Passing to a weak NT in 2nd seat creates strategical advantage to weak NT side for various reasons. One of them is giving oportunities to his pd to fool with you and of course with your pd.
-Doubling in 2nd seat, lets say vs 12-14 NT, EVEN if you DBL with a 12 hcp they are underdog in long run, because their strong hand is sitting in front of our strong hand. As i said everything else that can turn out bad for our side is applicable to their side.
And last of all, everything you mentioned, will STILL be a problem when you double with 14 instead of 12. It is not like doubling with 1 or 2 hcp extra is giving you a free ride