[NickRW]

---

Imps Red/Red

This is probably a stupid question, but was I an idiot to convert to penalties? 6D was on for 1300 odd, 2Cx was -4 for 1100.

[barmar]

I'm with you. With so much length and half of your points in LHO's suit, your hand is totally defensive. You really can't anticipate making a slam, a even game could be scuttled by bad breaks.

Did they bid the slam at the other table?

[WellSpyder]

NickRW, on 2017-November-09, 08:28, said:

This is probably a stupid question, but was I an idiot to convert to penalties?

No. It would be nice to have better trump intermediates, but to me it is totally obvious to pass for penalties. Why should you expect a slam to be both biddable and makeable? You are hardly likely to be losing much if game is the limit of the hand, and could easily show a big profit from taking the money. And it might help keep oppo honest on the rest of the boards, too.....

[The_Badger]

What would you do if an opponent opened a 1♣ (natural) and partner made a takeout double? At this vulnerability and with the opponents bidding at the 2 level I'd pass, pass, pass. Just because partner has a minimum 17 count doesn't mean he has the right cards for slam to be made. Nothing idiotic in the slightest.

[NickRW]

barmar, on 2017-November-09, 09:35, said:

Did they bid the slam at the other table?

Sadly, yes.

[NickRW]

WellSpyder, on 2017-November-09, 09:46, said:

No. It would be nice to have better trump intermediates, but to me it is totally obvious to pass for penalties. Why should you expect a slam to be both biddable and makeable? You are hardly likely to be losing much if game is the limit of the hand, and could easily show a big profit from taking the money. And it might help keep oppo honest on the rest of the boards, too.....

Thanks, pretty much my exact thoughts at the table. I was just sanity checking.

IMO P would have done better to simply call his ♦ as he would have without the interference, which would have avoided putting me on the spot, but that's another story.

[steve2005]

Look your opening an artificial 1♣ and responding artificially showing controls.
Your decision to convert to penalties is certainly reasonable but
when it doesn't work that is the cost of using completely artificial bids for 1st round.

[NickRW]

steve2005, on 2017-November-09, 19:43, said:

Look your opening an artificial 1♣ and responding artificially showing controls.
Your decision to convert to penalties is certainly reasonable but
when it doesn't work that is the cost of using completely artificial bids for 1st round.

I'm not trying to defend or asking for criticism of the bidding system. I play it with this partner because he is comfortable with it. In fact, Blue Club actually seems to me to hold up quite well at teams, despite the age of the system.

[steve2005]

NickRW, on 2017-November-10, 03:37, said:

I'm not trying to defend or asking for criticism of the bidding system. I play it with this partner because he is comfortable with it. In fact, Blue Club actually seems to me to hold up quite well at teams, despite the age of the system.

Not critizing that's just the facts. When you make a low level double you won't know if you have a fit.

[rmnka447]

Bidding isn't a perfect science, it's an art.

There's no way to know what is in partner's hand except points at this point in the auction.

You've made a reasonable decision and it didn't work out. That happens in bridge -- it's the rub of the green. It doesn't mean that the decision was wrong just that it didn't happen to work out this time. It's impossible to know if slam is there or not, but you do know 2 ♣x is going for a number. Any time slam isn't there, you're getting a huge, probable match winning swing.

I'd pass in a flash with your hand, also.

[johnu]

NickRW, on 2017-November-10, 03:37, said:

I'm not trying to defend or asking for criticism of the bidding system. I play it with this partner because he is comfortable with it. In fact, Blue Club actually seems to me to hold up quite well at teams, despite the age of the system.

With a few adjustments, Blue Team Club can also do quite well at matchpoints.

[johnu]

steve2005, on 2017-November-09, 19:43, said:

Look your opening an artificial 1♣ and responding artificially showing controls.
Your decision to convert to penalties is certainly reasonable but
when it doesn't work that is the cost of using completely artificial bids for 1st round.

Nice after the fact resulting. If responder shows clubs initially, what are the odds that East will also show clubs? Artificial bids give, and they take away.