[pilowsky]

This little gem came up playing 2/1 at a 21 table club game this afternoon.

We obtained the median result -50 for 35%
What would you do as South (me)?
I think there were 21 different opinions on this one.

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The full hand

Spoiler

I figured that a bid of 2♣ was not 2/1 after the double and that we would stand a better chance in not spades.

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[jillybean]

I play 2♣ nf here, that is where I want to play.

[LBengtsson]

jillybean, on 2021-July-13, 05:10, said:

I play 2♣ nf here, that is where I want to play.

thats how I play 2♣ after opps X. some values but not enough to XX. warns partner we have bad fit in ♠ also. and hand is good being 1255 as you have ♦ to run to also if 2♣ gets X/ed.

[nullve]

Unusual problem!

This would have been a potential problem hand had East passed. (1♠-(P)-1N-(P); 2♥-(P), now what?)

I voted Pass (which strictly denies positive values the way I have played it).

My plan:

1♠-(P)-P-(P) (makes?)

1♠-(P)-P-(1N); P-(P)-P (suboptimal maybe, but it seems I've already done well (opposite a partner who seems to have 5S4H and who will often be 5422) by not responding 1N)

1♠-(P)-P-(1N); X/bid-(P)-? (easy decision)

1♠-(P)-P-(2m); P-(P)-P (yippee!)

1♠-(P)-P-(2♥); P-(P)-X ("takeout", counting on partner to pass with 5422/54(31))

[mw64ahw]

I'm not sure I'd open 1♠ with North's hand. Having said that my Ekren style 2♥ opening ends up in a worse position

If you play transfer advances then 1NT-2♣-Pass

[nige1]

Pilowsky 'This little gem came up playing 2/1 at a 21 table club game this afternoon. We obtained the median result -50 for 35%. What would you do as South (me)? I think there were 21 different opinions on this one.
++++++++++++++++++
Over RHO's double, transfers + transfer redouble are the modern style. Here, however, whatever your agreements, Nullve's suggestion of "Pass" seems appropriate.

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[DavidKok]

You need agreements here. I noticed that people are suggesting 2m NF, a bid that would be 100% forcing for me. At high level most pairs play some form of transfer advances, so you could choose one of your minor suits and transfer into those. I'm not sure if it beats a natural 'pass' though.

[Winstonm]

Non-forcing 2C as playing 1S doubled probably won’t work out too well - though it could be our best contract. And if Lho bids hearts, a club lead is preferred

[mycroft]

Yeah, this is the calling card for transfers/1MX. Being able to make a NF 2♣ "call" and a F1R one as well is really nice. Without it, I play 2♣ NF (1 bids forcing), and I hate it, but I do it. It's needed for the hands where you are scared that 1MX is going to get floated...like the same hand without the ♣AJ.

Pass is an option as even if this gets floated, if 2♣ is going to be any better (i.e. partner isn't stiff), partner should be able to scramble enough tricks just by forcing RHO with 5 spades to shorten their trump holding (hook the club, take two club tricks, third one either happens or promotes a long trump in hand, and get a few more tricks on power and endplaying LHO). And it's not likely it is getting floated either. But when it goes as I expect 1♠-X-p-2♥; p-p, what now? 2NT for minors and hope? 3♣ and hope that's not the misfit?