[AL78]

I was playing with a novice on Monday evening in my first F2F bridge session for a year and a half (and picked up the worst hands at the table again, some things never change!). This is an awkward situation she was in on one board.

♠KJ2
♥Q9
♦AKJ32
♣AQ7

MPs, partner passes, RHO opens a weak 2♥. Your basic system is Acol, three weak twos, weak NT. You are not playing Lebensohl, so if you double partner will bid 3♣ which won't necessarily show values.

[LBengtsson]

X looks best, your strength (18 good points, ♥Qx not included) is all enough to compensate for poor shape 3253. 3♦ looks wrong given your balanced shape. making guessing bid of 2NT will give poor result if opps. cash first 6 tricks. however, 2NT might work if partner has ♥ stop and useful side cards and suit (♣Kxxxx. But I still go with X as best bid here

[DavidKok]

X, and you'd really want (transfer) Lebensohl here. In its absence I will bid 3♦ over 3♣.

[Winstonm]

Double, but as this is match points I suspect this problem will be faced at most tables so my goal is to beat those who hold my cards. With my loser-count it seems unlikely for a passed hand partner to cover them all and my goal on this hand is a plus score of any kind So I will pass 3C as expectancy suggests partner to hold 6-7 points, we don’t have a major suit fit, I have too many losers for a minor suit game, they know what to lead against NT, and maybe the best reason of all - weak hands play better in their suit.

[AL78]

This was the full deal:

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Partner didn't know what to do and blasted 5♣, not a success going four off for a bottom on the ♦T lead (eight tricks are there double dummy). One pair found the making 3NT (I have no idea how). One North made nine tricks in 5♣ and one North went three off in 4♣. I don't think I played it right, I should not take the club finesse and instead cash the ace before crossing to hand then play to the queen, East then doesn't get a diamond ruff (me not planning carefully enough again).

I suggested if she really wants to bid again perhaps 3♦ would have been better, and I haven't guarenteed a five card suit. If I had shown the diamonds instead of the clubs we somewhat land on our feet, 10 tricks are available in a diamond contract, so we only go one off if she raises to game.

[mikl_plkcc]

I will X then bid 3♦ over 3♣, suggesting a strong hand with 5 ♦.