Thinking about bidding

I had the chance to play with a developing bridge player today and we had one deal to bid that I think is interesting.

Chayam opened 1NT and I am playing West as lml (my initials).  What should I do?  In the textbook they say that you should bid with eight points.  It usually takes around 25 HCP to make a game in notrump and partner can have as much as 17 points.  Since I have a four card major I might bid Stayman and then when partner bids two hearts I can invite perhaps.

But as you can see I didn’t do any of this.  I passed.  When dummy came down Chayan was surprised.  Why didn’t you bid hearts she asked?  I assume she meant why didn’t I look for a major suit fit.  Then she asked the better question. “ I had 16 HCP why didn’t you bid?”  We didn’t have time to talk right then and I just told her that we were in a great contract and that she had done perfectly.

The biggest problem on the hand is that we are mirrored and we are both as flat as pancakes.  Mirrored means that are hands have exactly the same shape.  The good part of this hand is that we have very good spot cards.  The nine and eight of hearts are worth a whole trick as is the great club spots.  Anyway on a normal spade lead you are likely to make about eight tricks.  You will take two spades, four hearts and a diamond and maybe a club or even a diamond.  But you really have no chance for nine tricks.  Game in hearts is even worse and we got quite a good score for making two notrump.

It is true that Chayan could have another point or that the hands might have worked better but this is why I didn’t bid on this hand.  Eight is the bare minimum you need to try for game opposite a 15-17 notrump.  When you have a minimum you should consider other things. 

I a whole point for 4-3-3-3 shape.  Having no long suits (and no ruff if you are in suit contract) is a disadvantage.

I add about half a point for decent spots.  Good spots are at least 9’s or an 8 with a 9 or a 10.  I don’t bother too much about whether I have a 6 or a 2.

Are my high cards in my long suits?  Well I do have a queen in my four card suit which makes it a working queen so this is neutral.  No points

Are my points in queens and jacks or aces and kings?  Are my honors together?  An AQ is much better than an ace and a queen elsewhere.  Here my hand is probably a minus.

So here is my tally

Shape	-1
Spots	+.5
High card placement	0
“Quacky” (queens and jacks)?	-.5

 

So by the time I am done I think this hand is worth about 7 HCP not 8.  In any case if it is a borderline decision it is NO GO.

There is one other factor to consider.  At IMP scoring making a vulnerable game is worth so many imps that is worth it to push hard for the game.  At imps vulnerable go for it if there is any chance.  But at imps not vulnerable or at matchpoints only try for good games.  Here we were not vulnerable playing imps.

What about playing in the major?  Well once I decided not to try for game I have no way of finding out if we have a fit.  I can’t bid Stayman unless I am prepared to invite.  If Chayan had answered two diamonds I would have had to bid two notrump and Chayan could go to 3NT if she had a maximum.  You can generally only use Stayman if you have an invitational hand or are prepared to pass any response by partner.

But even if I had an invitational hand I would probably not bid Stayman.  It is easier to make nine tricks then ten tricks and often 4-3-3-3 hands play better in notrump.  Chayan was not going to be able to ruff anything in my hand.

I hope that answers your questions better Chayan and thanks for the game.