[blml] 2 hands

[David Grabiner]

 "Karel" <karel at esatclear.ie> writes:

> Hand 1   teams E/W vul, dealer south
>
> North
> S AQJxx
> H xxx
> D -
> C AQxxx
>
>
> South
> S xxx
> H Jxx
> D Axxx
> C KJx
>
> S      W     N      E
>
> P      1D    1S    dbl
> 2D**   P     3C    3D
> 3S*    P     4S    all pass
>
> **  good raise to 2S's
> * Bit estimated at about 20 secs
>
> Result -  4S making
>
> E/W claimed the pause suggested bidding on.

This particular pause doesn't demonstrably suggest anything, because the action 
taken has both weaker and stronger alternatives.  South could have been 
considering passing, doubling, or bidding 4S.

> North said he was always bidding game opposite a good raise and just
> bid out the shape looking for the magic fit for 6S (eg) S T9xx HAxx
> Dxxx C Kxx on a finesse thru opener or 7C/6S (eg) SKxx HAxx Dxxx
> CKxxx.

And I believe him.  Passing 3S when you have a 5-loser hand is not a logical 
altenative.

Thus, for both reasons, I rule that the table result stands.

> Hand 2   Teams
>
> N      E     S      W
> 2D*   P     1H    P**
> 2D    P      2H   P
> 2NT  P     3NT   All pass
>
> * benji style where 2D is stronger than 2C's showing a big hand 20+
>
> ** accepted the 1H bid
>
> Is North allowed to bid 2D conventional at his 2nd turn ?

N/S aren't allowed to have any special conventional agreements after the 
insufficient bid, but as long as they don't have an agreement, they can 
certainly guess that 2D by N means that he wants S to make his proper response 
this time (as opposed to showing diamonds).