[blml] Detroit NABC+ Case 1 -- What do you bid and why?

[Alain Gottcheiner]

Adam Wildavsky a écrit :
> If you haven't seen the case write-up yet please refrain a little
> longer. I'll give just the hand in question for now, though knowing
> the whole deal shouldn't make much of a difference.
>
> Playing matchpoints, in first seat at favorable vulnerability you pick up:
>
> 954
> 3
> JT4
> JT9865
>
> You pass, LHO opens a 15-17 point NT, RHO transfers to hearts, and 2H
> is passed around to you. It will not surprise you to learn that your
> partner did not have a penalty double of 1NT available. He did have
> calls available to show any two suits.
>
> I won't ask what your call is. I'm confident a poll would be split
> between Pass and 3C, each of which I would consider a logical choice.
>
> It will also not surprise you to learn, since this is BLML, that
> partner hesitated for 20 seconds or so before passing 1NT.
>
> Let's make a few assumptions. One is that, since the opponents will
> hold at most 25 HCP, partner holds at least 13 HCP, and more likely at
> least 15 HCP. Another is that partner's hesitation implies he holds
> more like 20 HCP. Would knowing that partner held 20 HCP make 3C more
> attractive, or would it make Pass more attractive, or neither?
>   
AG : I don't know why pass should suggest a stronger hand. Especially if 
he didn't take any action over 2H. The one thing we know is that he has 
a problem. Contrary to passing before making a penalty double, for 
example, we can't know what this problem is. Perhaps he has a very 
strong hand. Perhaps he has a 2-suiter, but low ODR, and fancies his 
chances in defense ; in that case one of the suits will probably be 
hearts, which means we shouldn't ropen. Perhaps he has something like 
3352 pattern, and didn't want to show a 1-suited hand on that pattern ; 
in that case, we'd rather reopen. And so on ...

I'll judge "no UI".

Best regards

   Alain