A Big Bidding Decision
After an unlucky loss on the first board of the 4th quarater, you suspect that you are down about 40 IMP’s as you pick up the following hand, vul vs. not:
98, 
JT432, 
KJ103, 
A2.
Your RHO opens 1 and it is up to you. Would you bid?
Let us suppose that you pass. Your LHO now responds 1 and partner bids 3. Your screenmate passes again, and you have your second bidding decision of the hand. Your partner obviously has a good hand at these colors. Do you have enough to raise? Are you influenced by the likely state of the match? If so, which way should you lean?
I would have overcalled 1H. Now I will raise to 4S. The state of the match is of little consideration but even if I had doubts they have dissipated.
December 28, 2005 Nik
I would probasbly bid 1H, especially if playing against aggressive opponents. Maybe if the state of the match were more favorable I would decline to direct the lead on this. In any case, I would always bid 4S. At worst, it goes down.
December 28, 2005 Sam
This problem I dont get. I think you have two clear passes. One heart on minimum values, and a jack high suit at unfavorable is a ticket to a lot of -200’s. Now partner vaults to 3S red vs white while we’re down 40 imps. What is so great about my hand??? Diamonds were bid at my left. Say partner has AQJ10xxx/Kxx/xx/x. How high do we want to be?
People who bid here consistently forget that partner may already be trading heavily on the fact that: (1) he is 40 imps down and (2) you are a passed hand. To me, raising partner is burying him, pure and simple. If he has a great hand, let him bid 1S (or double) and judge. But if he’s down 40, let him bid 3S and not have to worry that he’s facing a genius partner.
December 28, 2005 Jack Oest
If I had bid 1H, I would have an easy pass. I think I would probably pass but it is close. I don’t think this is the time to try to guess what the opponents are doing. I don’t know anything, and the auction could be a lot different. I follow the normal IMP rules vul and bid game when it seems possible. However, my partners expect optimism from me over jumps. With a partner who is afraid he might underbid a hand of this type, I don’t consider a raise. Probably with this partner the 1H overcall pays off more because you have bid your values and partner will probably give you a chance and not overbid.
December 29, 2005 Phil Warden
i would pass at first, but would raise 3s to 4.
at this vul, pard should have something near 8 tricks. i hve 1 1/2 plus ruffing value. imp odds mean i need be right 1 in 3 so odds favor bidding. if i had overcalled 1 heart, pard may well have bid 4s instead of 3 playing me for some values.
December 31, 2005 bernie miller
i would pass even though we lost 10 imps
January 1, 2006 Mohan