Never let them play in 2C or 2D! - with Don Messer

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Your hand: ♠JT7 ♥432 ♦K62 ♣AJ82
The auction goes 1♦, pass, 2♦, pass, pass... and it's up to you to do something to prevent your opponents from having the easy 2♦ contract. What do you do?
Don Messer, our wonderful guest teacher based out of Austin, Texas, has a proposed agreement for us all: We do not allow our opponents to play in in 2♣ or 2♦ voluntarily.
Sounds pretty simple. And it makes sense, right? But how do we decide what do to do if it comes down to us to stop them and we don't have an especially strong hand or even suit?

[@gerryarty8342]

Dear Don Messer, Thnak you for taking the time to tell us this interesting bid: succinct and clear😃 explanation. Best wishes from the UK.

[@peterrobinson1957]

Doesn’t vulnerability affect the bidding?

[@chrissherlock4190]

Thanks for the lesson, Don! Looking forward to more videos with you and Bajir.

[@babsgee6817]

Thanks Bajir and Don. Most interesting. Balancing is not a much taught subject. Looking forward to the next video.

[@fionamcerlane4133]

Thanks Don and Bajir, great lesson! Look forward to the next one. Greetings from Northern Ireland.

[@gracielajuda9659]

Thanks Bajir. ! You allways bring something new (for me)

[@francesblack746]

great thank you

[@johnrussell3381]

Double. Opps have perhaps 20pts between them and perhaps 8 diamonds. We likely we have similar pts. and a good chance of an 8-card fit in one of the majors. I'll force partner to give me his preference, pass his response, and see how the opponents react to the interference.

[@MsYtab]

Hi from Australia!

[@MsHeebiejeebies]

What about the majors. My partner and I have that agreement. Don't let them play at the 2level but we use it with the majors as well. Works 90% of the time. Hi from Brisbane

[@cthulhudreams7578]

If you can get to 2S over 2H that's great, but it's playing with fire over 2S because you have to go to the three level.

[@joepitt1192]

Hi Bajir Hi Don from Dartmoor UK

[@ushapatel610]

Double in the balancing seat .

[@ingridkemp1524]

I would be inclined to go 3C - at best they have to go 3D if my partner has clubs.

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

I would double 2 hearts with the West hand.

[@rogerarmstrong1628]

First hand. If anyone can explain to me how you only loose 2 trump suit tricks I would be gobsmacked. And balancing works both ways. Might not west balance 2 hearts? -200.

[@chesshead]

Isn't there a significant risk of being doubled in this situation?

[@cthulhudreams7578]

Yeah there is,but generally if they immediately gave up on exploring game, they rate to have about half the deck, so it can be very difficult to double 2H or 2S, because if it makes the doubler get absolutely destroyed. If you go down 1 doubled NV, you only go -100. The 4333 hand with 4 clubs is example 1 is about the worst possible shape as well, you'd like to have more in the majors and less in diamonds.
However you need to use a bit of judgement, if they had a stronger auction, you might not want to try this, similarly if it's vul vs not vulnerable you might want a more shapely hand.

[@armantookmanian1938]

a.k.a.the OBAR convention ... if Opponents Bid And Rebid (OBAR) then we should try to get back into the auction.

[@marekh8467]

My sugestion -- DBL to 2D......

[@joepitt1192]

This is assuming they’re not playing inverted minors I assume….

[@johnworf]

inverted minors is forcing - so if they have forgot - you should pass quickly 🙂

[@emmanuelvacakis4463]

I’d be doubling you for penalty on both of these hands.

[@user-rq2he3hz9w]

You need to deal with inverted minors