hrussin

Thanks for the reply – we were bidding it as actual practice/real life.

[hv=pc=n&s=sh4dq982cakqjt876&w=skt9haqt5d765c953&n=saqj876542hk732dc&e=s3hj986dakjt43c42&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1sp2cp2hp4cp4sp5cppp]399|300[/hv] My partner and I were practicing bidding with a "goulash" hand (3-at-a-time deals) and got this very strange distributional hand. I've included how our bidding went—any help and tips with how this should go? I haven't encountered anything this wild in any of the "basic bidding" instructions I've read. I imagine that E&W would also have piped up.

Thanks for the detailed response! Very helpful.

I have been reading Root's How to Play a Bridge Hand, and I am confused by his description of this hand (p10, in the section "To Finesse, or to Play for the Drop"): [hv=pc=n&s=sk73hdc&n=saqt4hdc]133|200[/hv] Root writes: "You cash the ace and king and the jack does not fall. Then you lead toward dummy's queen-ten and West follows with a low card. Since the opponents began with only six cards, the odds are slightly in favor that East has the jack; so playing the queen offers a better chance than the finesse." Why are the odds slightly in favor that East has the jack? Is it because, if you West plays low, there are now 5 outstanding cards, of which one must be the jack? But, not knowing the distribution, how can we say the odds are still over 50% for East to have the jack?

My wife and I are seeking a coach or teacher to help us get started in the fundamentals. We've read a few books but still don't have enough experience to go play at a local duplicate club. Please PM me with your availability and rates if you are available.