BunnyGo

All I know is that it went down hill when I joined.

I will say that one of the most awkward hands I ever had to bid against went: (P)-P-(6♥)-?? Over this wyman and I just passed it out. We set it 2 tricks (for win 2 IMPs as our teammates went down in 4), but we couldn't do anything better as he had a big two suiter. This is all to suggest that whether 6 is the correct level or not, you may be down undoubled, or may be making doubled, or get the defense off to the wrong lead without a descriptive auction (as was the case with us), there's really not much for the opponents to do.

The reason to not double in a situation like your partner is describing, is if you think they may be able to run somewhere that's worse for you. For example, I once doubled a 3NT that I knew was going down. It let them correct their mistake and find a making 4♥. In this case, they can run all they want, and you're *very* happy to double them at 4♣ or any contract higher than that. It doesn't seem like you ever do worse than 4♣ undoubled, so why not do better. It's true that it's not many matchpoints for doubling vs. passing, but doubling can't cost matchpoints, which is the key point. That and Justin has succinctly and clearly summed up why doubling is good.

No, I cannot either. If partner has at least J764 of hearts, and J7xx of spades, I cannot think of a situation in diamonds and clubs where it costs a trick. Maybe the K of hearts is a better pitch.

I agree that one shouldn't assume that partner has made an antisystem bid or play. What I'm suggesting is that it seems to me from the rest of the play that pitching the K of hearts "could" (possibly...maybe) blow a trick, whereas the diamond "almost surely" couldn't. It's true, if partner only led from 4 hearts, then I need to pitch a high heart and hope. Otherwise, I don't see why I should do anything that may give up the 9th trick. The difference between 8 and 9 tricks here is significantly more matchpoints (surely) than the difference between 7 and 8 tricks.

put me down for a trump as well. I have no ruffing values, and I don't want to blow any tricks. I agree with mikeh that A of spades is my second choice if I'm feeling swingy.

There's something too nice about this hand to pass. I have offensive potential, and I think I'm more likely to go plus than minus. If the opponents compete, then I have defensive tricks and partner is likely to have some spades/diamond controls for a trick or two (at least). If we were red vs. white, then I'd definitely bid because I expect partner to have the best hand at the table. If we were white vs. red, then I might give more thought to passing as partner may not have as much for me.

Ok, I understand your point. It's sinking in now. I'd misunderstood, there was an endplay looming if you pitched the low heart, not the K. Against a random club opponent, I count on them to cash out 8 tricks (if they have them), so I try to defend to not give them the 9th. I agree that at matchpoints it's important to get every undertrick, but I just want my average + for setting this. If 5 tricks looks reasonable, that's all I want. I like to give my partner leeway to have made a "wrong" opening lead (since I do it so often, and opening leads suck), and by trick 5 I should hopefully be able to find another basis for defending. If pitching the diamond ten actually costs the 5th trick (or sets up the 9th), then that would be a good reason to go for this extra blood. Basically, all this analysis has been interesting, but I think: 1) a club pitch is clearly out for the reasons briefly explained by Timo 2) a spade pitch is wrong, as that would be cheating 3) a low heart pitch is wrong, as 4 rounds of clubs make you very sad 4) a high heart is wrong for the reason given by Rainer, even if partner "shouldn't" have that hand, the way declarer is playing screams for avoiding this defense 5) the diamond ten is the pitch least likely to cost a trick, and as this is matchpoints and we expect that they have 8 off the top, that's all I'm trying to do. Although Timo's point that another spade will make me sad is slightly worrying.

I think you're missing the threat of an endplay coming too. If you pitch the low heart, then a good declarer will cash 3 clubs and endplay you for a second diamond trick. A bad declarer will cashout their 8 tricks and then magically endplay you for their ninth trick. :P Maybe you implied all this and I'm just tired. I agree that a club cannot be pitched (for the reasons elaborated by Mr. Ace). Partner is *very* unlikely to have a club stopper, and if he does, then the play is moot anyways. I'm going to pitch the diamond, since: 1) If declarer has 2 diamonds, then dummy is dead and we can get lots of heart, diamond and club tricks. 2) If declarer has 3 diamonds, then hearts are almost surely running. 3) While my first instinct was the flashy K of hearts unblock, it costs too often, and seems to be taking on too much risk instead of just taking sure tricks.

What are the vulnerabilities? Both doubles seem a little tight to me, but neither strikes me as "out to lunch". I think South probably needs to get in the auction now to help partner bid something, so I don't mind the double even though it is a bit light on defensive values. The penalty double is (a bit) pushy at IMPs, but could easily pay off big on this auction. Change partners hand into the minor suit aces and out (same shape) and it goes club, club ruff, diamond, club ruff, king of diamonds, slow trump trick. +500. I like +500s. I'm assuming that the opponents made (or else you wouldn't be posting), but that's not necessarily a guarantee. Even with these two hands, they could easily be off a club, a club ruff, two spades, a natural trump trick, and a diamond. I give optimism the blame, with a little to the cards for not letting you set them. Do it again next time and have better luck.

I'll guess that the defense started with 2 top clubs against some major suit contract.

The other thing, Antrax, is that where you are people are used to "flexible" rules. They don't usually see why it shouldn't be some other way (I don't have personal experience at the bridge clubs there, but with everything else it seems to be this way culturally). I wouldn't think to explain the rules to an opponent anywhere (I call the TD if I need to correct something, otherwise I let it go), but especially not there; I'd expect the conversation to go: "actually, could you not do that" "what? no, it's no problem, nothing, it's ok" "it's against the rules" "rules? what? it's just a game! don't worry, play the cards. What's the problem?" etc. If a teacher explains it all before the game, then maybe they'd believe him and learn something. If not, either find a new club or call the TD.

How is this any more guaranteed than low to the Jack?

Spade 3, I don't see a good reason at any scoring to not lead my longest suit, especially when dummy is likely to be short (assuming 3NT isn't 5S, 4H).

Wow, Bradley, you're really good at finding these examples.

I was playing with an absolute beginner (I taught my younger cousin to play yesterday and we went to a club today). We had the following auction all white: (3S)-P-(4S)-?? I held: 6, K85, A74, AQ9763 Should I have bid or passed? What if 3 spades had been passed around to me?

I think he'd be worried that his partner would pass (especially the first time playing). If 3NT is a suggestion of a place to play, then it can't be bid. If it even might be interpreted that way, it probably shouldn't be bid. While it is a bit more flexible than 4♦, it's also a bit more dangerous.

Double. Edit: What if partner bids 5♣? I agree with Mbodell, that I think I'm passing.

Oh! He's *that* kind of troll.

Really?

I agree. I tried hard to consider what I would actually do and not take advantage of that knowledge. I have no idea if I succeeded or not. Absolutely. I don't actually know if I'm good at leading or not (even for my level of play). Whether or not I suffer from the symptom of "master solvering" it's always a good reminder that at least 9/10 hands (probably even 99/100) require little brilliance, just no mistakes.

You think it's too likely to set up pitches and not likely enough to find a useful ruff? Is there another reason it's LOL worthy?

Woohoo! I got leads correct for once! Hurray for resulting! Very interesting hands. Congratulations on the 2nd place finish. Good luck getting 1st next time.

Hi Chuck, Welcome to the forums. I believe that this is a bug that has been fixed and will be changed in the new release of GIB. It is definitely an incorrect bidding sequence.

I see south's bids (or I should say his calls, as he passed throughout). It overflowed the window, but it was there. Maybe it's a browser specific bug? I'm using Safari on OSX.4.