BPO-006F

[Walddk]

Since 4NT is not listed, I take it that Luis plays this as Blackwood. It surprises me. Partner opens 1 something. When do you have a hand where your only problem is how many aces partner has? I think 4NT is better used for "two places to play". Can only be minors on this auction.

 

Roland

Count me as well for Blackwood ;) you can use 5NT for 2 places to play :D (the opposite is true, I know)

You can indeed, but that makes it somewhat difficult to arrive in 5 of a minor :)

 

Roland

[helene_t]

I voted 4NT but does it necesarily show minors? What to to with six hearts and three diamonds? Usually, (4♠)-4NT shows a generic two-suiter.

 

Another problem I have with 4NT as either minors or slam-invite with diamonds is that we play 2NT in competition as weak than a direct bid in a suit. Why would 4NT be different? I think the same arguments apply to a scrambling 4NT as to scrambling 2NT.

[Walddk]

I voted 4NT but does it necesarily show minors? What to to with six hearts and three diamonds? Usually, (4♠)-4NT shows a generic two-suiter.

 

Another problem I have with 4NT as either minors or slam-invite with diamonds is that we play 2NT in competition as weak than a direct bid in a suit. Why would 4NT be different? I think the same arguments apply to a scrambling 4NT as to scrambling 2NT.

On this auction you don't have hearts, so 4NT can only be for the minors. If you have spades, bid them. The situation is obviously completely different if the overcall had been 4♠.

 

Roland

[helene_t]

You're right Roland, sorry, it's too early in the morning. I thought the overcall was 4♠.

[Chamaco]

006F - i bid 5H, and i still like it.. unfortunately, i appear to be the only one who does heh

Hey Jimmy, you are not alone ! :)

I did not vote in the poll, but I'd bid the same as you :-)

 

And about the "Nebulous" diamond issue in Standard American: that's true, *a priori*.

 

But in this specific bidding sequence, after RHO shows a very unbalanced hand, I tend to believe my pard has probably real diamonds and not a weak NT.

[JLOGIC]

Agree. I thought this was a great problem for several reasons:

 

- Several possible actions none of which are especially appealing

- Judgment is involved

- Tactics are involved

- Language is involved (ie interpretting the meanings of bids like 5NT)

 

This may seem like an impractical problem because the hand and situation are so unlikely, but that doesn't mean the problem isn't interesting. I think this problem is interesting (and therefore worthy of discussion).

 

There is a certain skill in bridge that I call "doing the right thing" that is not fully appreciated in my view. The people who keep winning at the highest levels are good at all aspects of the game, of course, but their ability to judge accurately (or guess better) on the "big hands" is one of the main things that sets them apart.

 

That is another reason why I think this is a good problem. People who read the panel's answers will gain some insight into what goes through an expert's mind when a "big hand" comes along.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

 

Great Fred quote.

 

BTW my 6C bid is out to lunch, I like 4N now.