3 quiz hands from live tourney

[mike777]

Buddy just emailed me these 3 quiz hands from SWISS tourney against some very well known players. Enjoy.

 

 

1. KQTxx Jxx Kxx Jx

 

No vully.......... (2D)= ??

 

I assume RHO here has opened a weak 2d bid.

 

 

2. - Jxxx Qxx AKxxxx

 

Vul vs Not

 

2S P 6S 7H

P P 7S P

P ??

 

 

3. Jxxx Txxx KJTxx -

 

Both Vul

P P 1C 1NT

2D* 3nt all pass

 

* shows the majors...

 

Your lead?

[Guest Jlall]

lol...these were all played against me at a sectional. Board 1 was too ridiculous for words imo. But I may just be bitter :)

[tysen2k]

1. Pass but 2♠ is not bad

2. Dbl

3. ♦J

 

Don't see any reason to get cute/creative with any of these.

[han]

Can't be Justin, Mike said "very well known players".

 

1. Obvious pass for me.

 

2. 8H, expecting to make it. More serious: double and lead a trump.

 

3. ♦J

[pclayton]

1 - Pass - yuk.

 

2 - If Im reading auction right, pard bid 7♥ and then passed 7♠. It is impossible for him to make a FP when Im holding the ♣AK, so something is amiss.

 

3 - Small diamond - Don't want to hand them a trick when diamonds are 5=2=2=4 around the table. If pard can't beat the diamond spot we probably arent beating it anyway.

[mike777]

Here are my chicken choices...do not know answers yet.

1) pass

2) pass

3) second highest heart.

[Guest Jlall]

How could pass not be forcing? Pard bid a grand by himself red/white. The opponent who just bid 6S is now bidding 7S. Do you really think they are making? You also have an AK and a Q even if partner is not making an FP you might beat it... It seems like pass just invites a 7N bid and thus shows the spade ace. Not sure what the logic behind "pass is not forcing because I have the AK of clubs" is...pard doesn't know you have the AK of clubs, so he made his bid meaning it one way without knowing your cards.

[000002]

7NT .

 

then opps will sacrifice 8♠

[mr1303]

1) Pass. 2S for me shows a better hand. Partner isn't barred from bidding if he has something to bid on, and my diamond holding suggests that the auction won't be jammed by a huge amount.

 

2) I'm doubling this on principle. I'm assuming partner's pass means "I don't know what's going on with this highly warped auction", but 7NT is too much of a blind leap of faith here.

 

3) This calls for an attacking lead, so a small diamond from me.

[Finch]

1. You don't say what the form of scoring is. At pairs I bid 2S. At IMPS I would probably pass, but I don't mind 2S.

 

2. I don't think pass is forcing. We have no idea who is making what, nor if 7H was bid to make or not. If you held - AKQxxxxxx KJxx - and it went 2S P 6S to you, what would you do?

 

I double. I think partner is more likely to have a club void than LHO. I can construct hands consistent with the auction where it makes, but that's life.

 

3. Low diamond. I hate the 2D bid by the way - I'd much prefer to have bid 2D naturally!

[Trpltrbl]

1) Pass, I have nothing, if my pd can't double we are good, I think anyone who overcalls 2♠ here sould get doubled with ♠ stack behind them and go down 6 and see yet another pair of teammates disappear with the sun, options getting very thin... <_<

 

2) Funny, pd get's in with 7♥ and then he passes 7♠, obviously this has to be forcing ;) but does it guarantee ♠A ?

I don't know if I am willing to gamble 7NT, even if he has the ace we are not guaranteed 13 tricks, so I will just double and take my save +.

 

3) I will lead ♦T, or if playing std leads the ♦J, I have no entree besides the Ace, so the need to break 3-3 or 3-2, but if I leading low and Qxx hits dummy, pd will need to go up with Axx. Would hate to see the ♦8 make the 9th trick :angry:

 

GBB :lol:

[pclayton]

How could pass not be forcing? Pard bid a grand by himself red/white. The opponent who just bid 6S is now bidding 7S. Do you really think they are making? You also have an AK and a Q even if partner is not making an FP you might beat it... It seems like pass just invites a 7N bid and thus shows the spade ace. Not sure what the logic behind "pass is not forcing because I have the AK of clubs" is...pard doesn't know you have the AK of clubs, so he made his bid meaning it one way without knowing your cards.

I never said they were making. I double with conviction (lacking from my comments, but I think its obvious).

 

LOL - I'll bet you can't construct a hand for him where a forcing pass makes sense. How can he possibly be inviting to 7N?

 

Maybe he's just bidding 7♥ on a superfreak. He SHOULD double 7♠ on a hand like that, even holding the A♠.

[Fluffy]

1. Pass, pretty obvious to me

 

2. Pass, double would probably make partner lead a ♦, ,but maybe I am wrong. Partner can figure by himself that ♥A won't cash

 

3. ♦10, what else? <_<

[Finch]

I'm going to repeat something I said earlier with more conviction.

 

I don't believe partner's pass over 7S is forcing. I certainly don't believe he's showing the SA and inviting you to bid 7NT.

 

If both LHO and partner are sane, the hand is a huge freak. Either player could have been saving. Partner could have bid 7H to make (- AKxxxxxx AKxxxx -) - though on that hand we would have doubled 7S - or not. We don't know. He could have been bidding 7H to make, but from his point of view 7S could be making as well.

 

Once you get to this level, there's little point in a forcing pass. You can't bid 8H.

[Finch]

2. Pass, double would probably make partner lead a ♦, ,but maybe I am wrong. Partner can figure by himself that ♥A won't cash

We're on lead.

I imagine we're going to lead a top club (anything else strikes me as (over)-inspired).

[mike777]

Ya, my quiz choice pass of 7s on hand two was insane, please ignore.

 

Buddy's email:

 

 

 

Hand 1: heck, not vulnerable...got a really good suit, the King of diamonds is well placed...if pard has a good hand, finesses in the round suits will tend to win....So i bid 2 only spades.

 

-- -- 2D 2S

4D 7S all pass

 

 

Axx

AKTxx

-

AQT9x

 

 

KQTxx

Jxx

Kxx

Jx

 

Small diamond led...Plan the play....

 

 

 

Hand 2: Partner didnt bid a VUL 7 hearts as a sacrifice. And his passs of 7S spades garentees the ace. You choice is between double and 7NT.

At the table I doubled....Wish i'd tried 7NT....the hands are:

 

Vul vs Not

2S P 6S 7H

P P 7S P

P ??

 

Ax AKQxxx AKxx x

 

 

- Jxxx Qxx AKxxxx

 

While 7 hearts is easy...7NT happens to make cuz lefty has 4-4 in the minors....Our teammates sold out to 7H so we lost a bunch there...

 

 

 

3. Jxxx Txxx KJTxx -

 

Both Vul P P 1C 1NT

2D* 3nt all pass

 

* shows the majors...

 

Your lead?

 

 

My pard tried a low diamond, I guess hoping I had Ax and that Queen is doubleton i suppose....Unlucky...

 

 

Other hands are:

 

A98x Qx

KQx Axx

A9xx Qxx

Qx K9xxx

 

KTx

J9x

x

AJT8xx

 

With any other lead, declarer is held to 2 diamond tricks, and probably goes set, as our teammates did.

[Guest Jlall]

I'm going to repeat something I said earlier with more conviction.

 

I don't believe partner's pass over 7S is forcing. I certainly don't believe he's showing the SA and inviting you to bid 7NT.

 

If both LHO and partner are sane, the hand is a huge freak. Either player could have been saving.  Partner could have bid 7H to make (- AKxxxxxx AKxxxx -)  - though on that hand we would have doubled 7S - or not. We don't know. He could have been bidding 7H to make, but from his point of view 7S could be making as well.

 

Once you get to this level, there's little point in a forcing pass. You can't bid 8H.

If the opponent bids 6S then 7S he is not bidding 7S to make. He had a million bids over 2S and he chose to bid 6S. He did not think there was any chance for a grand, or he would have searched for it. Are we really going to let them play 7S undoubled ever? I wouldn't, and I don't think it's possible. If he bid 6S to "walk the dog" on the expectation that his red/white opponent would now bid a grand, well done to him.

[Guest Jlall]

3. Jxxx Txxx KJTxx -

 

Both Vul P P 1C 1NT

2D* 3nt all pass

 

* shows the majors...

 

Your lead?

 

 

My pard tried a low diamond, I guess hoping I had Ax and that Queen is doubleton i suppose....Unlucky...

 

 

Other hands are:

 

A98x Qx

KQx Axx

A9xx Qxx

Qx K9xxx

 

KTx

J9x

x

AJT8xx

 

With any other lead, declarer is held to 2 diamond tricks, and probably goes set, as our teammates did.

Nah, I would have made it on the DJ lead. I win the Q, lead a club to the queen, strip hearts, get out a club. RHO cant cash his ace of clubs yet, so must get out with a spade. I win queen, play spade spade, endplaying someone.

[mike777]

3. Jxxx Txxx KJTxx -

 

Both Vul P P 1C 1NT

2D* 3nt all pass

 

* shows the majors...

 

Your lead?

 

 

My pard tried a low diamond, I guess hoping I had Ax and that Queen is doubleton i suppose....Unlucky...

 

 

Other hands are:

 

A98x          Qx

KQx            Axx

A9xx          Qxx

Qx              K9xxx

 

      KTx

      J9x

      x

      AJT8xx

 

With any other lead, declarer is held to 2 diamond tricks, and probably goes set, as our teammates did.

Nah, I would have made it on the DJ lead. I win the Q, lead a club to the queen, strip hearts, get out a club. RHO cant cash his ace of clubs yet, so must get out with a spade. I win queen, play spade spade, endplaying someone.

1) On hand 3 can I get out with the K of spades?

2) Not sure how to play hand one.

[Guest Jlall]

edit...

 

I didnt consider the SK, I see it blocks the spades. However, i think i can still succeed by winning the spade ace, playing spade to the queen, and running the diamond 8 (dummy had Q8x). RHO is in, and if he leads a diamond he gives me an extra diamond trick, if he leads jack and a spade i get an extra spade trick. If he leads a low spade to partner who is now club tight, he must come ace and a club which gives me a club trick. Weird...

[MickyB]

[RHO opens 2♦, you have KQTxx Jxx Kxx Jx]

1. You don't say what the form of scoring is. At pairs I bid 2S. At IMPS I would probably pass, but I don't mind 2S.

Wow, thought this would be a unanimous pass. Have been thinking that if I'm not going to balance light as an unpassed hand I should get in more in direct seat, this gives me some confidence to do it, thx :)

[tysen2k]

[RHO opens 2♦, you have KQTxx Jxx Kxx Jx]

1. You don't say what the form of scoring is. At pairs I bid 2S. At IMPS I would probably pass, but I don't mind 2S.

Wow, thought this would be a unanimous pass. Have been thinking that if I'm not going to balance light as an unpassed hand I should get in more in direct seat, this gives me some confidence to do it, thx :)

Would you overcall 1♠ with this hand over a 1♦ opening? You have to be a little more careful at the 2-level, but as a general rule I think your requirements should be about the same. It's a much better overcall at MPs.

[Guest Jlall]

Would you overcall 1♠ with this hand over a 1♦ opening? You have to be a little more careful at the 2-level, but as a general rule I think your requirements should be about the same. It's a much better overcall at MPs.

Really? My requirements are MUCH different, but I guess that is a style thing (I'm agressive at 1 level and conservative at 2 level). I guess that shows here since I think a 1S overcall is auto and personally would not consider 2S over 2D.

[Kalvan14]

Would you overcall 1♠ with this hand over a 1♦ opening?  You have to be a little more careful at the 2-level, but as a general rule I think your requirements should be about the same.  It's a much better overcall at MPs.

Really? My requirements are MUCH different, but I guess that is a style thing (I'm agressive at 1 level and conservative at 2 level). I guess that shows here since I think a 1S overcall is auto and personally would not consider 2S over 2D.

Why the criteria should be so different going from level 1 to level 2?

In a way, you are in a better position: RHO has a limited hand, while, had he opened 1♦, his hand would be unlimited.

With a decent suit like this, I would be happy (maybe not really happy - let's say willing) to bid 2♠

 

The 7♠ hand is a funny one; the normal bid should be double. It never really pays to go for very long chances (and seeing the cards, I'd be happy to have doubled). OTOH, you never know what happens at the table. I am not surprised that someone jumped to bid 7N. It depends a lot on the status of the match: this kind of decision cannot be taken in a vacuum.

Years ago, in a very similar freakish hand, I reached 7♠ in a whiff (I had 9 or 10 ♠ with all the top honors, plus a chicane and a couple aces), and when RHO doubled, I redoubled: at worst I would have been 1 light, so I was betting 100 points against 730, not a bad bet with 7:1 odds ;)

[Guest Jlall]

Why the criteria should be so different going from level 1 to level 2?

1) They are much more likely to X you at the 2 level than the 1 level.

2) If they X you at the 1 level you're more likely to be able to scramble out successfully since you're a level lower.

3) If you overcall light at the 1 level and partner has something like 13 points and support he can cuebid and then raise over your signoff to show that so you can still stop below game. If you overcall at the 2 level you'll just get to game.

4) If you overcall at the 1 level on junk and partner bids a new suit it's non forcing so you can still get off the hook. If he does this at the 3 level after you overcall at the 2 level, you're in a forcing auction.

5) Third seat is in a much better position to put pressure on partner (if the opening was a preempt), and in close situations he will generally bid. The worst thing about overcalling light is when the auction gets very competitive and the opponents are preempting.

 

I do not see the appeal in overcalling this hand at the 2 level. You have no shape, and 2 jacks, and no aces, but again that is just my style. I respect that others play differently, though I'm mildly surprised by how many would overcall with this hand.