Jump to content

Bidding Over Weak 5-5's


microcap

Recommended Posts

Tricky hand. I think I have to pass, but 6-4 shape with values in the long suits and a heart void make me far from certain that this is the best choice. But both double and 3 are supremely unappealing, so I go with pass and perhaps come in later.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pass is the disciplined call, but how are you going to feel when it goes 4 on your left, passed back to you? You have great suit texture and side suit.

 

Of course, I won't like 3 (4) x P either :D

 

This is very, very close and maybe I am being braver (more foolish?) on paper than I would at the table, but I am voting for 3. I think that this is the winning bid more often than not. I fall back on the dictum that the partner who is short in the opps' suit should be the one to stretch.

 

I would not be surprised to learn that I have created a nightmare :)

 

BTW, thx for the 98: without which I would pass B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My memory failed me--when I went to check, the suit was only QJ10432, not 987.    So I am granting Mike the right to change his mind and pass originally, though still with reservations.  JW

Thanks:))) While the difference may seem subtle, I don't mind playing 3 doubled opposite Kxx Qxxxx x Axx with LHO holding AK432 of trump

 

I do mind if he holds AK987 :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since all have passed the hand (as did Rex), I will go to part 2 quickly, then maybe part 3 LOL  The best bridge problems always have more than one part!! LOL :)  B)

 

As Mike predicted, LHO bids 4, partner passes, RHO passes, now back to you.  Do you act?

No. The time to be a hero was over 2.

 

Passing and bidding is insane: I don't care if it works: if a partner of mine did it, he or she would no longer be a partner of mine: my heart can't stand playing with Superman or any other caped crusader. If I was forced to do something other than pass, I'd bid 4. That's how insane 5 is: 4 (an absurd bid that could be justified only by a magic dummy)is better than 5:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:D Dbl. All other calls (except 3) ZERO.

 

I expect to hear 4 on my left no matter what I do.

 

If I pass, we are likely done bidding. I am guessing that 4 will make most of the time despite a horrible trump stack. Positioning myself to defend with a hand that has less than one and one-half defensive tricks and six winners makes no sense to me.

 

If I double and partner has spades, we should be OK. If partner has a good club suit, that's OK too with the heart ruffs coming in the short hand. If partner passes, so can I. If partner doubles 4, I am going to have to bid 5 and hope for the best.

 

If I bid 3, I will lose the spade suit unless I slide with 4 when 4 comes around to me. Bidding that way is too exciting for me.

 

Now, let's consider what Mike's FTL analysis tells us. With the outstanding high cards split evenly, we figure to take 11 tricks: 13 - 2 (pard's doubleton) - 0 (20 working points). It might be only ten, if pard has wasted heart honors or is the lesser of the two unheard from hands. GOTTA BID

 

What about LOTT? I can see nine diamonds, nine hearts, a two suit fit and a void. That would be 20 tricks for my baseline estimate (of course it could be less, but it might just as likely be more). GOTTA BID

 

As far as what to do over a hypothetical 4 -Pass - Pass - ???, I think sheer consistency requires that I make a second really hopeless bid, maybe 4

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since Rex is about to leave on vacation, i will post part 3 of the problem now. Feel free to answer parts one and two as well if you haven't already. You hold:[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sj3h543dak10ckj954]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The auction goes:

 

LHO- 2, Partner passes, RHO jumps to 4, you pass, LHO passes, now Partner doubles. Do you bid or let it sit?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is Rex's logic, in his own words so I cannot be accused of misquoting him (like he usually does...)

 

"I am not strong enough to act directly

because partner will infer I have more general strength than this.

After the auction gets to 4H I have another decision. I voted for

action as it has three ways to

win: 1> you have a real penalty oriented hand, pass and we set them

(least likely and with my void worrying) 2> they have a

cold game and

we take a good sac 3> we have the cold game and find it after I

double; the odds of us having a fit went up when they

>bounced into 4H.

I am unsure who can make what BUT with three ways that we might win

this seems OK. Having you pass and choose to defend without a trump

trick was not one of the three ways to win that I think are

available.

> > :-)

 

> > My problem with the 3D overcall is that I feel it shows

> around 14-15

> > HCP. The hand I held shades that promise by about 1.5

> tricks, which I think is too much. Partner may now make a wrong decision re bidding game or defending."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

X is penalties, but when you hold 3 trumps don't you think partner might have a heart void and very few values? Rightly or wrongly I would bid 5C over partner's X with xxx in hearts and I really don't think it's hard to deduce that the X is not based on a trump stack, but rather a void. Yes, yes, partner should have bid with a void the first time or shut up forever, but we shouldn't make him pay for his mistake. Given our hand, he's done very well to reopen so we shouldn't punish him.

 

To the original question, I would pass then pass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...