Partscore battle lost at MP: improvements?

[Chamaco]

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=sq6hkj765dq864ct9&w=skj3h983dk92caqj3&e=sat872ht4dt53c765&s=s954haq2daj7ck842]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

Bidding went uncontested, by NS, who were playing a vanilla 4 card major system with 15-17 1NT:

 

S.....N

1C...1H

1NT all pass

 

West passed first time feeling she was not strong enough for 1NT and that doubling with 50% of the values in opener's real suit was too much.

At her second round, she did not like the shape, and east felt he should not gamble 2S over 1NT in the balancing seat.

 

I sympathize with both, and really, I don't know what would have been my choice at the table.

I tend to think I would have repeated the same auction (I mean, even the second round double can lead to bad disasters if responder is sitting with values, and W does not have any escape suit).

 

So I'll be happy to hear the various opinions from the Forum buddies :)

[hrothgar]

For what its worth, I agree with E/W's bidding.

 

I would not take a bid with the West hand directly over 1♣ or after 1NT.

Recall all my comments about being nervous bidding in no-fit auctions.

 

East's hand is too weak to act, even in the balancing seat.

(I also hate 5332 hands)

 

Please note: In theory, You can take the first 8 tricks against 1NT.

I'm not say that anyone would (It take a Spade lead and a club switch. Even then, you need to make sure not to block the suit). I see a lot of reasonable ways for NS to take 6 tricks in NT, however, I suspect that you should set them 1 for +100 which should score decently at IMPs...

[MickyB]

I'd have protected with 2♠ as East - at this vulnerability I want a weak hand to bid, the stronger I am the more likely we are to get +200 out of 1NT. All the other passes were clearcut.

 

The auction is perfectly reasonable though - I'm sure the majority wouldn't protect on that hand, I just don't like passing :)

[Blofeld]

I certainly don't think West should bid.

 

I'm not sure whether or not East should balance. At IMPs I think a pass is clear as the hand is 5332 and the suit texture non-ideal. But I think at MP there is a case for balancing. Not certain, though - my judgement tends to be fairly poor at MP.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I think the auction was ok, I strongly agree with bids

made by West, ... and also with the bids made by East.

 

A bal. bid of 2S by East is certainly reasonable, but not

my cup of tea.

 

Marlowe

[Guest Jlall]

This was fine. In 2 of my partnerships the east hand qualifies for a 1S overcall...but this is far from standard (and some would say far from sane). It would work well on a hand like this, but only if west was aware of this tendency. It has it's drawbacks too of course :rolleyes:

[zasanya]

I voted other because I think there is nothing unfortunate about this hand from E/W point of view. E/W have bid well and if they show the same expertise in defending they should get 200, an excellent score at match points.

[hotShot]

East should have balanced! They are non vul. and it's MP.

 

Opener seems to have a minimum opening, North is not strong enough to enter the two level. So partner will hold about opening strength. Since west passed with opening strength the distribution must be flat. So if partner does not hold a length of his own, East should show his ♠.

[Fluffy]

I agree with many, East can balance, but its not clear, everything is ok.

[mikeh]

For those who advocate a balance by East: what was it about the auction that suggested North was not 4=4=3=2 10 count? Which would make a 2♠ balance suicidal.

 

I have sympathy for the mildly insane immediate 1♠ overcall, but it is not my style: I would need a better suit. But it is infinitely superior to passing and then balancing. If I was told that I HAD to bid, as East, at some point, I bid early not late. To allow the opps to define hand types and strength range and then make a questionable bid may be exciting but it is not good bridge.

 

The EW auction was sensible. Anyone who claims that they would do better is either allowing knowledge of the actual hands to influence them or enjoys russian roulette.

[Al_U_Card]

Matchpoints is a dirty game. Push, steal or bluff, get them out of their comfort zone as much as you can. 2S balance is normal as pard will not lead a spade against NT and that may be your only hope for a set. They may find their H fit at the 3 level or double you for cash but that is matchpoints at its ugliest.

[hotShot]

For those who advocate a balance by East: what was it about the auction that suggested North was not 4=4=3=2 10 count? Which would make a 2♠ balance suicidal.

Well East holds 4HCP, if West has only 10 than NS hold 26. I suppose one of the opps would have had to make a positive move.

[Free]

If there's one to bid, then it's East. With a 5 card suit, he can easily bid in the 2nd round. Partner will suspect it's a 4 card (no 1♠ immediatly). The 5th ♠ and the Ace are amazing!

[kenrexford]

I can see no reason for West to not overcall an immediate 1NT. Here's why:

 

1. NV versus V

2. You like all transfers

3. You have clubs triple-stopped

4. KEY: You have five "finessable positions."

 

This last comment might need more explanation. Honors lower than the Ace get some value from expected trick taking capacity. When expectations are increased, because of known value in front of the lower honors, then the expectation of trick-taking ability increases. Hence, the value of the honors increases. Five honors gain value from position here (all but the club Ace). If this "value" is worth anything (it is), then it must be worth at least .2 HCP's per honor. Hence, this is clearly a 15-count by this valuation.

 

Consider an alternative hand. Axx-Axx-Axx-Axxx is surely a 16-count, and will assuredly produce 4 tricks. But, little else is offered.

 

The actual hand (KJx-xxx-Kxx-AQJx) has a realistic possibility of producing six honor-based tricks, assuming advancer to have entries. Splitting the finesses 50-50 yields 2.5 tricks, plus 1 for the Ace, or 3.5 tricks. Hence, you produce an expected four tricks on average if position only barely tilts finesses in your favor. Give partner some values, and more finesses will be forced to work.

 

For the matter, assume a raise to 2NT. I'd rather accept with the actual hand than with Axx-Axx-Axx-Axxx, and would probably make more often.

 

Thus, I reject the idea that West is not strong enough for 1NT. The error is 100% West's. Blaming Est for not balancing on that garbage, or not overcalling (terrible hand, no real lead preference), is quite amazing to me.

[Kalvan14]

If W wants to bid, she must double immediately (not everyone's cup of tea, I know: otoh, it's MP, and my experience is that with 10-12 balanced it pays to get in). I would never double S 1NT: now the position is really dangerous.

 

E: an immediate overcall is not what I would do, but if your partnership agreements allow it, welcome (which also explains my theory of first in, first out: partner has not doubled or overcalled).

It may seem contradictory, but I would balance with E hand. I cannot believe oppos to have misbid this kind of auction, and partner must have something in the range of 11-13 points, likely with clubs values.

 

Leading a spade against 1NT is not so out of the blue. If an oppo has 4 cards, it must be N. Leading the ♠J requires a lot of confidence in one's judgment

[ardf10987]

Apparently not much people love to DBL with W cards, but I see only minor flaw with this bid. We have no four cards fit, it's true... but we have "adeguate" support (3 cards) and point count. And we can play at one level.

 

I think "DBL and then pass" near everything from p, leave us happy about our message... but if we "pass and then DBL", this is not always true...

[hotShot]

Apparently not much people love to DBL with W cards, but I see only minor flaw with this bid. We have no four cards fit, it's true... but we have "adeguate" support (3 cards) and point count. And we can play at one level.

 

I think "DBL and then pass" near everything from p, leave us happy about our message... but if we "pass and then DBL", this is not always true...

This is a matter of style and therefor a matter of agreement.

Dbl can either show values or majors. I think majors is more common.

[ardf10987]

I agree it's a matter of agreement. And I'm happy to double with majors. And this is what I normally do. But here, shortly told, we had to make a choice... to pass, or to take an action with an imperfect hand...

 

Here, also to pass it's a matter of agreement... :P

[adhoc3]

If opps are sane, I'll double on 1NT holding west hand. Will not be proud of it, but I will try. Pard has something hold opps' pace. I can support any suit. The worst result we could get is 1NTX+1, not 2x Xed -2. I just believe neither would happen. :P

[Gerben42]

The worst result we could get is 1NTX+1

 

What about 1NT xx +1 ? I think doubling 1NT is crazy.

 

If West has 10, opps would have made a positive move. If West has 13+, not, but then he is likely not to have 4♠, maybe not even 3. Pass!

[Al_U_Card]

The perfect hand to let partner decide! When you don't double, pard will only balance with a 5+ card suit which is exactly what you need at the 2 level. When you double and his only 4 card suit is theirs, yuck and double yuck.

[adhoc3]

The worst result we could get is 1NTX+1

 

What about 1NT xx +1 ? I think doubling 1NT is crazy.

 

If West has 10, opps would have made a positive move. If West has 13+, not, but then he is likely not to have 4♠, maybe not even 3. Pass!

I mean west double 1NT, not east. I think east should have a reason to let go 1NT dbl.

 

1C--pass--1H--pass

1NT-dbl---pass-???

 

or

 

1C--pass--1H---pass

1NT-dbl---redbl--???

 

Pard run to 2x, dbled, -1, it's ok; -2, sadly; -3.... if opps dont have a game, I'll buy a drink for pard:)

 

I'm a optimist when have something in hand.

[AceOfHeart]

i bid semi crazily in mp and non vul, i would overcalled 1S ,it seems there is not such an option ;)

[Kalvan14]

IMHO, 99% would double for t/o with AQxx Jxx KJX Kxx. While the posted hand is not exactly the same, I'd submit that there is a 3-card fit in any suit, and the hand strength is reasonable.

 

The problem is that if you don't double at the first opportunity, you'll never have an opportunity to show your values (doubling after (1♣)-P-(1♥)-P-(1N) is like playing russian roulette: may give a thrill, but it is not survival-oriented).

 

I strongly disagree with the idea that E might overcall 1♥ with 1♠: pre-emption value zero, lead value uncertain (if oppos end up playing in NT, do you really want a lead in spades?), infos conveyed to partner minimal (ok, I've probably 5 spades, and maybe something between 4 and 17 points). Even a balancing with E hand (which is less outrageous than an overcall) is predicated on partnership agreements: if partner passes with clubs values and a balanced hand weaker than a strong NT...).

[JSilver]

Since 1NT can be set, and making 2♠ needs a bunch of things to go right, I don't see that E-W did anything wrong in the auction.