Jump to content

Bidding plan


paulg

Recommended Posts

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=shk6dq97654caq842]133|100|Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1 - (2) - ?[/hv]

As Fred has said in a couple of threads recently, judgement is more valuable than a complex system. I'm a competent player but feel that my judgement is often poor, especially on wild hands.

 

This hand, from the recent (English) National Swiss Teams, bothered me at the time and still does now. Were my actions bad, poor or normal?

 

So we start with the first part of the problem - do you double (negative) or bid 3 (forcing)? How much do you worry about partner's next action in selecting your bid?

 

p

 

PS Your system is 5-card majors, 14-16NT. Opposition are on the same score as you after 10 rounds, so are presumably competent too even though you don't know them. As you gave the field a 3 match start but are unbeaten since then, you believe you are probably more competent :P

 

PPS I am noticing a disturbing similarity between sceptic and me (his mentor) in only posting our bad hands!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's part of the reason I bid 3D. If pard bids spades to the moon I will feel comfortable. If I make a negative X, he will never expect a void so I will feel uncomfortable when he keeps bidding spades (but would still have to pass). But the main reason is if the opponents keep bidding, I want to get my suits in. Starting with a X is not a good start to showing this much distribution. Even if the auction goes 1S 2H X p 2S p ? I have a problem. If I bid 3D, it doesn't show a hand as good as this. However, I do share your concern about the spade void. Bidding 3D can definitely get us too high, but X will too usually (unless I elect to underbid later).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it is clear to bid 3.

 

Besides the reasons expressed by Jlall, making a negative double will endplay you over 2 of partner's most likely rebids (2 and 2NT). What are you supposed to do after that given that 3 would be non-forcing? Even if partner bids 3 of a minor in response to your negative double, you are not going to be able to convince him that you have a hand like this. The only way to do that is to start bidding your suits immediately.

 

A negative double is a question, not a statement. This hand calls for making a statement.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 and 2NT would no be at the top of my worries (in particular 2NT). 3 (or 4) would be worse. I am not convinced that there is a game in a hand where we are likely in misfit.

Let's see the other way around: 3-3-4-4: a reasonable auction.

We can either play 4 (I'd expect that partner has 7 cards, but...) or complete the 2-suiter disclosure with 5 (only this time partner has 7 cards in spades, 1 diamond and 2 clubs).

IMO, it is pretty close, and at the table I might go either way (depending on a more pessimistic or optimistic mood, I suppose). I am just surprised that there is this complete consensus on invoking a GF on these values and a certain misfit in partner's best suit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3, I have well placed K and only 5 loosing tricks. The void in spades is unpleasant, but I need just one minor. So he has to have 7-3-1-2 to be without minor fit (6-4-1-2 is not probably with the 2 overcall). And if he hes weak spades (or a strong hand) there will be some slam (after I show 6-5 in minors).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Due to a misguided concern that I'd never be able to show both suits, I doubled to try and get them both in - clearly mistake #1.

 

Anyhow, the rest of you would have seen the auction continue as follows:

 

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=shk6dq97654caq842]133|100|Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1 - (2) - 3

(3) - 3NT - (4) - ?[/hv]

 

A slightly surprising turn of affairs, but it's your turn again.

 

p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3D looks good, now it seems like I have only winning calls available. Double will give us a decent score, and 5C will likely lead us to a making game. I think that it is very close, the spade void asks for a double, but I vote for 5C since I am on lead.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The full hand was:

 

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=skjt98ha2dakckt97&w=s432hqj95dt2cj653&e=saq765ht8743dj83c&s=shk6dq97654caq842]399|300|Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1 - (2) - 3

(3) - 3NT - (4) ...[/hv]

 

The lunatic bidding of the opponents has made the grand difficult to bid, but at least most of you are bidding (at least) the small slam.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

p

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...