0% of the matchpoints

[jdeegan]

:lol: North is 100% to blame, in my opinion, even though South opened a bit light. This is matchpoints, so you have to play 4♠ or 6♣, and North knows this from the start. Stopping at 5♣ is a nullo play. Since the 4♦ splinter more or less gives up on 4♠, it is pointless. You might as well just bid 6♣.

 

The other commentators have some good ideas on how to bid the hand. You have to craft a sequence where partner will indicate a tolerance for spades and then pass your 4♠ bid if he hates 6♣. Making a strong jump shift with the North hand would be a good start, but NOBODY plays this anymore in competition. Consequently, you have to use cue bids in a creative way. Personally, I would end up in 6♣, and I would make it once in a while when they don't cash out.

[mcphee]

I also do not like to open weak minor suited hands and would not open this hand at any form of scoring. To me opening a minor simply makes it easy for the opps to get in the bidding.

 

Blame is mostly due to partners splinter searching for slam. If we set a GF with a H cue bid we can then stress S and still have the option of reaching slam, the difference is slam would also be in S the higher scoring suit.

 

So I have to place the greater % of blame on the splinter even though this is a problem likely avoided had S not opened.

[kenberg]

The bidding 1C-(1H)-1S shows five spades and presumably the 2C rebid denies three spades. It's surely too early to give up on spades at mps, maybe even at imps, and a 2H bid will find the two card spade support. Now we have found spades and we are in a game forcing auction, with room to discover that we are missing two aces. If S had a hand that doesn't bid 2S over 2H then the hand may well belong in clubs, maybe 6C from South's viewpoint. Spades still could be the mp best, but I imagine it will be played in a club contract. (If N cannot bid 2S over 2H, but here he will)

 

As to 3S, instead of 2H, it seems to me that after the limited rebid of 2C that this is best played as invitational, particularly when a 2H call is avalable to set the GF w/o confusing partner about the heart holding. A 3S bid over 2C sets spades as trumps and asks for 4S if partner can see any excuse for it.

 

 

By the way, my opponents are seldom so shy when they hold a ten card heart fit.

 

 

Also I think that there is a lot to be said for not opening the S hand, but I suppose I might do it. It's sort of on the edge. Over the edge really, but sometimes I can't help myself.

 

Ken