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Strange Call


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I also posted this problem on rec.games.bridge.

 

Partner opens 1, which is known to be unbalanced. RHO doubles (takeout), you bid 1NT, and LHO bids 2.

 

Partner passes.

 

RHO now bids 2, you pass, and LHO raises to 3.

 

Partner, white on red, comes alive with 4.

 

What should partner have? If this is "impossible," what is your best guess as to what partner really has?

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Either your partner is from outer space, allowing the opponents to limit and describe their hands perfectly before bidding again, or he is trying to cleverly walk the dog and is fishing for a double when he bids 5 with some distributional freak.

 

Because of your 1NT and their timid and slow bidding, I doubt he has the diamond freak....

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If partner has a club-diamond two-suiter, why 4 and not 4? For that matter, what is 3NT here? Is there another holding that has some logic to it, other than simply long diamonds (requiring absurd lurking) or both minors (for which 4 or perhaps 3NT stands out)?

 

I had my own theory as to what partner held...

 

 

Something like x-xxxxx-AKJxx-AK. With that holding, partner might opt to open 1, planning to infer 6-5 or 5-4 because the heart suit is so lousy. At 2, partner dislikes 2 because this overstates the diamond length while simultaneously further burying hearts. 2 may be seen as an overstatement and a poor choice against a likely eventual spade contract, dissuading a preferred diamond lead. At 3, however, the five-loser hand catches up with partner, who cannot stand it any more. A four-level call in this auction must be highly distributional, partner thinks. Long diamonds alone is implausible. With both minors, 4 comes to mind. With 0454, 3NT. thus, partner thinks, I "must" have hearts.

 

 

Any thoughts? I'll admit that my partner's 4 call, whatever the meaning, is WAY out there. But, I was curious as to whether any real meaning makes sense...

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If partner has a club-diamond two-suiter, why 4 and not 4? For that matter, what is 3NT here? Is there another holding that has some logic to it, other than simply long diamonds (requiring absurd lurking) or both minors (for which 4 or perhaps 3NT stands out)?

 

I had my own theory as to what partner held...

 

 

Something like x-xxxxx-AKJxx-AK. With that holding, partner might opt to open 1, planning to infer 6-5 or 5-4 because the heart suit is so lousy. At 2, partner dislikes 2 because this overstates the diamond length while simultaneously further burying hearts. 2 may be seen as an overstatement and a poor choice against a likely eventual spade contract, dissuading a preferred diamond lead. At 3, however, the five-loser hand catches up with partner, who cannot stand it any more. A four-level call in this auction must be highly distributional, partner thinks. Long diamonds alone is implausible. With both minors, 4 comes to mind. With 0454, 3NT. thus, partner thinks, I "must" have hearts.

 

 

Any thoughts? I'll admit that my partner's 4 call, whatever the meaning, is WAY out there. But, I was curious as to whether any real meaning makes sense...

I don't buy the hand you gave at all. If your plan is to show a 5-5 as a 5-6, then his next call should have been 2. Why perturb your bidding if you are not going to follow through.

 

The only hand I can think of is the diamond freak that is walking the dog. But I still don't like it.

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"I had my own theory as to what partner held...

 

Something like x-xxxxx-AKJxx-AK. With that holding, partner might opt to open 1♦, planning to infer 6-5 or 5-4 because the heart suit is so lousy. At 2♣, partner dislikes 2♦ because this overstates the diamond length while simultaneously further burying hearts. 2♥ may be seen as an overstatement and a poor choice against a likely eventual spade contract, dissuading a preferred diamond lead. At 3♠, however, the five-loser hand catches up with partner, who cannot stand it any more. A four-level call in this auction must be highly distributional, partner thinks. Long diamonds alone is implausible. With both minors, 4♣ comes to mind. With 0454, 3NT. thus, partner thinks, I "must" have hearts. "

 

I totally disagree with this. Would your partner really mastermind to such an extent that he would hide a 5!!!! card H suit? I am inclined to agree with Ben, that you partner has just bid very poorly and decided to allow the opponents time to show their suits and limit their hands. I suspect you were playing against 3 opponents and not 2.

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