From the bridge club tonight

[jdonn]

I have held several hands before that were 7-6, but never had one of my suits bid by an opponent first, let alone the long one.... this was my opponent's problem tonight.

 

Matchpoints, both vul, you are dealt in 4th seat - AQJ9xxx - Q8xxxx

 

(1♥) 1♠ (p) to you. What do you do and why?

[the hog]

I have nfi! Pass I guess; this looks like a total misfit.

[helene_t]

Pass. Run to 2♣ if RHO converts the reopening double.

[han]

Ugh, this is painful! I can't pass because Ron will call me a psychofant, so I abstain.

[cherdano]

One-in-a-lifetime chance to pass throughout with this pattern and a good suit.

[Foxx]

Yikes.

 

As strong as the impulse may be to curl up and play dead, I would go with 2♣. We're already in the stew and I don't think our opponents will be nice enough to take us out. I could hit nothing in club support across the table, but from what we know now, the strain is unlikely to play worse than spades. If the scarlet cards start to fly, hopefully I will find some way to play the hand in hearts.

[Fluffy]

I would pass, our best contract might still be in hearts, but I would try for clubs if I ahve to run.

[mikegill]

This is pretty sick, but I think you have to pass. I think you will end up playing 1s undoubled with at least 60% probability. This will be down a few unless pard has a big hand and/or a great 6-card suit. But if I bid 2c, and partner rebids just about anything, now what? Most likely he's 5/6 0/1 4/5 2/3, and he won't pass 2c. I hope to end up a level lower than everyone else.

[jtfanclub]

(1♥) 1♠ (p) to you. What do you do and why?

I refuse to get intimidated just because my LHO pulled the wrong card out of his bidding box.

 

2♣.

[whereagles]

What's wrong with 2♣? Pard is quite likely to hold some 6043 or thereabouts.

[jdonn]

(1♥) 1♠ (p) to you. What do you do and why?

I refuse to get intimidated just because my LHO pulled the wrong card out of his bidding box.

 

2♣.

Well, I was LHO, so don't rule it out :)

[han]

Hmm, would Josh on tilt psyche 1H in first seat all red? I don't dare to answer.

[goobers]

Ow ow ow ow ow I guess I pass.

 

Third seat, okay, MAYBE I'll buy a psyche, first seat isn't exactly the classic psyche position...

[jtfanclub]

Third seat, okay, MAYBE I'll buy a psyche, first seat isn't exactly the classic psyche position...

I don't think Jdonn psyched, I think he meant to open 1♦ and the cards stuck together, and he didn't notice the ♥ out there until the next player had bid. Actually, I have no idea if jdonn does such a thing, but it certainly happened to me once.

[Rain]

2C

[jdonn]

What do the 2♣ bidders do if partner rebids the following back to them?

 

2♦

2♠

3♠

 

In either of the first two cases, if you bid 3♣ what do you do on P 4♣ P back to you?

[jtfanclub]

2♦- 2♥

2♠- Pass

2NT- 4♥

3♣- Pass

3♦- Gulp. Pass.

3♥- 3NT (assuming that asks for a heart stop)

3♠- 3NT

 

After 2♦-2♥, I make the call listed above.

 

I know, I know... :huh:

[skjaeran]

It might not be, but this really looks like a misfit.

I've learned how to bid misfits - you don't. :huh:

I'll pass this.

[goobers]

What do the 2♣ bidders do if partner rebids the following back to them?

 

2♦

Show preference to spades :)

[cherdano]

(1♥) 1♠ (p) to you. What do you do and why?

I refuse to get intimidated just because my LHO pulled the wrong card out of his bidding box.

 

2♣.

If 1♥ was a psyche or misbid then that is even more reason to pass, because after passing you may later bid hearts naturally, after 2♣ you will never be able to do that.

[jtfanclub]

If 1♥ was a psyche or misbid then that is even more reason to pass, because after passing you may later bid hearts naturally, after 2♣ you will never be able to do that.

I don't think I'll be able to bid it naturally after passing either, since I assume that will end the auction.

[jdonn]

The full hand.

 

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=skt98xxxhxdakxcat&w=saqjxhkt8xxdqxxcx&e=sxxhdjt9xxxxckj9x&s=shaqj9xxxdcq8xxxx]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

Passers win. Spades makes 7 tricks (it is not hard for me to find the heart ruff when I get in, on the assumption partner would have led a singleton heart if she had one.) At the table north rebid 4♠ and went -300 undoubled, to give us a decent board, I think 5.5 out of 8. If you bid 2♣ it's hard to believe any partner wouldn't rebid at least 3♠ and then it's just a matter of getting the smallest minus. If you pass 1♠ you get 6 out of 8, as the only pair to go plus on offense (a few E/W got carried away in diamonds.)

 

I liked pass then and nothing has changed my mind. It makes me think of S.J. Simon's best possible score vs. best score possible concept.

[mike777]

It does seem east has a clear 3D bid over one spade and west should pass that.

[goobers]

If 3D is fitted, then it is not so clear :)

[jdonn]

It does seem east has a clear 3D bid over one spade and west should pass that.

1: 3♦ is fit showing.

2: That contract would go down 1, on the obvious defense of club lead to the ace, and AK and another diamond. EW would lose a spade, two diamonds, and two clubs. And that is with east catching good support in dummy too. North might even double, which south would pass knowing the contract is one of the all time misfits in history. And as you saw, any minus for east west is a terrible score.

3: It is not so clear anyway. East has a void in partner's suit, opponents who might not have a fit, and both vul is terrible for over-competing for a partscore at matchpoints.