another hilarious auction

[jim420]

[hv=d=n&v=e&n=st6hqt52da6caqj53&w=sa8543h983d5c9872&e=skq7hakjdqjt93ckt&s=sj92h764dk8742c64]399|300|Scoring: IMP

W N E S

- 1♣ 1♦ P

P X P 2♦

P 2♥ 2NT P

3♠ P 3NT X

P P XX P

P P

 

lead ♥4

3NTxxE=[/hv]

 

Is it N/S's mistake that this came out?

[paulg]

Rather than assign blame, I'll attempt to run through the auction and show those calls that I would have considered at each stage. Hopefully this will be helpful than saying that XXX's bidding is poor.

 

N: 1♣ - impeccable.

 

E: 1♦ - strong hands are often awkward to bid, but I would treat this as a balanced 19 count initially. As this is too strong for a 1NT overcall (15-17) I would double with the intention of rebidding 1NT. The club stop is poor (♣Kxx would be a lot better) and the diamonds will take some time to establish. If your 1NT overcall is 16-18 then I would consider 1NT too.

 

S: Pass - impeccable.

 

W: Pass - impeccable.

 

N: Double - North actually has a tough problem here, in particular where are the spades? A reopening double caters for a penalty pass from partner, but raises the spectre of partner, or the opposition, bidding spades. Partner does not have points and spades unless he is passing 1♦, which seems unlikely when you hold the ♦A. An alternative reopening bid is 1♥, which keeps the auction alive without running the risk of partner bidding spades. I think Pass is a good option too.

 

E: Pass - I think East should consider showing a good hand at this point by redoubling. North's double does not (generally) show extra values and it is important to show that you have a good hand.

 

S: 2♦ - my guess is that South did not understand that this bid is not natural for most people. I don't think the diamond suit is good enough to pass and so I'd consider bidding 1♥ or 1NT.

 

W: Pass - impeccable.

 

N: 2♥ - impeccable. Whatever 2♦ means, and I guess it may be weak with both majors for some, 2♥ is the natural response with a minimum reopening double.

 

E: 2NT - this is a poor call given that East could have shown values earlier in the auction. The problem with bidding 2NT here is that it is far more dangerous now the opposition already know a lot about the hand. If anything this call should show a very good, running, diamond suit with a club suit. An earlier redouble would have been a lot safer.

 

S: Pass - impeccable.

 

W: 3♠ - I would have considered Pass, 3NT and 3♠ here depending on what I thought partner actually has.

 

N: Pass - impeccable.

 

E: 3NT - Given that partner will not be bidding a 4-card spade suit, it is more likely that 4♠ will be a better contract.

 

S: Double - South has no surprises or hidden values, so I think Pass is more prudent.

 

W: Pass - impeccable.

 

N: Pass - impeccable.

 

E: Redouble - this is a typical call from a less experienced player. East has already shown the power of this hand but redoubles to show the points again. Again Pass or 4♠ would be more prudent.

 

hth,

 

Paul

[ralph23]

South decided he wasn't strong enough to take a free bid on his first opportunity over East's overcall of 1♦, but then decided he was strong enough to both bid the opps suit and to double 3nt. It's hard to understand the "logic" of that, or even the illogic of it.

[helene_t]

Agree with most of what Cardsharp said. But

- I think S's double of 3NT is OK.

- I would have overcalled 1NT with the East hand but that's a style issue. Dbl followed by 1N is not certainly not wrong.

- I think N has a clear pass at his second turn. If he really needs to reopen, I think 1♥ is much better than dbl.

- At his second turn, East could show his values by redoubling, as Cardsharp suggests. But I think pass is ok, too, on the basis of the theory that p seems to be broke so there may be no need to tell him (and opps) that opps don't have game. However, passing means that East cannot bid again, except for a possible penalty dbl on the final contract if NS get too high.

- At his second turn, S has a clear 1NT. I see no alternative. 2♦ shows 4-4 in the majors, or maybe a 4-card in one major plus club support.

- East must pass 3♠. 2NT was already too high. It is unexpected that W holds ♠A.