Matchpoint Confusion

[kfay]

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sjxxhakqjdajxcqxx&s=sakxxxxhdkqxxxxcx]133|200|Scoring: MP

1♣*-1♠

2♠ -5♥*

5♠*-6♠

6NT[/hv]

 

1♣ is 16+ and 5♠ shows 1 or 4 KC in response to exclusion.

 

Partner definitely erred on this one in my opinion by converting 6♠ to 6NT, but he was being a matchpoint hog.

 

Do you think 5♥ is ill-advised? Should I describe my hand more to prevent this sort of mixup or the unfortunate (and improbable) circumstance when partner has QJx AKQJ Jxx Qxx and we're down 2 off the top in 6♦ or 6♠?

[pbleighton]

5H is way too fast. 3D is much better.

 

Peter

[han]

Partner should indeed never correct on this auction, he has no idea about your hand.

 

I would recommend playing 0314 exclusion, that would at least avoid getting above 6S when partner has none. I also think this is standard, even when playing 1430 normally.

 

As for the difficult question, I think that it is reasonable to jump to 5H. It is a common question and you will have to judge whether your methods are good enough to get more out of a slow auction. The danger of a slow auction is of course that you may (very likely) not be able to use exclusion later.

[han]

5H is way too fast. 3D is much better.

 

Peter

Why? What's your plan?

[joshs]

In my opinion, the first bad bid in this auction was 2S. There is lots of space between 1S and 4S and some of it should be used to describe hand type. Here Opener

a. Had only Jxx in support

b. Was 4333 with scattered honors

c. Lived in hearts

 

After 1C and positive, non-raises should not be thought of as denying support. You are in a game forcing auction and you should be exchanging information (source of tricks, nature of the support, and so on). Immediate raises should really strongly suggest that you belong in that strain.

 

I think the auction should go:

1C-1S(natural)-1N(natural)-2D(natural)-2S(3 card support, balanced hand)-3D(natural)-3H(values)-3S(sets trumps)

and now whether opener Qbids 4D, signs off in 4S, or bids a non-serious 3N (if you play that) the auction is under control. My choice would be:

3N(non-serious)-4C(Qbid)-4D(Qbid)-6D(choice of slams, since opener should not have enough to make a grand after this auction)-P

 

Now its quite lucky that that Diamonds was better than spades (4 discards on the hearts), so I have sympathy for over 4D:

5H(exclusion)-5S(1/4)-6S-P

 

Opener should never be tempted to convert to 6N in this auction. After 1N-2D he already knows there might be a problem in clubs....

[Finch]

In a confident well-oiled partnership, a slow auction would let you find out what you need to know.

 

But to be honest, while I'm not a fan of random jumps to exclusion blackwood (indeed I don't play exclusion blackwood because I think it's a waste of time) your actions aren't particularly silly.

 

The 6NT bid deserves nul points. That was absurd.

[han]

Yeah, I agree with Josh that 1NT is better than 2S.

[pbleighton]

Why? What's your plan?

 

It depends on partner. 3D, to my mind, is a strong slam try showing at least 5-5, and I would expect partner to show his hand. In this case he would bid 4D, then I'd cue 5H, he'd bid 5S, denying a club control, and I'd bid 6S.

 

Nice Forum bidding, eh?

 

B)

 

Peter

[skjaeran]

Partner should indeed never correct on this auction, he has no idea about your hand.

 

I would recommend playing 0314 exclusion, that would at least avoid getting above 6S when partner has none. I also think this is standard, even when playing 1430 normally.

 

As for the difficult question, I think that it is reasonable to jump to 5H. It is a common question and you will have to judge whether your methods are good enough to get more out of a slow auction. The danger of a slow auction is of course that you may (very likely) not be able to use exclusion later.

Agree with all of this.

I also agree with Josh that 1NT by north is better than 2♠.