Austin hands

[jonottawa]

Got bounced out of the KO semi-final this afternoon after getting all 6 of these 'close' (as I see it anyway) decisions wrong (we lost by 14.) I'm mainly curious whether y'all agree that these are close and if not, why not.

 

1. All white

 

AQTxxxx / A98 / xx / x

 

You open 1 Spade, LHO bid 2 Spades, pard bid 3 Spades, you bid 4 Spades. LHO bid 5 Hearts passed back to you.

 

2. All red

 

AKQ9xx / Kx / Qxx / xx

 

Pard opened 1 Heart. You bid 1 Spade. He bid 2 Clubs. You bid 2 Diamonds. He bid 2NT. Do you bid 3 Spades or bid 3NT? If you bid 3 Spades and pard raises you to 4 Spades, are you done?

 

3.

 

AKJTxx / Ax / AKTxx / -

 

You open 2 Clubs. Partner bids ... of course ... 3 Clubs. Sigh. You bid 3 Spades. He bids 4 Clubs. You bid 4 Diamonds. He bids 5 Clubs. What do you do now?

 

4. All red

 

x / Axxx / KQxx / AQxx

 

Pard opens 2 Spades in 2nd seat passed to you (you play Ogust, fwiw.)

 

5. Righty opens 1 Heart and the uncontested auction proceeds:

 

1H - 2D

2N - 3H

4H - 4S

4N - 5D (0 or 3)

6H - P

 

You hold

 

9xxx / x / 7xxxx / ATx

 

Your lead?

 

6. All red

 

Axxx / AQxx / Axx / Ax

 

Righty opens 2 Diamonds. Do you double or bid 2NT?

 

If you double, pard bids 4 Spades.

 

If you bid 2NT, pard bids 4 Spades (yes, transfers are hard.)

 

Are you done?

[Guest Jlall]

1. All white

 

AQTxxxx / A98 / xx / x

 

I opened 1 Spade, LHO bid 2 Spades, pard bid 3 Spades, I bid 4 Spades.  LHO bid 5 Hearts passed back to me.

Pass, we have reasonable defense and I don't expect to make 5S.

 

2. All red

 

AKQ9xx / Kx / Qxx / xx

 

Pard opened 1 Heart.  I bid 1 Spade.  He bid 2 Clubs.  I bid 2 Diamonds.  He bid 2NT.  Do you bid 3 Spades or bid 3NT?  If you bid 3 Spades and pard raises you to 4 Spades, are you done? 

 

3S is clear, partner might have 2 spades and 1 club stopper. I pass 4S also, if partner can't bid 4C I don't think we have slam.

 

3.

 

AKJTxx / Ax / AKTxx / -

 

You open 2 Clubs.  Partner bids ... of course ... 3 Clubs.  Sigh.  You bid 3 Spades.  He bids 4 Clubs.  You bid 4 Diamonds.  He bids 5 Clubs.  What do you do now?

 

 

Seems like an easy pass, partner is not interested in our suits and we could easily have 2 club losers if partner has KQT9 7th or 8th or whatever.

 

4. All red

 

x / Axxx / KQxx / AQxx

 

Pard opens 2 Spades in 2nd seat passed to you (you play Ogust, fwiw.)

 

Also seems like an easy pass unless your partner is Pisk :P Our hand is not that good and we have a stiff spade...

 

5.  Righty opens 1 Heart and the uncontested auction proceeds:

 

1H - 2D

2N - 3H

4H - 4S

4N - 5D

6H - P

 

You hold

 

9xxx / x / 7xxxx / ATx

 

Your lead?

 

Diamond, presumably the club king is on my right. Partner didn't double spades so hopefully we can give partner a ruff, or set up his king, or just be passive.

 

6. All red

 

Axxx / AQxx / Axx / Ax

 

Righty opens 2 Diamonds. Do you double or bid 2NT?

 

If you double, pard bids 4 Spades.

 

If you bid 2NT, pard bids 4 Spades (yes, transfers are hard.)

 

Are you done?

 

I like double a lot, and would drive to slam over the 4S bid (via 4N).

[rogerclee]

1) Pass.

2) 3♠, then pass.

3) Pass.

4) Pass.

5) Ok I think I finally settled on a diamond.

6) Double and bid 4NT.

[matmat]

<RANT>

I really dislike so many different hands in one post

</RANT>

 

1. All white

 

AQTxxxx / A98 / xx / x

 

You open 1 Spade, LHO bid 2 Spades, pard bid 3 Spades, you bid 4 Spades. LHO bid 5 Hearts passed back to you.

Assuming we play U/U I don't expect p to have a good hand. We're very likely not to have a spade winner, nor communication to get our club ruff, or convince p to lead his club ace and another club for a ruff... I think I would 5♠ here.

 

2. All red

 

AKQ9xx / Kx / Qxx / xx

 

Pard opened 1 Heart. You bid 1 Spade. He bid 2 Clubs. You bid 2 Diamonds. He bid 2NT. Do you bid 3 Spades or bid 3NT? If you bid 3 Spades and pard raises you to 4 Spades, are you done?

 

I would bid 3S. don't need much in spades from P for slam to be feasible. If p fails to make a cue over 3n and just bids 4s, I go quietly.

 

3.

 

AKJTxx / Ax / AKTxx / -

 

You open 2 Clubs. Partner bids ... of course ... 3 Clubs. Sigh. You bid 3 Spades. He bids 4 Clubs. You bid 4 Diamonds. He bids 5 Clubs. What do you do now?

 

yes, it's a 3 loser hand, I don't think I'd open it 2♣, tho.

P really should have 7+ running clubs. I suppose they could be off one of the top two, or something silly like that. Anyway. I'll bid 5♥ and bid 6♣ next. (unless p passes 5♥ in which case they will be dining on my shoe).

 

4. All red

 

x / Axxx / KQxx / AQxx

 

Pard opens 2 Spades in 2nd seat passed to you (you play Ogust, fwiw.)

 

what are my 2♠ red 2nd seat standards? i think i'd need to know what a "bad" suit in this context might be. I think I pass.

 

5. Righty opens 1 Heart and the uncontested auction proceeds:

 

1H - 2D

2N - 3H

4H - 4S

4N - 5D (0 or 3)

6H - P

 

You hold

 

9xxx / x / 7xxxx / ATx

 

Your lead?

I am tempted to make the newspaper lead of a small club. i think spade is out. the spade cue on my left got a rise out of RHO, I don't want to lead a trump.

 

it is possible that p has a diamond void, but he didn't double 6♥. Could be scared of 6n, I guess...

 

small club it is.

 

 

6. All red

 

Axxx / AQxx / Axx / Ax

 

Righty opens 2 Diamonds. Do you double or bid 2NT?

 

If you double, pard bids 4 Spades.

 

If you bid 2NT, pard bids 4 Spades (yes, transfers are hard.)

 

Are you done?

 

P sure is in a hurry.

I expect to find 6-7 spades and not much else. i think i will pass, but I'm not very good at judging these.

[skjaeran]

1) Pass.

2) 3♠, then pass.

3) Pass.

4) Pass.

5) I finally settled on a diamond. Club ace was close though.

6) Double and bid 4NT.

 

Only 5) was a close decision IMO.

[gnasher]

1. Assuming that 3♠ was weakish, I'd bid 5♠. LHO sounds like he means it.

 

2. 3♠ then pass 4♠

 

3. Pass. Partner's clubs definitely aren't solid, because he didn't respond 4♣. Even a suit which looks like one loser might not be when facing a void. Anyway, when he bid 5♣ he knew it was non-forcing, and we don't exactly have anything to spare for 2♣.

 

4. Pass.

 

5. The best chance is that partner has a trump trick to go with our ♣A. However, given our length in spades and diamonds there's no hurry to cash ♣A. It feels a bit odd to lead passively on this auction, but a diamond does seem best. As Justin says, maybe partner will ruff it - nobody makes Lightner Doubles these days.

 

6. Double then 5♦. I don't think this is worth driving to slam, because partner might have some ordinary hand like KQJxxx xx xx Kxx, where slam is on an odds-against finesse, or KQJxxx xx Kxx xx, where it's no play. 5♦ and 5♠ both just say "How good is your hand?", but 5[sI] also promises a diamond control.

[gnasher]

I really dislike so many different hands in one post

Me too. IMO a good number of hands per post is one.

[Codo]

1. 5 Spade, I belive them, (Close)

 

2. 3 Spade/Pass

 

3. I don't open 2 Clubs, but after you did, you should pass 5 Club. (not close but ugly)

 

4. With most partners I pass and hope to make. If he is really solid, I make a move. (Close)

 

5. Ace of club (Close)

 

6. double (Close) and pass

[jdonn]

1. Pass, I don't like saccing at all when there is a good chance we can beat them.

 

2. 3♠ wtp? 3NT is still there if partner doesn't like spades.

 

3. Pass. The key inference to me is that he bid 3 then 4 then 5 instead of 3 then 5 (over which I would raise to slam, taking it for a better suit than the actual sequence.)

 

4. Pass. Even if game is possible, it's not likely and you sure don't want to get in the way of them balancing.

 

5. Diamond. Even if parter has a trump trick I don't see how our aces of clubs is going away.

 

6. I double 2♦. Over 4♠ I think 4NT is too much. I would bid 5♦.

[han]

1. Pass. 5S is VERY unlikely to make but 5H was bid blindly by RHO and we may easily set it. If the auction had been different and RHO had bid 5H, then 5S would have been much more appealing as I expect it to be well cheaper than game.

 

2, 3 and 4 are clear and I agree with the others.

 

5. I'm really tempted by a small club, are these strong opponents? THe auction really smells like LHO has a club control and righty doesn't. I don't believe in a first round diamond ruff. Well I never underlead aces so I probably wouldn't at the table.

 

6. Agree with the rest.

[jdonn]

6. Agree with the rest.

Meaning after double and partner bids 4♠ you agree 3/7 with 4NT, 2/7 with 5♦, and 2/7 with pass?

[matmat]

1. Pass. 5S is VERY unlikely to make but 5H was bid blindly by RHO and we may easily set it. If the auction had been different and RHO had bid 5H, then 5S would have been much more appealing as I expect it to be well cheaper than game.

I had thought it was LHO who used michaels and then bid 5H.

[inquiry]

1. Ok, I bite it, I bid 5♠. First, partner rates not to have much for the competitive bid of 3♠. Second, the 5♥ bidder has a strong two suiter, and on the bidding, I likely void in spades. Sure, 5 level belongs to the opponents, but I think I have at least 8 tricks and probably sure 9 in spades, so I am not risking a pass here given i think there is a GREAT chance we have no spade tricks on defense.

2. I bid 3♠, I am done if partner raises to 4.

3. Oh the misiry.... :rolleyes:. I pass

4. I bid 4♠ with partners who believe sound opening 2M vul in 2nd seat. Pass otherwise. Since you are asking, you must not play this way, so pass.

5. Random diamond.

6. Double, RKCB over 4♠

[jonottawa]

Thx for the illuminating responses. Y'all did much better than me (surprise, surprise.)

 

Here are the actions that worked (not saying they're percentage.)

 

1. 5 Spades (Kxx / x / Axxxx / xxxx technically double is right double-dummy.) Opponents bid 5/5. I think pass is % based on the comments. Partner could easily have another heart here.

 

2. Anything not slam (I played partner for something like Jx / AQxxx / Kx / Axxx and bid Blackwood over 4 Spades. He actually held xx / T9xxx / Ax / AKJx and EVERYTHING was wrong (though trumps broke.)) It seems to me from the responses that this is the 'not closest' of the decisions and qualifies as a clearcut mistake.

 

Opponents were less optimistic and joined the rest of y'all in game.

 

3. 5 Diamonds (partial credit for Pass, which gets you to a good spot on most days and makes if you can sneak a spade by and play double dummy from there.)

 

I bid 6 Clubs (trying too hard to find a good hand to blog I guess, declaring a slam with a void in trumps.) I still think this is closer than most of y'all do but agree that it's probably % to pass. He sure bid this suit a lot if he has more than one loser in it though. I bought:

 

- / xxxx / xxx / AKJTxx

 

Clubs were 5-2 with Q9xxx behind dummy. I don't think you can make even 5 as it turns out but it's a better spot than 6 (6 Diamonds miraculously makes with QJ tight of Diamonds in the slot, so 5 Diamonds is the only way to go plus.) I got a heart lead and ran the ten of spades winning but Righty ruffed the third Spade. Sadness.

 

Opponents played 4 Spades doubled making 6 on a Club lead so we were always losing a bunch if we didn't bid the Diamond slam.

 

4. Not pass.

 

Pard had KT9xxx / xx / Ax / Kxx and everything behaved. I still think it's normal to pass.

 

The opponents were in game.

 

5. Not a club.

 

I didn't give this one enough thought to be honest, so I think it qualifies as another clearcut mistake. I reasoned that partner had a chance to double Diamonds and Spades for the lead, that Lefty's Diamond suit would provide lots of pitches (since my 5 bagger was headed by the 7) and that I'd better grab my Ace and hope partner had a trump trick. We had 2 Club tricks all day on any other lead and might beat it twice on a low Diamond lead if they misguess.

Axx / Axxxx / AKx / xx

 

KJ / KQxxx /Jxx / Kxx

 

This is the only one that swung the result on its own and the one I shudder at the most (since slam leads are something of an achilles heel of mine.)

 

Our teammates (Pisk was one, fwiw) were +650.

 

6. Not pass.

 

I bid 2NT and then when he bid 4 Spades I felt trapped. Damned if you do, etc.

 

Of course, he had KQxxxx / KJx / xx / xx

 

The opponents missed slam on this one as well.

 

I'm curious how the doublers proceed if partner bids 2NT lebensohl.

[Guest Jlall]

Partner's 5C bid is atrocious on the 2C hand. What kind of club suit did he think 3C then 4C showed? You bid diamonds twice and he bid clubs AGAIN?! That is terrible.

 

I also don't like the 2S opener at all, but I guess that is a style thing.

[rogerclee]

Partner's 5C bid is atrocious on the 2C hand. What kind of club suit did he think 3C then 4C showed? You bid diamonds twice and he bid clubs AGAIN?! That is terrible.

 

I also don't like the 2S opener at all, but I guess that is a style thing.

Agree with this, except I really don't understand any style which would seriously advocate opening 2♠ with that hand.

[gnasher]

Partner's 5C bid is atrocious on the 2C hand. What kind of club suit did he think 3C then 4C showed? You bid diamonds twice and he bid clubs AGAIN?! That is terrible.

Opener had bid diamonds only once:

2♣ 3♣

3♠ 4♣

4♦ 5♣

 

Responder does have an awkward call over 4♦ with void xxxx xxx AKJTxx. Raising diamonds would work better on this hand, but not if opener had AKJTxx AK AKTx x. Maybe responder should bid 4NT over 4♦ (please don't tell me that's keycard). Or maybe 4♥ should be fourth-suit forcing?

[Guest Jlall]

Partner's 5C bid is atrocious on the 2C hand. What kind of club suit did he think 3C then 4C showed? You bid diamonds twice and he bid clubs AGAIN?! That is terrible.

Opener had bid diamonds only once:

2♣ 3♣

3♠ 4♣

4♦ 5♣

 

Responder does have an awkward call over 4♦ with void xxxx xxx AKJTxx. Raising diamonds would work better on this hand, but not if opener had AKJTxx AK AKTx x. Maybe responder should bid 4NT over 4♦ (please don't tell me that's keycard). Or maybe 4♥ should be fourth-suit forcing?

You're right I was thinking it went 2C 2D 2S 3C 3D 4C 4D, sorry. Much more sympathy for partner now!

[Fluffy]

Among the lines of others, I would raise for sure to 6♣, I expected partner to have KQJ9xxxx at least.

[nige1]

Got bounced out of the KO semi-final this afternoon after getting all 6 of these 'close' (as I see it anyway) decisions wrong (we lost by 14.)  I'm mainly curious whether y'all agree that these are close and if not, why not.

FWIW, my belated guesses...

1. All white AQTxxxx / A98 / xx / x

You open 1 Spade, LHO bid 2 Spades, pard bid 3 Spades, you bid 4 Spades.  LHO bid 5 Hearts passed back to you.

IMO 5♠=10, _P=9, _X=6. The 5-level belongs to me :rolleyes:

2. All red

AKQ9xx / Kx / Qxx / xx

Pard opened 1 Heart.  You bid 1 Spade.  He bid 2 Clubs.  You bid 2 Diamonds.  He bid 2NT.  Do you bid 3 Spades or bid 3NT?  If you bid 3 Spades and pard raises you to 4 Spades, are you done?

IMO 3♠ over 2N and pass 4♠

3. AKJTxx / Ax / AKTxx / -

You open 2 Clubs.  Partner bids ... of course ... 3 Clubs.  Sigh.  You bid 3 Spades.  He bids 4 Clubs.  You bid 4 Diamonds.  He bids 5 Clubs.  What do you do now?

IMO _P=10, 6♣=4. May partner jump to show a 1-loser suit?

4. All red

x / Axxx / KQxx / AQxx

Pard opens 2 Spades in 2nd seat passed to you (you play Ogust, fwiw.)

IMO _P=10, 2N=2. I see partner employs Acol 2s :)

5.  You hold  9xxx / x / 7xxxx / ATx. Uncontested auction:

1H - 2D

2N - 3H

4H - 4S

4N - 5D (0 or 3)

6H - AP Your lead?

IMO ♣A=10, ♦=8, ♠=7. My initial assessments but I hope to get more of these right when secret electronic communication with JLall is resumed, after the current fuss dies down :)

6.  All red Axxx / AQxx / Axx / Ax

Righty opens 2 Diamonds.  Do you double or bid 2NT?

If you double, pard bids 4 Spades.

If you bid 2NT, pard bids 4 Spades (yes, transfers are hard.)

Are you done?

IMO

• Over (2♦), _X=10, 2N=6.
  
• Over 4♠, _P=10, 6♠=9. 4N=3. My double fixed me and I stay fixed.
  

[xcurt]

I have a lot of sympathy for the CA lead. Your opponents conducted a hopeless auction. They got you. Note that if partner is ruffing the diamond, he can do it just as well at trick 2. Well, not just as well since we might not get -2 now, but I'm not worrying about that.

 

If they had already bid like that before, that is a different situation. That's one thing to look for in long matches.

 

I think #2 and #3 (2C opening) were clear errors. #4 your partner had a 1-bid. #1 I have no idea. #6 you should have driven the hand to slam, but I wouldn't call it a clear error.

[gnasher]

I have a lot of sympathy for the CA lead.

Can you suggest a reasonable layout where a club lead is correct?

[xcurt]

I have a lot of sympathy for the CA lead.

Can you suggest a reasonable layout where a club lead is correct?

Well, it's betting partner has the CK.

 

This hand was analyzed well by previous posters. The OP said he was most unhappy with this action among the 6 hands presented. Although probably anti-percentage, the CA wasn't nullo.

 

By the way, who bids AKx instead of making a forcing raise with Axxxx? Were the opponents not playing forcing major suit raises, or is this a virulent local custom in Texas (this kind of fake 2/1 with another GOOD bid available was also common in SoCal back when I played there)?

[Mbodell]

1. I double. I expect that we should set them, and we may have missed a making 4♠. If they make the cost from double versus not should be small and I expect more down 2+ than makes.

 

2. I bid 3♠. I pass 3NT. If partner bids 4♠ instead I'm not done just yet.

 

3. I bid 5♦. This should show shape and with 3 LTC hand and partner giving positive response I can stand to go higher. 6 or any strain but ♥ is fine with me.

 

4. I pass.

 

5. I lead a diamond.

 

6. I double. I move again over 4♠.

[jonottawa]

Slight update: A friend pointed out that 5 Spades DOESN'T MAKE on a trump lead on the first one, so that one's mostly on our teammates.