on a scale of 1-5...

[rfedrick]

You are playing an inconsequential Swiss Teams event in a very mixed field (though all of these deals occurred at one of tables 1-4, so you can assume that the participants have some idea what they are doing).

 

All of the problems below generated derisive 'wtp' snorts from either partner or teammate or opposition. I didn't think they were so clear, but maybe it's my own radar that needs recalibrating.

 

1) xx 10xxxx xx KQ10x

2♣ (only big bid, but not 100% GF) - 2♦ (some values, 2♥ would be immediate dbl neg) - 3♥ (4 hearts + longer diamonds) - ?

 

Pls rate a 4♣ cue [EDIT: A 4♣ bid is a cue for hearts by agreement, not lots of clubs] on a scale of 1 = "obvious, mandatory, wtp" down to 5 = "ridiculous, i've got 2-low / 5-low in partner's suits, i've already shown some values, i should simply bid 4♥ and trust partner to move if slam is good".

 

2) Qxxx x AK AK9xxx, red v white

RHO opens 2♥ (weak), you double, it goes 4♥ to your left, PP back to you.

 

Please rate a second double on same scale as above (1 = "obvious ,mandatory, wtp" down to 5 = "ridiculous, likely to turn +100 into -500"

 

3) K Qxxxxx AJx K10x, white v red, LHO dealer

you hear (1♠)-P-(2♠)-? to you.

 

Where do you score a 3♥ bid on 1 = "mandatory to act with 6cd hearts, short spades and values" down to 5 = "terrible ODR, stiff K is all defence, lousy heart suit, bidding is madness"?

 

[related question: if you hold J10xx A10x Q1098x x and you hear (1♠)-P-(2♠)-3♥; (P)-? to you, do you think you have a 4♥ raise?]

 

4) KQJ10x AQx x xxxx, both vul, partner deals and opens 2♦ (weak)

you hear 2♦-(P)-P-(2♥); P-(P)-? back to you.

 

How do you rate 2♠ on the usual scale (1 = wtp, 5 = idiotic)?

 

5) xx xx J10xxx K10xx, both vul, partner deals and opens 1♠

you hear 1♠-(4♥)-P-(P); X-(P)-? back to you.

 

Passing here is 1 = "mandatory, wtp etc and so forth" or 5 = "ridiculous, 4NT is obvious"?

[kfay]

I'd say:

1 Bidding 4♥ denies a control so I can't even do that systemically.

 

1

 

3 No preference. The corresponding problem is interesting. I guess with the stiff club you could argue either way. If you've agreed OBAR then this is not worth a raise since partner expects it. I don't know if I can answer honestly what I'd do having seen both hands.

 

5 I'm happy to defend

 

1 Let's just beat this

[Finch]

Inconsequential? I thought it really was the most important Swiss event I'd played in all year!

 

Unsurprisingly I recognise all these hands, so I can tell you what all of our team thought at the table/in the post mortem, although we never got to play you.

 

1) This is from the first match, so I'm not sure that being at tables 1-4 tells you anything in particular.

 

Is 4C here a cue for hearts? What do you bid with a lot of clubs? If 4C is a cue for hearts, then I think you are just about worth it, say a 2 on your scale.

 

At our table, this hand had a similar, but not identical problem:

2♣ (FG or 23-24 bal) - 2♦ (neg or waiting, no double neg available) - 2NT (23-24 bal) - 3♦ (xfer) - 4♦ (4-card heart support, source of tricks in diamonds, non-minimum)

 

My partner thought he was worth a club cue here and bid 5♣ but it was not an obvious/wtp position. Compared to your problem, he could still have had a zero count but he had already shown five hearts while you have shown some values but have bonus hearts.

 

2) I had this hand, I doubled and thought it a 2.2 on your scale. Partner and team-mates thought it a 1. (But there is also a systemic issue here: my partner took the successful action in response to the double which some players would not have done)

 

3) This is a 1.5, you have to bid here. I would also raise on the hand opposite, so I'm not being a results merchant (mind you, I made 11 tricks opposite that hand so maybe I am being a results merchant...)

 

4) At matchpoints you have to bid 2S. At IMPs I really don't mind, so a 2.5 I suppose. If partner/team-mates think it's obvious, they may have missed the fact that partner had a very suitable hand for play in spades and the layout was very favourable.

 

5) I think 4NT is obvious.

[Hanoi5]

I'm probably not that advanced for I don't regard those problems as 'wtp?'.

 

1) 2/5 I have 5♥'s and nice clubs, I don't see why I would want to bid just 4♥.

 

2) 3/5 The problem here is that partner might pass with many hands on which we should saving in 5♣ or just letting them play (and trying to make it).

 

3) 3/5 The heart suit is not so great but being w/r I don't want to pass. I'd bid 4 with pd's hand, though (♣A instead of K and it's cold, ain't it?)

 

4) 4/5 Not so good. I bet no one has a fit in this hand...

 

5) 4/5 I lean to 4NT.

[ArcLight]

I consider none of these easy or obvious.

These are all good questions.

>All of the problems below generated derisive 'wtp' snorts from either partner

I would not like that. I would not treat pards "silly" questions with contempt. Same for team mates.

 

 

1) xx 10xxxx xx KQ10x

 

On the one hand we have good heart support. On the other hand if pard has AKxx in hearts is not unlikley we will have a trump loser. The other thing is will pard know that 4C is a cue bid in support of hearts, as opposed to a suit of your own? Lets say yes, then he will probably bid 4D, and then you bid 4H.

I think it will take a monster to make slam. with 2452 shape, pard needs 4 key cards plus some kings. Is it likely 5 hearts will be down if pard bids Blackwood over 4H? I think you are safe at the 5 level. If pard is 1453 it may be a good slam. I think 4C is OK (3). Maybe the experts who post after me will explain why this is a good/bad bid,

 

 

 

>2) Qxxx x AK AK9xxx, red v white

 

If you Dbl again, pard may bid diamonds and then what will you do?

If you could tell pard to bid only spades or Clubs you might consider +50/100 vs making a vulnerable game.

I would pass.

 

 

>3) K Qxxxxx AJx K10x, white v red, LHO dealer

 

I don't want to bid this at the 3 level, despite RHO being weak. If spades are 4-1 and hearts are lead, declarer may lose control. The values are not so good, under opener.

I pass.

 

 

[related question: if you hold J10xx A10x Q1098x x and you hear (1♠)-P-(2♠)-3♥; (P)-? to you, do you think you have a 4♥ raise?]

 

 

I pass as pard may have been trying to push teh opps higher, and I have a defensive hand and 4 trumps.

 

 

 

>4) KQJ10x AQx x xxxx, both vul, partner deals and opens 2♦ (weak)

you hear 2♦-(P)-P-(2♥); P-(P)-? back to you.

 

I pass, let 2 H try and make. 2Spades needs 8 tricks, I probably have 5. Is pard good for 3? (I rate 2S=4)

 

 

5) xx xx J10xxx K10xx, both vul, partner deals and opens 1♠

you hear 1♠-(4♥)-P-(P); X-(P)-? back to you.

 

Pard is 5134? He didnt open 2C, and will need a 2C hand to make 5m. I would expect the minors to splite badly, so clubs may be 4-1.

I pass.

[Codo]

1. 4 Club is a 4 for me, but of course this depend on the methods.

 

If 4 Heart says I have no cue, then I must bid 4 Clubs. But if this had been this pairs method, they had told us.

So,I already showed a positive hand and I cannot have much less then KQ in a probably useless side suit. The only thing to be proud of is my 5. trump, but this is not enough to justify more then a direct 4 Heart bid.

 

2. Non obvious. I would double and give double and pass both a 3.

 

3. I would raise to 4 Heart, so I better pass with the given hand. Yes I have 6, but I would need x, Qxxxxx, Akx,KTx or maybe x.QJTxxx,AJx,Kxx to make a 3 Heart bid.

 

To me 3 Heart is a 4.

 

4. In a team event I am happy to defend and lead a high spade. 2 Spade would be a 4 to me.

 

5. pass is a 1...

[benlessard]

Im rating my own bids since its easier.

 

 

A ---4C (1) super obvious

 

Having 5 trumps, being able to ruff 2 diamonds and maybe provide a club trick what more do you want ?

 

B--- Pass (2.5) is better than X or 5C. Partner will often pass the X and the K of clubs is really a dubious values on defense. This one isnt obvious at all.

 

C--- 3H (1) again super obvious. Its very possible that you make 3/4H on this deal while the chance of getting a plus at 2S are so low. Why would you even consider passing ?

 

D--- pass (1) is obvious If partner can provide enough goodies to make 2S than 2H will go down.

 

 

E--- 5D (2) not obvious but i consider 5D to better than 4Nt or pass. Partner got a huge 5134 or 5125 & having 6D and knowing they probably have a 10 card fit make me go for pulling. Its think its more likely that D play better then clubs since if C dont break ill be able to pitch some clubs on the spades while in clubs i wont be able to pitch spades on the diamonds.

[MFA]

1) 2. Cuebidding is marginal but ok. It's not like our 0 hcp in partner's suits and ♣KQ in partner's likely shortage are that wonderful.

 

2) 1½. I would double again.

 

3) 1½. 3♥. Partner's hand is a clear raise. Don't believe too much in OBAR theory, if that implies you should be wary of supporting partner even with a fair hand + fit.

 

4) 4. We need to lucky for 2♠ to be right. But it's certainly not insane to gamble that.

 

5) 2. I'm a passer here, but it's close.

[pclayton]

Good set, but please limit the number of hands to two or three, although I think these were pretty interesting.

 

I feel like I'm posting like Nige1 here. :)

 

1. 4♣ = 1. LOVE the methods. 4♣ is obvious. We have a massive 5th trump, doubleton diamond (not a bad thing!) and a club control. Pard rates to have a big hand for this call, otherwise 1♦ and a reverse.

 

2. Double = 1, 5♣=3. I'm suppose to pass with this when pard is a balanced 8 count away from getting 4♥ for 300? Or a the right shape gives us a cold 4♠ (my pard's don't autobid 4♠ with Jxxxx or Kxxx over 4♥ by the way.

 

3. 3♥ = 4. Not my style at IMPs. You'll get a lot of +100's in 3♠ and a lot of -100's in 3♥ which are kind of random win 4/push/lose 4's, but pard should have the latitude to bid on with a lot of 9-11's and I don't want this happening. If you lurk here, there was an awesome discussion about 3 weeks ago on an identical auction albeit we were v/v.

 

4. 2♠ (1) the round before was a WTP. Now its a WTFITPTT?

 

5. Pass 2.

[jdonn]

1. 2

2. 1

3. 2

4. 4

5. 3

 

At a glance, I'm probably closest to MFA.

[awm]

I think number 1 and 3 are pretty obvious (1 on the scale) to bid 4♣ and 3♥ respectively.

 

The others seem less obvious to me. The second one, I would probably double again but there are definite down-sides. Partner probably would've bid spades pretty aggressively if he had them, so I suspect that we may not have a spade fit. In this case doubling again is fairly likely to lead to defending 4♥X, which will go down sometimes and make sometimes but is not very likely to go down more than one. It depends a little on how much partner likes to bid 4♠ over 4♥ on dubious hands (my partners love to do this). This is different from the auction 2♥-P-4♥ to me where double is totally obvious. I'd give double a 2.

 

On 4, I think 2♠ the first time is a terrible call. You are quite unlikely to have game and pretty likely to have a misfit. Do you want to hear 3♦ from partner? On the second round I can see 2♠ working out well (the spots are soo good) but it could also turn a plus into a minus pretty easily, or help opponents find a game they missed. I'd say it's a 3.

 

On 5, it's very much a style thing. I tend to remove these and would bid 4NT, but it depends on how light partner likes to double with the "right" shape and how likely partner is to go quietly with a defensive hand with extras. I'd give this a 3 for "very non-obvious, either option could win."

[MFA]

1. 4♣ = 1. LOVE the methods. 4♣ is obvious. We have a massive 5th trump, doubleton diamond (not a bad thing!) and a club control. Pard rates to have a big hand for this call, otherwise 1♦ and a reverse.

When we have such a handy method to show 4♥ and long diamonds and gameforce, there is now no reason to open this handtype at the one level, as one often would do without this gadget. So partner has a very good hand, yes, but not necessarily an absolute monster.

[skjaeran]

1) 1.5

2) 1.5

3) 2.5

4) 4

5) 3.5

[rfedrick]

Here's how you would have scored in practice:

 

1) partner had Ax AKxx AKxxx Ax opposite your xx 10xxxx xx KQ10x so you have to bid slam. I didn't actually have this problem (i wrote down -480, flat board) but the sequence given was how the auction would start in my own methods. i was interested in seeing folks' views on the philosophical issue of whether a club cue at this point was mandatory, or whether (as a team-mate argued) you should just bid 4♥ since you are only marginally better than you've already promised.

 

(In practice partner is so huge he will surely bid again anyway so i would like to think the slam would be routine).

 

2) Partner held Kxx Qx xxx QJ10xx opposite your Qxxx x AK AK9xxx, so a second double is the winner (5♣ is one off, but 4♥ is cold the other way). I thought this was a routine double at the time, my partner didn't (he passed). The longer i look at it the more sympathetic i am to passing; how likely is partner to have five clubs? On many other layouts double just provokes a (possibly expensive) phantom.

 

3) Big majority for 3♥ here, which is the right thing to do provided the hand opposite can stifle the urge to raise (actually, even if he raises it's not that bad since 2♠ was about to score +110). My partner passed.

 

4) KQJ10x AQx x xxxx opposite a w/2 in diamonds; should you back in with 2♠ after 2♦-(P)-P-(2♥); P-(P)-?. A big majority wanted to defend, which i'm sure is right any time that partner has < 3 spades. On this occasion he had three spades and you have to bid: both 3♠ your way and 2♥ their way are cold.

 

I chose to defend, wrongly.

 

5) xx xx J10xx K10xx and you hear 1♠-(4♥)-P-(P); X-(P)-?

 

Partner has AK108x Q Qx AQJ10x (is that a double? I think yes, though at least one poster has demurred aggressively). The correct action is a little unclear: if you run to 5♣, you are one off (probably doubled); if you sit and hope to beat it, you score +200 if partner defends correctly and -790 if he doesn't.

 

I chose to defend, and scored -790.

 

The defensive problem associated with this hand is (I think) rather elegant and instructive; however i am obviously wrong about that as well since nobody has shown any interest in it (I posted it in a separate thread).

[han]

1) Ax AKxx AKxxx Ax

 

(In practice partner is so huge he will surely bid again anyway so i would like to think the slam would be routine).

I disagree. I think a cue is obvious with our hand but if we don't cue then partner should respect the sign off. Even if we have as much as xx 10xxx xxx KQ10x then it would be bad to get to the 5-level, and if you don't show any sign of life over 3H then we are unlikely to have a slam.

 

Yes, partner has a nice hand but he already showed a gameforcing hand. This hand is not good enough to drive to the 5-level opposite a hand that is not able to cue.

 

3) Big majority for 3♥ here, which is the right thing to do provided the hand opposite can stifle the urge to raise (actually, even if he raises it's not that bad since 2♠ was about to score +110). My partner passed.

 

Yeah this was the other obvious hand I thought, the other three were less clear to me.

 

4) KQJ10x AQx x xxxx opposite a w/2 in diamonds

 

I chose to defend, wrongly.

 

Good hand for a simulation. The spade spots are nice but I would also defend. I think the suggestion of a direct 2S is absurd.

 

I chose to defend, and scored -790.

 

I would have pulled. The defensive problem is very interesting, if dummy had the heart 3 instead of the 2 then cashing the club ace would have been fatal, right?

[Finch]

I chose to defend, and scored -790.

 

I would have pulled. The defensive problem is very interesting, if dummy had the heart 3 instead of the 2 then cashing the club ace would have been fatal, right?

Yes.

We played rfedrick's opponent who scored the +790 in the next match and heard about it then. It was quite an amusing hand from declarer's point of view.

[benlessard]

I agree 100% with Han last post.

 

AK108x Q Qx AQJ10x

 

Close but not a X for me. Queens are not the cards i want after a 4 level preempts.