Jump to content

Bidding problem


peachy

Recommended Posts

I want to be in 4 because I like story hands.

 

Actually, 4 is not that bad of a contract. On a bad day, both diamond honors are off-side, making 5 hopeless. In 4, however, I might easily survive this. If I guess spades right, and they split 4-3 as expected, I win eight black tricks and the diamond Ace. If the heart Ace is well-placed, that's trick #10.

 

I mean, sure -- it's a bad contract and a goofy story, but "could be."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It hadn't occurred to me that 3 might be construed as weak. That doesn't strike me as a very good use of the bid.

 

If 3 is natural and strong, I think it might be any of 4153, 4144, 4054 and 4063 - the key is that it highlights heart shortage. The route I suggested for North of 3 followed by 4 caters for all of these shapes. If North were to raise clubs immediately, I think it should show five of them.

 

Where I come from, 3 might be treated as fourth-suit forcing, just showing enough for game with doubt about strain (and not three hearts, obviously). The auction would be much the same, though - once South bids 3, North knows that 3NT is unlikely to be right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think 3NT(N) is a fine contract. In fact I prefer it to 5.

 

To make 5, you basically need one of two diamond honors onside, which is 75%... although there is some chance to go down on a ruff if clubs are 5-1 or the like which brings it down a bit.

 

To make 3NT(N), I'm cold on a heart lead (3, 1, 1, 4) or a spade lead (4, 1, 4). If opponents lead a minor, I can always play a spade to the ten and make if either my spade finesse wins, or if the heart ace is onside (75%, and I don't need to worry about "bad breaks").

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think 3NT(N) is a fine contract. In fact I prefer it to 5.

 

To make 5, you basically need one of two diamond honors onside, which is 75%... although there is some chance to go down on a ruff if clubs are 5-1 or the like which brings it down a bit.

 

To make 3NT(N), I'm cold on a heart lead (3, 1, 1, 4) or a spade lead (4, 1, 4). If opponents lead a minor, I can always play a spade to the ten and make if either my spade finesse wins, or if the heart ace is onside (75%, and I don't need to worry about "bad breaks").

If they lead a diamond how do you play? (I'll grant it's unlikely though)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To make 3NT(N), I'm cold on a heart lead (3, 1, 1, 4) or a spade lead (4, 1, 4). If opponents lead a minor, I can always play a spade to the ten and make if either my spade finesse wins, or if the heart ace is onside (75%, and I don't need to worry about "bad breaks").

3NT is better than that: even if A and 10 are both wrong, you still make when both diamonds are onside, so it's about 81%.

 

It would be nice to be able to cater for a singleton diamond honour offside as well, by cashing A first, but I think the repeated club leads mess up your communications.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IMO 3NT by North is WAY better than 5, for the reasons stated my (the other) Adam... It makes more often than 5... As Andy said: 81% or so, 5 is about 76%... So 3NT is better. Chances are the lead will give away a trick, if not, you still can find the Jxx, the A onside or the KQ onside. A low (a very unlikely lead) gives the most problem, but still pretty much the same chances :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hate to be boring, but this hand is a screaming advertisement for mini-NTs. South will relay out north's shape and put it in 3NT.

Not to worry, you are not boring at all. I do think you are very wrong though, south will have NO IDEA where to place the contract after knowing north's shape. The only ones who will benefit from relaying opener's shape are the opponents.

 

In general I think relaying the shape of a 1NT-opener is a winner on slam hands (especially grand-slam hands) and a loser on choice-of games hands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hate to be boring, but this hand is a screaming advertisement for mini-NTs. South will relay out north's shape and put it in 3NT.

So after relaying north's shape, how does south know that north does not hold:

 

QT

6542

KQ9

AJ97

 

This also looks like a mini notrump (okay it's twelve, I was assuming some range like 10-12 or 11-13; if your range is 9-11 then change the Q to jack).

 

The thing is, opposite this hand 3NT can be defeated any time hearts break 5-3, whereas 6 is excellent (and of course 5 is ice cold).

 

I think the key to the hand is south showing the heart shortness. However, with king-fourth I think north should bid 3NT anyway (reaching the superior game). I would bid something like:

 

(standard methods)

Pass - 1

1 - 1

2NT - 3 (natural, pattern)

3NT - Pass

 

(mini notrump)

1NT (10-12) - 3! (4, 0-1, roughly equal length in the minors)

3NT - Pass

 

(precision)

1! - 1

1NT (11-13) - 3 (0-1, usually 4 only and a three-suited pattern)

3NT - Pass

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...