When You Find Yourself in a Bad Contract

[VegasVern]

[hv=d=s&v=e&w=shaj4dakj9caqj964&e=skqt973h752dqt85c]266|100|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

The Bidding:

 

Me Partner

1♣ 1♠

3♦ 3♠

4♣ 5♦

6♦

 

This is a two part question:

 

First the bidding. Where did (I) we go wrong?

 

Secondly, once were in 6♦ what is the best plan for playing the hand. I was down 2. That might be the best I could have done, or maybe I could have done better.

 

Once dummy comes down, I know I'm in a bad spot, but I've got to make the best of it and do the best I can from that point forward. I attempted a sort of cross ruff, but it didn't work out quite right.

 

How do you plan the play of 6D in this situation?

 

I think I blew the bidding and the play, and I'd like to get some opinions about the right line to take in both regards.

 

Thanks

[hatchett]

What was the lead? I am guessing a ♥?

[jdonn]

To the bidding: Most of us would play 3♦ as a splinter for spades (or any of a variety of other conventional choices) rather than a game forcing hand. A 2♦ reverse is forcing so that should suffice for the moment.

 

The other place you went wrong in the bidding was the final 6♦ bid. If we accept your 3♦ bid as natural and showing a game forcing hand, then your hand is off your chest. It's easy to become mezmorized with how nice it looks, but when you realize you have shown your values and your approximate shape and what partner has done is rebid your void then placed the contract, you should see that your hand is bid out.

 

To the play: What did they lead? Assuming a heart to the king or queen, my general plan would be to win it, throw one heart on the ace of clubs, and run the queen of clubs planning to throw the other heart if it's not covered. I have to set up clubs or spades to have any shot, and clubs certainly seem like the better chance.

[hanp]

2D is a reverse, it is forcing.

[VegasVern]

What was the lead?  I am guessing a ♥?

3♥

[VegasVern]

2D is a reverse, it is forcing.

So the bidding should have gone:

 

Me Partner

1♦ 1♠

2♦ 2♠

3♣ 3♦

 

Pass, 4♦,5♦???

[mikeh]

I concur with josh re where the bidding went wrong and how to play the hand.

 

In answer to the next question, after 2♠, the first issue is the level to which you have forced the partnership. I expect some controversy here, but my take is that while I play reverses as 'strong'.. that is to say, that I require more than most do before I do reverse, it is not gf.

 

Therefore, I would allow responder to pass 3♣ if very weak, and with no preference for diamonds. So we have to ask whether, in the context of the auction so far, opener can risk a non-forcing call.

 

My view, which won't likely be shared by all, is that he can. Imagine partner with the same spade suit but 6=3=3=1 shape and no side Queen. If that is consistent with your methods (which it won't be if you play weak jump shifts), then obviously 3♣ is high enough.

 

The alternative would be 2N, but I can't bring myself to do it with this shape, including the void.

 

Responder has a clear 3♦ call, and opener can be sure this is 4 cards.. even with a void in clubs, responder can pass 3♣ since opener is assuredly at least 6 cards there, and 6 good ones.

 

Note that this is still an unlimited auction. Responder is unlimited in standard bidding... some people may post that responder had 4th suit available to show a gf, either over 2♦ or over 3♣, but I would strongly disagree. Responder had to bid a forcing 2♠ on all hands with a long suit, else he can never conveniently show the length, so 2♠ does not deny or show anything about strength, and using 3♥ over 3♣ with a good hand and real diamonds makes a mess of later bidding.

 

So 3♦ was forcing one round.

 

Yes, all of this is confusing, but that's often the case in 'natural' bidding.

 

As opener, I think I bid 3♥, intending to pass 3N, but expecting to bid 4♣ over a forward-going 3♠, and to try 5♦ over 4♦.

 

As I say, I expect that others will have different views on some or all of these points :)