High level decision (2)

[debrose]

I like to have the following agreement in my notes with regular partners:

 

"In comp, 5N is always pick-a-slam and a Q-bid of their suit which forces us to slam is always a grand slam try."

 

I don't claim this solves all problems, or that I have a lot of experience with these auctions coming up. But I very much like having this basic general agreement, rather than a lot of memory strain, or hoping to be on the same wavelength on whatever specific auction comes up. Of course there are still the problems of two-suited vs. three-suited, and what one should have to make a grand try in any given context. Still, I think we're likely to be closer to the same wavelength with this agreement than with none at all, and it certainly doesn't require much memory strain.

 

On the actual hand, given that opener was limited, I think 6♣ is a standout. Sure, you may not even belong at the 6 level, but since I don't know what strain we belong in a the 5-level, I'm going to stretch. Once I do so, I think in context of the limited opening I am worth the grand try.

 

On the responding hand which was given, I would double. I think it's pointless to try to pinpoint what these high level doubles "show" (I think there was another recent thread about doubling 4♠ ), or what to call them. Whether you call it takeout, optional, cards, or even penalty, the fact is that any hand which is too good to pass, and is unwilling to commit to bidding at the necessary level, is going to have to double. That's a lot of hand types. I do think it can be useful to discuss what the partner of the doubler will tend to do with various hands, since that might help when one has a close call as to whether to double or bid (or pass). You're still going to have a lot of guesses on these high level auctions, no matter how clear your agreements are. Especially since a lot of IMPS are often at stake, it's certainly an area worth discussing quite a bit. Pretending that it's realistic to get very specific about what the doubler should have isn't going to help though, imo.

[Codo]

I had doubled with partners hand too. If I pass, partner will often be forced to pass with his limited opening and with a more boring 5440 or 6331 then his actual hand.

And X will gain in cases where opener has to reopen and I have a totally broken hand. All these hands are more common then a balanced 11 count.

 

On this hand: 5 ♣ had worked against me. I had reached 6 in a major - no success.