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Problem after Kokish


hanp

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4, focussing on the most likely slam. Opposite AKx AQJxx x AKQx, which is not necessarily a 2 opener, and where 2/5 of our points are completely wasted, slam is in the high 60s. That heart holding is really good for a club contact.
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Opposite AKx AQJxx x AKQx, which is not necessarily a 2 opener

How is this not necessarily a 2C opener?

And I thought my 2 opening requirements were high.

 

Absolute 2 opener.

 

As for the original problem, I bid 3. I have one sure cover card (the K) opposite a 3 or less loser hand (the typical loser count for a 2 opening). The Q is a potential cover card if partner has diamond length. In any event, it is not clear that slam is in the picture. For example, partner could have a solid 2 opener like this one:

 

AKQ AQJxx x AKxx

 

Slam is virtually hopeless on this hand (on a non-diamond lead 6 has a chance).

 

If partner moves towards slam I will try to offer a choice of slams. If the club fit is solid, clubs is likely to be a better place to play slam. For example:

 

x AQJxx Ax AKQxx

 

Now this hand is a borderline 2 opening, but 6 rates to be easy.

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rather than offer a choice Art, if given the opportunity I will try to impose clubs for slam :)

If you bid 3 over 3, can you really impose clubs as the trump suit later in the auction? If not, do you recommend bidding 4 now?

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For example, partner could have a solid 2 opener like this one:

 

AKQ AQJxx x AKxx

 

Slam is virtually hopeless on this hand (on a non-diamond lead 6 has a chance).

So what? 4 doesn't compel us to bid slam.

 

It's true that 5 is a worse game than 4, but that's what happens if you construct a hand where none of his minor honours are in clubs. If he had AKQ AQxxx x AKJx we'd be better off in 5 than 4.

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I would bid 3. This shouldn't rule out a club contract, altho we may need sophisticated agreements, or luck, to get back to the suit. I have never discussed this with any partner, and I know the sequences are not directly comparable, but in a sequence such as 1  1  3  3, virtually all experts would, I think, stall with 3 on most hands containing K10 in hearts and xxxx in clubs. I appreciate that one major difference is that after a kokish auction, 3 is 'real' whereas the jumpshift may be a distortion necessitated by the need to create a force. However, the same needs apply: a desire to keep the bidding low rather than committing to a suit that may be far too weak for slam or even game purposes. In addition, this is mps where 10 tricks in hearts outscores 11 in clubs.

 

I do think that opener, with a slam suitable 2-suiter, should bid 4 naturally rather than as a cue bid. Then we raise to 5 or 6 depending on our partnership's view of the minimum strength of a 2-suited 2 opening....it should have play even if it is poor...they probably have to guess which pointed suit to lead to have any chance of beating it.

 

The need to use 4 over 3 as natural is not too much of a problem since he will rarely have unilateral slam interest without a spade control, so he can start slamtries with 3...which I do NOT think should be natural, patterning out...or am I allowing this hand and auction to influence me?

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xxxx K10 Qxx 108xx

2C - 2D (values)

2H (forces 2S) - 2S (forced)

3C (natural, hearts and clubs) - ??

Pairs, forgot about vulnerability.

I like the Kokish convention. IMO, with a fit but without support, you should try to bid at the 3-level to keep 3N in the frame. Hence, bids at the 4-level normally show a double fit. Anyway, whatever it means, a 4 bid doesn't preclude either player from suggesting 4 as a contract -- by bidding it. In principle, a return to the major at the 4 level offers a choice of games. Hence ...

4 = 10, 4 = 9, 3 = 5.

 

BTW, my marks are simply a way of expressing the degree of my preference between calls that I consider making. Not a patronising attempt to rate other poster's comments.

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For example, partner could have a solid 2 opener like this one:

 

AKQ AQJxx x AKxx

 

Slam is virtually hopeless on this hand (on a non-diamond lead 6 has a chance).

So what? 4 doesn't compel us to bid slam.

 

It's true that 5 is a worse game than 4, but that's what happens if you construct a hand where none of his minor honours are in clubs. If he had AKQ AQxxx x AKJx we'd be better off in 5 than 4.

I think the scoring is matchpoints. I would raise to 4 at IMPs but at matchpoints raising clubs almost seems like betting we have slam.

 

Last time I thought about this auction I thought 3 should show a fit. The difference to the jump shift auction is obvious - we are much more likely to have a heart fit (as we couldn't raise hearts before), and partner is unlimited. I think showing a fit here is really important.

 

Maybe I would bid 3H anyway, or I would bid 4C and hope partner can bid 4H (which I would pass), I still don't know...

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Last time I thought about this auction I thought 3 should show a fit. The difference to the jump shift auction is obvious - we are much more likely to have a heart fit (as we couldn't raise hearts before), and partner is unlimited. I think showing a fit here is really important.

 

Maybe I would bid 3H anyway, or I would bid 4C and hope partner can bid 4H (which I would pass), I still don't know...

Or you could play the kokish version I like where 3s shows a real fit and 3h can be a doubleton (and you show spades by bidding 2h-2n).

 

I would also bid 4c and hope that partner bids 4h.

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I think the scoring is matchpoints. I would raise to 4 at IMPs but at matchpoints raising clubs almost seems like  betting we have slam.

I hadn't noticed that. I agree with 3 at MPs.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if we could play IMPs during the bidding but matchpoints during the play?

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