ATB

[Free]

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=sak85hq7dj965ct87&w=s9ha9653dat83cq43&e=sj76hkj4dq72ck652&s=sqt432ht82dk4caj9]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

Auction:

Pass - Pass - Pass - 1♥

Pass - 2♥ - Pass - Pass

Pass

 

2♥= was a complete bottom.

 

So who's to blame most and why?

 

Results (top = 48)

300 = 48

140 = 39.6

110 = 31.3

pass = 18.8

-100 = 4.2

-110 = 0

[helene_t]

Most blame to North for failing to put a double on 1♥, or, at least on 2♥.

 

I would have opened the South hand at MP but I don't think South's passivity is as bad as North's.

[campboy]

West is to blame for giving NS a chance to get to 2♠; think North is more culpable than South for them not bothering to bid it.

[marcD]

dbl in north is possible as a passed hand but i'm ok with pass ; however I feel prebalancing with 2♠ in South is clear cut so for me most of the blame goes to south

[gwnn]

mostly EW I would say, but I think I'd act from south and maybe from north.

 

edit:

On second thought I don't like NS bidding:

 

clear 1S opener by S round 1, I didn't realise he was 3rd seat.

borderline x but I think I'd always do it from N

prebalancing with that S hand is not very nice, which goes to show why 1S is a better choice initially.

[billw55]

What a bad decision by west to not pass this out. Should be obvious that the high card strength is near 50-50, and NS have the spades.

 

Either north or south could have acted. North perhaps more so (balancing double).

[Codo]

North should double 1 ♥ and failing to do so, he should have bid in the pass out seat.

South should open 1 ♠ or prebalance with 2 ♠.

 

West should have passed out, but never criticize success.

[pooltuna]

What a bad decision by west to not pass this out. Should be obvious that the high card strength is near 50-50, and NS have the spades.

 

Either north or south could have acted. North perhaps more so (balancing double).

finally something I agree with

[peachy]

Bad result for NS is their own fault now that West opened the hand in 4ts seat; he should have passed out the hand. South should have opened 1S or 2S in third seat. Lacking that North should have made a TO Dbl. Lacking that, North should have balanced in when 2H came back to him. EW lucked out. N+S is to blame.

[Phil]

Agree with Helene. Both N and S had opportunities to bid. North had the chance to act twice (not prebalancing with this as South) so maybe its 55-45 North.

[jjbrr]

both N and S have obvious bids at several points in the auction

[Lobowolf]

Everybody except east, to some extent. Mostly north, though. As a general rule, when you let the opponents play 2M with a fit at matchpoints, nothing good happens.

[aguahombre]

Seems like the third-seat opening is right by South. But if asleep at that point, then he had to wake up after the heart raise. Double by North/1H? I vote no.

 

Failing that, West took his 60-65 % board and tried to turn it into a 20 %; then ended with 100%. East was just along for the ride.

 

South was given two chances, thanks to West. South gets the blame.

[Bbradley62]

All four players contributed. East nicely fielded his partner's bizarre fourth-seat opening and avoided getting too high.

[Fluffy]

I don't think bidding either 1♠ first or 2♠ later by south is clearcut, specially the latter. both sound as decent options but the suit is poor.

 

north's hand however looks like the easiest double ever on both spots.

[mohitz]

North could X at first opportunity. Definitely in the passout seat. What was he thinking?

 

South might have opened 1S but i wouldn't bid 2S over 2H once i decide not to open.

 

I blame North.

[bill1157]

The 4th seat opener is fine, I would possibly open 2♥ but 1♥ probably works better. If you have any kind of a hand in 4th seat it is almost always right to open. East should bid Drury if he(she) has that available, 2♥ practically invites N/S into the auction.

 

Bill

[ArtK78]

The only action that is clear by either North or South is that North should not pass out 2♥. So I blame North.

 

I am curious about the defense to 2♥. Unless declarer makes an inspired guess in the diamond suit, he is ticketed to lose 6 tricks. What 8 winners did declarer take?

[jdonn]

South should obviously (to me) open 1♠ in 3rd seat, obviously overcall 2♠ the next round, and north should obviously double 2♥ when it comes around to him. I do not think north should double 1♥. I also think the double of 2♥, vul with Qx of hearts, is the least obvious of the 3 actions I named. I blame south more.

[mohitz]

The 4th seat opener is fine, I would possibly open 2♥ but 1♥ probably works better. If you have any kind of a hand in 4th seat it is almost always right to open. East should bid Drury if he(she) has that available, 2♥ practically invites N/S into the auction.

I am trying to find if i agree with ANY part of your post. Sorry can't find any!

 

2H in the passout seat shows an intermediate hand for most.

 

The 4th seat opener is not fine. It is certainly not right to open any hand in the 4th seat. Do you have any reasoning or data to back this? (I have at least this hand to cite)

 

Why wouldn't Drury invite them into the auction?

[mohitz]

South should obviously (to me) open 1♠ in 3rd seat, obviously overcall 2♠ the next round, and north should obviously double 2♥ when it comes around to him. I do not think north should double 1♥. I also think the double of 2♥, vul with Qx of hearts, is the least obvious of the 3 actions I named. I blame south more.

Why is doubling in the balancing seat less obvious then doubling in direct? Now, we know we probably make something. X in direct seat risks giving away distribution/strength when its their hand but perhaps that is good cause he would finesse in hearts the other way. Just curious.

[nigel_k]

South should have opened and overcalled. North should have doubled at both opportunities.

 

I'm giving North 65% because I think South's actions were closer, and the failure to double 1H by North as a passed hand is the only action I really consider a blatant error rather than just a judgment call.

[aguahombre]

South should obviously (to me) open 1♠ in 3rd seat, obviously overcall 2♠ the next round, and north should obviously double 2♥ when it comes around to him. I do not think north should double 1♥. I also think the double of 2♥, vul with Qx of hearts, is the least obvious of the 3 actions I named. I blame south more.

Why is doubling in the balancing seat less obvious then doubling in direct? Now, we know we probably make something. X in direct seat risks giving away distribution/strength when its their hand but perhaps that is good cause he would finesse in hearts the other way. Just curious.

check what JD said, again. He named 3 actions of which he would have approved and stated which of those was least obvious. doubling 1H was not one of the three actions he would have taken.

[jdonn]

South should obviously (to me) open 1♠ in 3rd seat, obviously overcall 2♠ the next round, and north should obviously double 2♥ when it comes around to him. I do not think north should double 1♥. I also think the double of 2♥, vul with Qx of hearts, is the least obvious of the 3 actions I named. I blame south more.

Why is doubling in the balancing seat less obvious then doubling in direct? Now, we know we probably make something. X in direct seat risks giving away distribution/strength when its their hand but perhaps that is good cause he would finesse in hearts the other way. Just curious.

If you double in balancing seat the opponents have a fit, opener is a minimum, and responder is a minimum. None of those 3 considerations are known to hold when you are acting in direct seat.

[hijumper]

No one to be blame for EW. 4H is not easy. There are four losing tricks: 2C, 1S and 1D. It is reasonable for East to downgrade his hand with 10 bad points and ugly shape to bid 2H. West had no interest to explore further after the passive 2H raise. Nobody would bid further except their side are in desperate situation. I want to address my point: Don't judge the bidding course by results, but by rationale of your system.