ATB

[daveharty]

[hv=pc=n&s=s7hakj54d852c8632&w=s963h9872dk73cj94&n=sqjt842hq63dj6ckq&e=sak5htdaqt94cat75&d=e&v=e&b=6]399|300[/hv]

 

East was dealer, EW vul. The auction was as follows:

 

1D-1H-pass-1S

2C-pass*-2D-2H

3D-pass*-pass-3H-

all pass

 

South broke tempo twice during the auction (agreed by South, East, and West; North stated that his mind was elsewhere and didn't notice). The lead was the diamond 3; result was +140 for NS, obviously not good for EW with 11 tricks available in diamonds. Whodunnit?

[hotShot]

I think that West underbid this hand.

 

Edit: To be specific I would have bid 3♦ instead of 2♦.

[hrothgar]

No options to comment on E/W's defense?

 

In any case, its hard to understand why South was tanking...

1♥ seems pretty clear cut (I suppose you could argue in favor of a 2♥ preempt)

The next two passed seem pretty cut and dry

Its also unclear whether the slow passes suggest bidding 3H as opposed to doubling...

 

It could be argued that West was conservative opposite what is probably a 2=1=6=4.

Kxx in diamonds is a nice holding, as is the unexpected club support.

 

Even so, forcing to the 4 level with a 3=4=3=3 is a bit rich for my blood.

[nigel_k]

Most lines seem to lead to eight tricks in hearts and ten in diamonds.

 

There isn't too much wrong with the bidding and choosing to defend 3♥ (probably doubled at matchpoints) is normal since neither East nor West has enough information to suspect the law may be off by two tricks. I prefer double of 2♥ by East and maybe 3♦ instead of 2♦ by West but this didn't appear to affect the outcome.

 

It looks like the defence is the main culprit and we aren't given the details. I don't see how declarer can make regardless of what East does at trick two so something must have gone wrong later.

[daveharty]

 

No options to comment on E/W's defense?

 

 

EW can set it one with best defense I think, but +50 would have been the same matchpoint score as -140. I was West, and I can verify that "best defense" was well beyond our capabilities during this particular session. :blink: I felt the same way as you about bidding to the four level with that shape.

[bluecalm]

Imo:

West has clear 4♦ as partner bid 6-4 and quite a strong hand.

East overbid with 3♦, he should have doubled which better describes his hand (no extra distrib, but extra strength)

 

I think tanks by NS doesn't matter.