Wrong ace!

[dcrc2]

It's not easy to score -70 IMPs in a 24-board Butler pairs, but we managed it last night. This was the most amusing of our many disasters:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq975hakqt96dc5&n=sh872daj8cqjt9864&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=2cp2dd2sp3cp3hp4hp4np5cp7hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Would LHO make the mistake of leading the suit that her partner had doubled? Sadly not - she held ♣AKxx and naturally felt that this might be a better shot.

 

I confess to being opener on this hand, and perhaps my bidding was influenced by already being on about -55 by this point. But still, it all felt a bit unlucky.

 

How would you get this right? You are playing with a good partner but without extensive agreements; cue-bids would generally show either first or second round control. The 2♦ response was an almost-forced relay (maybe not best here but that was the system); 5♣ showed 1 or 4 key-cards. (And yes, I know perfectly well that you don't generally bid Blackwood with a void, so please don't tell me that unless you're going to offer a better idea.)

[billw55]

Yes, using blackwood with a void is usually wrong. This hand shows exactly why: the ace in your void suit may not help you.

 

Instead, cuebidding over 4♥ will work. 4♠, partner bids 5♦, and already you know you are off the ♣A and can stop in 6♥.

[rduran1216]

I open 1S then rebid 6H with hands like this.

[gordontd]

I open 1S then rebid 6H with hands like this.

So that your partner knows which minor-suit ace would be useful to you?

[Cyberyeti]

I open 1S then rebid 6H with hands like this.

No, you can open 1♠ and rebid 6♥ on AKQJxx, KQJ10xx, A, void where partner knows what to do with the A♥, but as Gordon said, you don't do it on this hand where one minor suit ace is useful and the other isn't, and partner has no clue which.

[xxhong]

very simple:

2C 2D(gf)

3H(both majors, at least 5-5) 4D(cue, agreeing H, denies C control)

6H.

It's not easy to score -70 IMPs in a 24-board Butler pairs, but we managed it last night. This was the most amusing of our many disasters:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq975hakqt96dc5&n=sh872daj8cqjt9864&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=2cp2dd2sp3cp3hp4hp4np5cp7hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Would LHO make the mistake of leading the suit that her partner had doubled? Sadly not - she held ♣AKxx and naturally felt that this might be a better shot.

 

I confess to being opener on this hand, and perhaps my bidding was influenced by already being on about -55 by this point. But still, it all felt a bit unlucky.

 

How would you get this right? You are playing with a good partner but without extensive agreements; cue-bids would generally show either first or second round control. The 2♦ response was an almost-forced relay (maybe not best here but that was the system); 5♣ showed 1 or 4 key-cards. (And yes, I know perfectly well that you don't generally bid Blackwood with a void, so please don't tell me that unless you're going to offer a better idea.)

[Finch]

Open 4NT, specific ace ask

[phil_20686]

You can just bid 6D over 4H. For me this would be a GS try with a diamond void, Partner should be expected to raise to grand with any key card that is not in diamonds, and probably with the K of spades. It carries very clearly the message that you have one loser and it isnt in diamonds.

[rduran1216]

good opponents on this hand will have the auction come back to you at 5D/6D if you open 2C.

 

Yes it'd be nice if partner had the ace and ur auction would go unobstructed, but it just wont.

[Cyberyeti]

Open 4NT, specific ace ask

I thought this, but without either major suit jack, don't you look a bit silly if partner flops void, Jxx the wrong way round in the majors ?