these computer dealt hands!

[jillybean]

[hv=pc=n&s=sakqjt92hda2cakq4&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=pp?]133|200[/hv]

[ArtK78]

I find it hard to believe that one would open this hand with anything other than 2♣.

 

The only reason not to open 2♣ is that you don't want your opps to find a cheap sacrifice. But then your alternative is to guess that there is a slam (open 6♠) or there is not a slam (open 4♠). I assume that no one would open 7♠.

 

I want to try to get some information from partner. Who knows? Maybe 7NT is biddable.

[billw55]

So let's see, I need the ♦K for the grand, or the ♥A and an entry somewhere.

 

One option is to give up trying to figure it out and just open 6♠. This has the advantage of suppressing sacrifices in hearts or maybe diamonds.

 

More scientifically, perhaps I can open 2♣, set spades as trump, ask for keycards, then ask for a king. That should all fit below 6♠, unless some op jumps in with long hearts.

[ahydra]

What about 4NT (specific ace ask), followed up by 5NT (specific king ask)? Suppose we hear:

 

HA and DK => 7NT

HA, no DK => 7S (unfortunately I guess you don't play specific eight asks :D, but I'd punt it anyway, making when e.g. partner has short clubs, they lead a heart, or even partner holds 7x of spades and the 8 drops on the first round)

DK, no HA => 7S

neither => 6S

 

ahydra

[CSGibson]

2♣ for me. If playing denial responses, I can punt 6♠ over a call denying a control. Over a 2♦ response, I can jump to 3♠, setting trump & demanding a cue-bid.

 

Responder should bid 3N without a 1st round control (not sure if that's standard), and cue the 1st round control otherwise. Over 3N, I'll cue 4C, and hopefully hear a 2nd round control cue in diamonds.

 

If I hear about either the ace of hearts or the K of diamonds, I'm bidding grand.

[jillybean]

[hv=pc=&s=sakqjt92hda2cakq4&n=s8hj8532dkt974c63&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=pp6Sppp]200|200[/hv]

 

edit:oops dummys 13card was 2♥

 

This was opened 6♠, making 6 after a trump lead for a 12/38. Most of the field made an easy 7.

 

I like 4N/5N specfic ace/king ask but I'd live with 2♣.

How do you respond to specific ace ask with 0 aces?

[jeffford76]

I find it hard to believe that one would open this hand with anything other than 2♣.

 

I found a reason to open 1S - not paying enough attention and clicking the wrong button. Grr.

[ahydra]

[hv=pc=&s=sakqjt92hda2cakq4&n=s8hj8533dkt974c63&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=pp6Sppp]200|200[/hv]

 

This was opened 6♠, making 6 after a trump lead for a 12/38. Most of the field made an easy 7.

 

I like 4N/5N specfic ace/king ask but I'd live with 2♣.

How do you respond to specific ace ask with 0 aces?

 

Normally it's

 

5C = no aces

5D/H/S = ace of that suit

5NT = club ace [or two aces]

6C = two aces [or club ace]

 

How does one make 7 on a trump lead, assuming no miracle ♦QJ doubleton? Seems you were unlucky.

 

ahydra

[Phil]

I guess no one led a trump. Even then, there are some interesting squeezes - I'm sleepy this AM, but isn't it cold if RHO has four clubs?

[billw55]

This was opened 6♠, making 6 after a trump lead for a 12/38. Most of the field made an easy 7.

Eh, bad luck that they found the best lead.

 

Even so, there are chances if you run all the trumps immediately. If an op holds 4 clubs without the jack, they are unlikely to see the need to hold them all. The diamonds in dummy look threatening, and both ops might decide to keep high hearts. Or there could be a real squeeze.

[Phil]

Even so, there are chances if you run all the trumps immediately. If an op holds 4 clubs without the jack, they are unlikely to see the need to hold them all.

 

Partner thats holding 3♣ will dump them like they are en fuego. Both will give a heart signal and some present count so good defenders should get this right, assuming that there's a legitimate beat.

[JLOGIC]

I guess no one led a trump. Even then, there are some interesting squeezes - I'm sleepy this AM, but isn't it cold if RHO has four clubs?

 

What lol?

[Phil]

What lol?

 

Well I KNOW its cold if RHO has a diamond picture + four clubs.

[BunnyGo]

Well I KNOW its cold if RHO has a diamond picture + four clubs.

 

Why doesn't he just keep 4 clubs, and Hx of diamonds, and LHO keep Hxx of diamonds?

 

I think the squeeze needs an opponent to have 4 clubs and QJ of diamonds...but it's late here, so I could be equally sleepy.

[ArtK78]

Well I KNOW its cold if RHO has a diamond picture + four clubs.

A diamond picture and 4 clubs? RHO can hold Hx of diamonds and 4 clubs while LHO holds Hxx of diamonds and a high heart (and 2 other cards) after the run of 7 spades, preventing either minor from running.

 

13 tricks are makable if either opponent has 4 diamonds and 4 clubs or QJ/QJx of diamonds and 4 clubs. 13 tricks will also be cold in the very unlikely case that one opponent has AKQ(xxx) of hearts along with the sole guard of a minor. Of course, if one opponent is unlucky enough to hold AKQ(xxx) of hearts, QJ or QJx or any four diamonds, and four clubs, that opp will be tripled to smithereens on the run of the trump.

 

Edit: Phil points out below that in the end position in the first paragraph 3 rounds of clubs will squeeze LHO in the reds. Very true.

 

So there are many ways to make 13 tricks. It will be truly unlucky to make less.

 

Second Edit: I am sure that the missing card from dummy is a club, but it probably makes little difference (assuming it was not a spade).

[Phil]

Why doesn't he just keep 4 clubs, and Hx of diamonds, and LHO keep Hxx of diamonds?

 

I think the squeeze needs an opponent to have 4 clubs and QJ of diamonds...but it's late here, so I could be equally sleepy.

 

Because in the 6 card ending he is keeping no hearts. LHO has the sole heart guard, so three rounds of clubs squeezes LHO in the reds.

[Phil]

LHO holds Hxx of diamonds and a high heart (and 2 other cards) after the run of 7 spades, preventing either minor from running.

 

3 card ending Art, not 4.

[RMB1]

The various squeezes would be easier if dummy had 13 cards: at the moment every squeeze I look at ends up squeezing dummy first. :)

[Stephen Tu]

Don't really see why people are wanting to use specific ace ask/king ask or the rush to set spades as trump. I personally would like to maneuver to see if I can get partner to raise *clubs*, if he can't support spades, which could reasonably often lead to 7c as the only making grand when partner doesn't have HA/DK, and can help the 7s/7nt decision if he has the HA and club length. If you set spades as trumps, partner won't ever be able to show 4+ club length, while it's possible he could after 2c-2d-2s-2nt-3c or other such auctions.

 

Though I suppose this could increase chances of trump lead on the actual board when I end up in 6s with everyone else.

[billw55]

Partner thats holding 3♣ will dump them like they are en fuego. Both will give a heart signal and some present count so good defenders should get this right, assuming that there's a legitimate beat.

I think you are playing in stronger games than I am ;)

 

I suspect that even advanced players (maybe not experts) will sometimes stumble when negotiating signals and guards in three suits. Anyway, there is nothing else to do but run the spades.

[jillybean]

the ♥2 was hidden underneath J853, dummy now has 13 cards

[andy_h]

Don't really see why people are wanting to use specific ace ask/king ask or the rush to set spades as trump. I personally would like to maneuver to see if I can get partner to raise *clubs*, if he can't support spades, which could reasonably often lead to 7c as the only making grand when partner doesn't have HA/DK, and can help the 7s/7nt decision if he has the HA and club length. If you set spades as trumps, partner won't ever be able to show 4+ club length, while it's possible he could after 2c-2d-2s-2nt-3c or other such auctions.

 

Though I suppose this could increase chances of trump lead on the actual board when I end up in 6s with everyone else.

 

+1. Who cares about keycards when you just want to first find out if partner has 4+clubs

[lalldonn]

Against jlogic I open 7♣, hopefully partner is 4-4 in the black suits.

[bd71]

 

Responder should bid 3N without a 1st round control (not sure if that's standard), and cue the 1st round control otherwise.

 

 

This question came up recently with a partner...if our standard cue-bidding approach is 1st/2nd round controls, should cues after 2C-2D-3M show the ace or king? Or is there some good reason to shift to an ace-only approach here?

[billw55]

This question came up recently with a partner...if our standard cue-bidding approach is 1st/2nd round controls, should cues after 2C-2D-3M show the ace or king? Or is there some good reason to shift to an ace-only approach here?

Hm interesting question. I usually treat cuebids below keycard as a first or second round control. Are there specific auctions where this does not or should not apply? Perhaps, I don't know.