Meh

[ahydra]

Alright, quick quiz. Gather round, best set of answers gets two bottles of whiskey. Nope, wait, we drunk that to try to cheer ourselves up after a disastrous game today.

 

MP scoring throughout (into VPs).

 

1) opps are vul, they're playing 4cM, weak NT

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s4hkq65dakj962cq6&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1c1d2c(natural)2s(%22encouraging%20but%20NF%22)3c]133|200[/hv]

 

What's your call second-round with this nice 6-4?

 

2) Can you stop somewhere sensible? Both vul.

 

[hv=pc=n&w=saq8haj973dcak642&e=s2h42daqt9653cj87&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1hp1np3cp3dp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

This was our auction and 3NT was a disaster for -200 and a near-bottom.

 

3) Opps bid this slam rather confidently! What do you lead?

 

[hv=pc=n&n=s932haq742d643ct9&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1hp1sp1n(15-18)p6nppp]133|200[/hv]

 

4) What about this one?

 

[hv=pc=n&w=sa875hj6dt52ct975&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=p1hp2n(limit%20raise%20or%20better%20in%20%21h)p3c(trial%20bid)p3dp3hp4n(RKC %21h)p5s(2 with Q)p6hppp]133|200[/hv]

 

5) Last but not least, how to show this hand? Opps are vul.

 

[hv=pc=n&e=skjth43dacakqt542&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=pp3d]133|200[/hv]

 

Apart from the other wonderful disaster we had where I bid 5H asking for queen of spades only to find partner thought hearts were trumps..., we played a solid game but still did pretty badly. We had a number of results like 4S=, right contract, no overtricks available which were, for some reason, average minus or worse. WTF? Ah well, teams tomorrow, where there's much less luck involved!

 

Thanks in advance for any tips on the above hands.

 

ahydra

[Bbradley62]

What does any of this have to do with the fact that you were playing Swiss pairs? Couldn't you have faced all these same issues playing any other format?

[MickyB]

Ah well, teams tomorrow, where there's much less luck involved!

 

No B-)

 

Edit: Unless it's BAM but that seems unlikely

[MickyB]

X

I'd expect most ppl to be in 3NT, were they making more tricks elsewhere?

♣T

♠A

3NT

[Vampyr]

No B-)

 

Edit: Unless it's BAM but that seems unlikely

Probably the answer is obvious, but to me it isn't -- how are these problems different in Swiss Pairs than in any matchpointed pairs event (apart from considerations arising from the state of the match)?

[SteveMoe]

1) Double - Extras opposite a strong partner. Partner should expect a doubleton ♣ from me.

2) West has too much playing strength to bid 3N imho...I would rebid 4♣ instead. East should understand that partner likel has a void so passing is an option...

3) ♣10 - hoping to develop a trick in partner's length or get 2♥ tricks on my own later...

4) 3N - as long a I'm playing with a partner who can envision me with a hand like this...

[Mbodell]

1) X

2) I'm not sure I like 3nt by W or pass over that by E, but I might well do the same as each of them. Tough hand, I hate bidding over jump shifts.

3) ♦6

4) I don't understand the 3 level bids by opponents, were any of them natural long or short suit game tries? Was 3♥ non-forcing? I'd lead ♦2 if 3♦ was a rejected long suit game try (which became slam try) and likely ♣T otherwise.

5) I'm torn between 5♣, 4♣, and 3nt. My first instinct was 5♣, but since it is MP especially, I'll bid the always right (except when it isn't) 3nt.

[ahydra]

What does any of this have to do with the fact that you were playing Swiss pairs? Couldn't you have faced all these same issues playing any other format?

 

Probably the answer is obvious, but to me it isn't -- how are these problems different in Swiss Pairs than in any matchpointed pairs event (apart from considerations arising from the state of the match)?

 

I'll be honest, I forgot to change the title to something meaningful. The issue is not the problems that are different. It's just that MPs into VPs is a ridiculously harsh format that seems to depend a lot on luck, and I hate it. I'll post the "what happened" soon, and then when you see the leads against the slams, you'll understand why I hate it :/

 

4) I don't understand the 3 level bids by opponents, were any of them natural long or short suit game tries? Was 3♥ non-forcing? I'd lead ♦2 if 3♦ was a rejected long suit game try (which became slam try) and likely ♣T otherwise.

 

The 3C was explained as "long suit trial bid, may be only 3 cards"; the 3D was not alerted, explained as "something in diamonds". Not sure whether 3H was forcing or not.

 

Thanks for the replies so far - I will go and tell my partner that it was my fault on hand 1 after all :)

 

ahydra

[perko90]

1. X

2. I thk I would have had the same auction

3. TC

4. TC (with no great conviction)

5. 3NT (fingers crossed). I wouldn't even consider a 5C bid.

[Cyberyeti]

1. X is easy

 

2. I would probably have bid 2♣ not 3♣ at pairs, why ? well unless partner passes (and he's going to try very hard at pairs to put me back into the major) and we can make 5♣, I'm better placed. Here the auction proceeds 1♥-1N-2♣-2♦-3♣ and now partner may pass or bid 3♦, if he does bid 3♦ we pass or bid 3N and he should bid 4♣ visualising the exact problem. Whether we bid 5♣ or not we're better off than we are in 3N. I can visualise you making 12 tricks in clubs on a spade lead, but you certainly should make 9 a lot of the time and often more.

 

3. 4♦, 10♣ seems more dangerous if for example partner has Q432 and dummy has KJx(x), it is much more likely to give away 2 tricks where a diamond often only gives away 1 if it's wrong, and may give away nothing.

 

4. A♠ it may be that not conceding 13 is the best you can do, or that pard has the K.

 

5. Tough one, 3N is tempting, as is X, if partner responds 3♥ I can bid 3N, if he bids 4♥ I bid 5♣ and accept I'm probably in the wrong place, if he bids 4♠ I'm happy, if he bids 3♠ I have a nasty decision but prob bid 4♠, if he bids 3N the diamond hand is on lead so even if there are AKQxxx♥ to cash he has to find them.

[ahydra]

1) My partner had that hand. He doubled and I bid 3D holding ♠AQ962 ♥J7 ♦T85 ♣KJ2. Looks like I'm the wimp and should have bid 3NT.

 

2) Looking at the results 3NT either made 7 or 10 tricks most of the time. Guess we got the good defence? Some pairs were in 4H, again either making or going off. Horrible hand in general.

 

Partner suggested I should try 3H or 4C instead of 3NT, but the former suggests a 6th heart while the latter misses out on 3NT which could easily be right.

 

3) I led a diamond... only to find dummy show up with a singleton ♥K! :( The results say that the ♣10 was a popular lead - the bad result came mostly from the fact that people weren't in this 32-count 6NT. Two people found the magic ♥A lead, but I was annoyed that it never crossed my mind. Am I resulting?

 

4) I led a diamond and to be honest I think that's a terrible lead. Dummy hit with AKQxx (declarer having two small) and that was 13 tricks. Club is better but unfortunately partner only has the K, declarer the AQJ. Top points to MickyB (edit: and Cyberyeti) for leading the SA, which holds this to 12 to clock up an average minus rather than a near bottom. [The SA lead also proved rather effective against one poor pair's 7H :)]

 

5) Partner had this hand. He X'd and bid 5C over my 4D "pick a major", which I passed. 7♣ and 7NT are stone cold as I had ♠AQ92 ♥AT76 ♦94 ♣J96. Perhaps I'm a wimp again...

 

Lots of people bidding 3NT - but would anyone move over 3NT with my hand? That's why I'm not convinced 3NT the right bid, even at MPs - the hand has too much playing strength IMO.

 

I still can't believe it - my partner and I (plus team-mates) just WON the swiss teams! This is a county level event - my previous best in county level events is halfway up the field, so today was amazing. The last round, my fingers were literally sweating as we held on to our slender lead to draw with Frances Hinden et al, and win with 107 VP out of 140.

 

There was one very interesting hand from today which I'll probably go post in the Interesting Bridge Hands section. We were still laughing about it with the opponents after the event had finished :)

 

ahydra

[Cyberyeti]

1. Once he doubles, you have enough values for game, so need to bid it.

 

3. Of course you're resulting, the heart bidder is a lot more likely to have the ♥K. What are the other hands ? The only reason to lead A♥ is if you think they're cashing 13, so knowing whether opps play WJS/SJS would help, if dummy might be coming down with 8 spade tricks, there's a real risk of 13, but if they play SJS probably not. This auction is odd in that the 6N bidder hasn't asked for aces, so isn't worried about missing 7 (or reaching 6 with 2 aces missing), so I'd suspect he's at least semi balanced and avoid the AH

 

5. 5♣ direct is not a weak bid, so X and 5♣ when one suited as clearly in this case is a monster, so you should bid on.

[ahydra]

(3) What are the other hands?

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sjt7h983djt95c874&w=sa4hjt65dakqcq632&n=s932haq742d643ct9&e=skq865hkd872cakj5&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1h(4cM%20weak%20NT)p1sp1n(15-18)p6nppp]399|300[/hv]

 

Looking at this again I can see why most people aren't in 6NT. :/

 

Side note: did you know you can type into the hand diagram creator? e.g. it says "Select cards for South" and I type "sjt7h983djt95c874". Much easier than fiddly clicking with the mouse!

 

ahydra

[perko90]

3) I led a diamond... only to find dummy show up with a singleton ♥K! :( ... Am I resulting?

Big time!

 

5) Partner had this hand. He X'd and bid 5C over my 4D "pick a major", which I passed. 7♣ and 7NT are stone cold as I had ♠AQ92 ♥AT76 ♦94 ♣J96. Perhaps I'm a wimp again...

Yikes! Passed 5♣?!? Extremely pessimistic.

 

Lots of people bidding 3NT - but would anyone move over 3NT with my hand?

Sure. I'd raise to 4NT. Whatever hand ptr has (very strong or hoping for a quick 9-trick run), your 2 bullets should make 10 tricks safe in either case and give a chance at 6NT if ptr has more fire power.

 

I still can't believe it - my partner and I (plus team-mates) just WON the swiss teams!

Gratz!

[Cyberyeti]

Looking at this again I can see why most people aren't in 6NT. :/

 

Side note: did you know you can type into the hand diagram creator? e.g. it says "Select cards for South" and I type "sjt7h983djt95c874". Much easier than fiddly clicking with the mouse!

 

ahydra

Yup, I'd be in 6♣ pretty rapidly.

 

Don't think there's any blame on this one other than east for bidding in somewhat eccentric fashion. Next time S's 4♣ will be a spade and 6N will go off while 6♣ is cold.

[Zelandakh]

1. X

2. I also get to 3NT but by West: 1♣ - 1♦; 1♥ - 1♠; 2♥ - 3♦; 3NT (West showed 18-20 with hearts and East showed enough for game with diamonds.)

3. Probably the ♦6. Certainly not the ♥A!

4. I would ask the opps whether the LSGT is showing where help is needed (properly a HSGT but people confuse the terms) or where strength is held. In other words: "don't give me a convention name, I want to know what the bid means!" Similarly whether 3♦ is positive or neutral. I do not think you should be leading in this kind of auction without finding out what their bids really mean. As a newly qualified TD (grats btw) you should know not to accept these half-explanations.

5. I would bid 5♣, despite it being MP.

 

On 3, I would certainly expect to reach 6♣ rather than 6NT. For example by

 

1♣ = 15+ nat/bal or 18+ any

... - 1♥ = 4+ spades (if bal or 3-suited then 4+ hearts), GF

1NT = 15-17 bal

... - 2♥ = 5+ spades

2♠ = 2-3 spades

... - 2NT = 4+ clubs

3♣ = 2 spades, 4-5 clubs

... - 4♣ = serious slam interest, diamond asking bid

4NT = diamond control, 2 key cards with ♣Q

... - 6♣

 

Finally, congrats on your suceess. Hope it is the first of many such wins.

[ahydra]

On 3, I would certainly expect to reach 6♣ rather than 6NT.

 

Wonder if doing so is possible in a natural system. Let's see.

 

1H-1S

1NT(15-17)-2C (checkback)

2D (minimum not 3S or 5H)-3C (nat GF)

 

And I think West really should bid 4C at this point (why else would partner bother with 3C instead of 3NT), then it's easy.

 

As a newly qualified TD (grats btw)

Finally, congrats on your suceess. Hope it is the first of many such wins.

 

Thanks! :)

 

ahydra

[Cyberyeti]

Wonder if doing so is possible in a natural system. Let's see.

 

1H-1S

1NT(15-17)-2C (checkback)

2D (minimum not 3S or 5H)-3C (nat GF)

 

And I think West really should bid 4C at this point (why else would partner bother with 3C instead of 3NT), then it's easy.

 

Congrats on the win, but it's very possible in a natural system, we open 4m4M strong no trumps with the minor so our auction goes 1♣-2♠-2N-3♣-3♦-3♥-3N-4♦-5♣-6♣.

 

2♠ GF shows at least HHxxx in the suit bid and Hxxx trumps H=AKQ, or the old fashioned single suited rock crusher

2N is better than minimum so 15+ if balanced

3♣ confirms the fit type hand

4♦ is keycard

[mikl_plkcc]

Alright, quick quiz. Gather round, best set of answers gets two bottles of whiskey. Nope, wait, we drunk that to try to cheer ourselves up after a disastrous game today.

 

MP scoring throughout (into VPs).

 

1) opps are vul, they're playing 4cM, weak NT

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s4hkq65dakj962cq6&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1c1d2c(natural)2s(%22encouraging%20but%20NF%22)3c]133|200[/hv]

 

What's your call second-round with this nice 6-4?

 

2) Can you stop somewhere sensible? Both vul.

 

[hv=pc=n&w=saq8haj973dcak642&e=s2h42daqt9653cj87&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1hp1np3cp3dp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

This was our auction and 3NT was a disaster for -200 and a near-bottom.

 

3) Opps bid this slam rather confidently! What do you lead?

 

[hv=pc=n&n=s932haq742d643ct9&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1hp1sp1n(15-18)p6nppp]133|200[/hv]

 

4) What about this one?

 

[hv=pc=n&w=sa875hj6dt52ct975&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=p1hp2n(limit%20raise%20or%20better%20in%20%21h)p3c(trial%20bid)p3dp3hp4n(RKC %21h)p5s(2 with Q)p6hppp]133|200[/hv]

 

5) Last but not least, how to show this hand? Opps are vul.

 

[hv=pc=n&e=skjth43dacakqt542&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=pp3d]133|200[/hv]

 

Apart from the other wonderful disaster we had where I bid 5H asking for queen of spades only to find partner thought hearts were trumps..., we played a solid game but still did pretty badly. We had a number of results like 4S=, right contract, no overtricks available which were, for some reason, average minus or worse. WTF? Ah well, teams tomorrow, where there's much less luck involved!

 

Thanks in advance for any tips on the above hands.

 

ahydra

 

1: 3♥, certainly.

 

2:

1♥ - 2♦

3♣ - 3♠

3NT

 

Sorry, I can't think of stopping this hand anywhere except 3NT. East's diamonds are not strong enough to pull it to 4♦.

 

3: I would lead a ♣.

 

4: Against a suit slam, I always lead an ace unless the bidding suggests a void in the suit.

 

5: X, then bid ♣.

[the_clown]

1. I really hate my singleton ♠ and Qx in♣ and since its MP I would stay low and bid 3♦. Hopefully p would have doubled with 5-4 in the majors.

2.3NT is normal contract. Maybe playing Gazzili you can bid

1♥-1N

2♣-3♦ (less then 8 long ♦s) but with a 7 card suit you would probably want to show 8+ anyway.

 

3.low ♦

 

4.♠A, especially at MP

 

5.3N, at IMPS I would certainly X