A Grand Decision

[Rebound]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=shaq6543daj8754c10]133|100|Scoring: IMP

How's this for the first hand of the evening?[/hv]

 

After a pass to me, I opened 1♥ although I welcome comments about opening 1♦. After that, it get's interesting. So the whole auction:

N E S W

 

P 1♥ 4♠ 5♥

5♠ 6♦ P 6♥

P P 6♠ X

P ?

I don't know that pass is automatic here. In fact, I bid 7♥. I'd be curious to know what you would do. The full hand will soon follow.

[HeartA]

I am happy to pass since pd dbled. I would expect at least one D or/and C loser.

[cf_John0]

I am happy to pass since pd dbled.

pass.

[the hog]

Why would you welcome comments about a 1D opening. Opening 1D on this is absurd.

 

You have a pass and it is clearcut. Your 6D bid clued partner into the auction. He made the decision to X based on the information you have given him. Why do you think a pass is not clearcut? Par has probably been reached.

[nikos59]

The fact that partner doubled is almost irrelevant.

I have not shown my hand and I don't expect him

to have a trump stack in spades either.

 

Odds are that both 6S and 7H will fail but if one

makes then the impact, both score-wise and

psychological will be huge against the erring side.

Hence, I take insurance by bidding 7H. If they

go to 7S (not unlikely) I will double this trusting

that partner will not convert to 7NT or 8H.

 

Moreover, if (this is admittedly thin) both

6S and 7H make, by bidding 7H one ensures that

he will be on the winning side of a cherished story.

 

Hence, 7H -especially since this is the first board.

 

nikos

[jtfanclub]

The fact that partner doubled is almost irrelevant.

I have not shown my hand and I don't expect him

to have a trump stack in spades either.

 

He showed you his hand very nicely. He said "I don't think we have slam". Then, when you insisted on slam he said "I don't think we have grand slam". THEN, when the opponents bid 6 spades, he said "Don't bid a grand slam".

 

How many times does he need to tell you to stop before you'll stop?

 

Odds are that both 6S and 7H will fail but if one

makes then the impact, both score-wise and

psychological will be huge against the erring side.

 

Oh, I think the impact will be pretty strong all right. I'm curious to know if the opponent staring at the ace of clubs is going to have the courage to double you or not. Probably not- it is IMPs, after all.

 

My partners tend to get a little upset when they ask me to do something (in this case, pass), I refuse, and it turns out badly. If what I'm worried about is psychology, the message I'd like to give is "I'm listening to you partner, and respect your judgement".

[nikos59]

To jtfanclub:

 

You say that pard has said "I don't think we have slam"

but I fail to see which of his calls or bids conveyed this

particular message. The 5H bid perhaps? If yes, then

I admire you for your listening skills.

 

Anyway, I stand by my opinion, waiting to see the

hands. I am willing to sacrifice the difference from +100

to -100 in order to avoid -1210 or to avoid missing

+1510.

 

The good thing that may be said for passing is that partner

will have the privilege to make the opening lead that

may swing a couple of dozens of imps.

 

n

[Free]

PASS!

 

But if you want to bid something, bid 7♦...

[luke warm]

this looks like one of those times when yu just got beat... 6h might have made, but the ops didn't let you play there... hell, 6s might make but i doubt it... i think by bidding 7h (tho i have a little sympathy for it) you turn a small positive into a negative...

 

but if 6s makes i'm gonna feel sick

[Chamaco]

Pard already bid 5H, which was passable.

He then stretched to 6H, which may as well be a save (we do not know whose hand this is).

Finally he doubles, which means "enough is enough, leave me alone", so, while the hand is very offensive, I'd better leave in the double if I enjoy going on playing with my pard :-))

 

You lose when 7H is making and/or when 6S are making , but you win when 7H does not make and if even 6H was going down.

 

I'd rather like to know what to lead if I were on lead vs 6S doubled (I know, here my pard will be on lead): H ace or D ace or what ?

[inquiry]

6♦ in effect invited grand slam, not suggest playing diamonds after partner raised to the five level in hearts. To invite grand slam, you will have a spade control here. This puts the bright light on the club suit. Partner choose to not pass (inviting you to continue to seven), nor did he bid seven (even better hand). He choose to double.

 

True you have a wonderful hand, despite the low point count. But what can you do? You invited your partner to participate in a logical manner. He heard your 6D bid, and he choose to wack 6♠. It would be the height of folly to bid on now. Partner needs the club ACE, the heart king, and something useful in diamnonds to have a play for seven. After 6♦ if he had that, he would bid seven, or at the very least pass the decision back to you. His double says, "defend" and your hand can't override his decision.

 

Ben

[Rebound]

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sj832h108dk103ck982&w=s106hk97dq96caqj74&e=shaq6543daj8754c10&s=sakq9754hj2d2c653]399|300|Scoring: IMP

Here's the full hand. Opening lead against 7♥ - ♠A[/hv]

 

By the way, I totally agree with everyone who said I should have passed, except for the fact that I know my partner. As you can see, the grand actually does make. However, I think it was incumbent on partner to bid it directly over 6♦. My partner and the opponents were my brothers so it should be noted that we were all playing rather loose at first so I took the chance on the grand. I emphasize I would not take this action under other circumstances. I was more curious to see who would take the opportunity for massive gain and bid it. I guess this hand shows you should only bid it if it makes lol.

 

Incidentally, would a more defensible action have been to gamble on the grand right over 5♥-5♠-?

[Rebound]

6♦ in effect invited grand slam, not suggest playing diamonds after partner raised to the five level in hearts. To invite grand slam, you will have a spade control here. This puts the bright light on the club suit. Partner choose to not pass (inviting you to continue to seven), nor did he bid seven (even better hand). He choose to double.

 

True you have a wonderful hand, despite the low point count. But what can you do? You invited your partner to participate in a logical manner. He heard your 6D bid, and he choose to wack 6♠. It would be the height of folly to bid on now. Partner needs the club ACE, the heart king, and something useful in diamnonds to have a play for seven. After 6♦ if he had that, he would bid seven, or at the very least pass the decision back to you. His double says, "defend" and your hand can't override his decision.

 

Ben

You're absolutely right, of course. But in this particular case, you can see that partner held the required hand and still doubled 6♠. I know that's no excuse for bidding it really, but it sure was fun heh heh.

[inquiry]

6♦ in effect invited grand slam, not suggest playing diamonds after partner raised to the five level in hearts. To invite grand slam, you will have a spade control here. This puts the bright light on the club suit. Partner choose to not pass (inviting  you to continue to seven), nor did he bid seven (even better hand). He choose to double.

 

True you have a wonderful hand, despite the low point count. But what can you do? You invited your partner to participate in a logical manner. He heard your 6D bid, and he choose to wack 6♠. It would be the height of folly to bid on now.  Partner needs the club ACE, the heart king, and something useful in diamnonds to have a play for seven. After 6♦ if he had that, he would bid seven, or at the very least pass the decision back to you. His double says, "defend" and your hand can't override his decision.

 

Ben

You're absolutely right, of course. But in this particular case, you can see that partner held the required hand and still doubled 6♠. I know that's no excuse for bidding it really, but it sure was fun heh heh.

Required hand? You need two finessees to make.. first for the diamond king, then you finesseed the diamond ten. Not a great grand slam, and risked a sure 800 for a 25% grand (you could have played for the drop. The diamond NINE was huge in partners hand. this ignroes vacant space caluculations which increase the chances for double diamond hook to above 50%)...

 

This is the hand that your partner should pass teh decision back to you on. Being vul, he (or she) bid 5♥ to make, and you bid 6♦ as Grand Slam Try.

 

Your partner has three choices over 6♠ = DOUBLE which should say, this is the spto... (swap CLUB ACE AND KING). Pass - I am uncertain about going on, but I do have control of clubs (assuming your 6♦ totally denied club control). And 7♥, you invited me, and I have a great offensive hand including all kind of good minor suit controls.

 

A question to ask yourself (anyone) is what would partners 5♣ over 4♠ mean? Do you play that as monster club suit without interest in ♥'s, or do you play that as clubs and heart supports (a five level fit non-jump). Something to consider.

 

To become a good partnership, you have to learn to trust one and the others bidding, and this include letting someone be teh captain when the time is ripe.

 

ben

[Rebound]

Thank you, ben. It is always a pleasure to read your reasoned commentary. I agree with you entirely. Unfortunately, I don't currently play enough to stay sharp and keep old bad habits from cropping up. It's a worthy goal, however, to be a good partner in the manner you describe.

[pclayton]

I would have bid it different initially. Why not a forcing pass over 5♠ followed by 6♦?. That would focus on the club issue.

 

On the actual hand, partner has to double to deny the spade control which you don't need. Now you are guessing over partner's double of 6♠.

 

I would live with the decision over partner's double of 6♠.

[nikos59]

One hand obviously shows nothing, but I am glad

that the "bid once more in freak deals" principle

was proved right for the umpteenth time :ph34r:)

 

nikos