ATB, if any

[ahydra]

Playing matchpoints with an infrequent but very competent partner.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sak7h4dkqt82ckq94&n=sj32hk98da75ca872&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=p1d1h2n(NAT%2010-12)p3h(ostensibly%20asking%20stop)p3np4cp6dppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Unfortunately the ♠Q did not drop (edit: and the ♥A was offside). Any blame here?

 

ahydra

[Stephen Tu]

Uh, why do you need the ♠Q to drop? If the HA is onside, all you need is to pick up the minors for no losers, you need clubs 3-2 or a stiff J/T, and diamonds 3-2, stiff DJ or Jxxx onside. Was there unavoidable minor loser or HA was offside?

[aguahombre]

Yeh, I would congratulate whoever might have missed this slam because they were concerned about the Spade Queen ---if somehow they were right to miss the slam; but my tongue would be firmly in cheek.

[Fluffy]

6♣ is a better contract, but depends on the methods.

 

I don't like to bid 2NT with only one stopper. I would rather make a take out double if available.

[Cyberyeti]

If you bid 2♣ rather than 2N you bid the right slam. Would you bid 2N with 5 clubs here ?

 

What did 4♣ show ?

 

The point of these questions is to ascertain whether you could bid 6♣ as choice of contracts showing 3-4 in the minors.

[ahydra]

Sorry, forgot to mention the HA was offside (lead was ♥Q, declarer put up the K, RHO won the Ace). 4C was undiscussed, we're an infrequent partnership.

 

ahydra

[helene_t]

2nt already shows a stopper so North shouldn't bid 3NT with only one stopper, imho. It's a little awkward but maybe 4♣ or 4♦, or maybe 4♥ if that means "pick a minor" but that probably sounds like ♥A.

 

When North bids 3NT South should expect a lot a heart wastage and pass.

 

After the 4♣ bid, North shouldn't insist on diamonds. 4♦ or 5♣ or 6♣ is better.

[mcphee]

I am not so fond of how N blasted 6D even though it is not a horrible place. Missing 6C though is all on N. I feel 3H was excellent and that this hand could not have 4 card S, and bid it very nicely.

[PhilKing]

If 3♣ over 2NT is forcing, then 3♥ followed by 4♣ suggests a different hand. North assumed it showed a strong hand with diamonds with a club control, and I would tend to agree with that interpretation.

 

Having said that, 6♦ was somewhat agricultural - 5NT would be better, and would have allowed South to bid 6♣ to resolve the issue.

[Free]

The auction isn't a thing of beauty. What strikes me though is that North decides to play ♦ in a 5-3 or 6-3 fit while a 4-4♣ fit is available. In general, the 4-4 will play better (as in this case).

[aguahombre]

2nt already shows a stopper so North shouldn't bid 3NT with only one stopper, imho.

The rest of what you said was spot-on, IMHO; and this part is O.K. But, we would be using the 3H Cue here to check whether the stopper was prime, rather than whether there was more than one of them ---so, we would be in the same boat in the end with this combination "knowing" there was a trick for us to pitch the losing Spade (or the Heart Ace and only a Spade loser).

 

Dreadfully unlucky the overcaller didn't have the good grace to possess the Heart Ace at Red/Red, since we are missing only a bunch of quacks other than that card.

[ahydra]

Useful replies all - thanks. I was North and wasn't sure what partner was doing with 3H followed by 4C - I thought she must have a very good hand but was afraid 4C was Gerber or perhaps just a forward-going move rather than an actual suit - 6C risks playing a 4-3 fit. Being maximum for my bid I didn't want to just bid 5D, but I guess I could have gone slower with 4D. Also, I'll ask whether partner plays 5NT "pick a slam" for next time.

 

In a club game people overcall 1x on rubbish regardless of the vulnerability. I was a bit surprised the HA was offside as well. :/

 

ahydra

[TWO4BRIDGE]

In light of the 3H! bid and then the 4C bid ( after partner ostensibly showed a Ht-stop ) I question the use of the 3H bid in the first place . 3C would have been better served.... and surely forcing ( " a 3-level new suit bid at the 3-level by an unpassed partner " ) .