ATB - missed slam for minor penalty

[Jinksy]

[hv=pc=n&w=sat642hdak63caqj4&e=s5hajt3dqct987653&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=1sp1n(semiforcing)p2d2hppdppp]266|200[/hv]

 

No special agreements beyond 2/1. I don't know what a first round 3♣ bid would have meant, but probably some kind of spade raise.

 

We managed to take this one off, when 6♣ is the coldest trump contract the world has ever seen. Who - or rather which call(s) - is most responsible?

[rmnka447]

You might stand a chance of getting there if West would bid out the pattern of his hand with a 3 ♣ bid instead of a double.

[apollo1201]

W with 18 prime HCP should jump for his 2nd bid. I usually bid the cheaper of my secondary suits to save space so here I would hit jackpot. Even if the rebid is 3D it is not over yet. Over the likely 3NT (3H would be a real suit in case partner is 5341 or 5332 sometimes) W could bid 4C visualizing 4 or less (or 5 bad) H but it will be tougher to get to 6 and someone will probably be punting rather than declare it scientifically. Still it scores as much than a scientifically bid slam.

[WesleyC]

West's choice to rebid only 2D (hoping to pattern out with 3C next) is certainly reasonable. Obviously you'd kill to have gazilli available on a hand like this. Apollo's plan to jump shift and then force to 5m is too rich for me on a deal where partner will usually hold 5+H and we might not even have a fit.

 

I also agree with West's reopening double. This hand isn't too far from the 5143 shape that partner should expect. If partner chooses to convert with a singleton spade and a long weak heart stack you've got the perfect spade holding and plenty of side entries. On a different day, partner will be sitting on the KJ9xxx of hearts!

 

However I don't agree with East's final pass. Past experience tells me it's too greedy to leave a 7c suit unbid because partner will often hold club values that aren't pulling weight on defense. Even a minimum reopening double with club values like [KQTxx x JTxx AKx] gives 5C some chance while 2H could easily scrape home.

 

At the end of the day I'll stick to a fundamental bridge idea - making marginal penalty passes of 2M contracts isn't a winning strategy.

[shyams]

West's choice to rebid only 2D (hoping to pattern out with 3C next) is certainly reasonable. Obviously you'd kill to have gazilli available on a hand like this. Apollo's plan to jump shift and then force to 5m is too rich for me on a deal where partner will usually hold 5+H and we might not even have a fit.

 

I also agree with West's reopening double. This hand isn't too far from the 5143 shape that partner should expect. If partner chooses to convert with a singleton spade and a long weak heart stack you've got the perfect spade holding and plenty of side entries. On a different day, partner will be sitting on the KJ9xxx of hearts!

 

However I don't agree with East's final pass. Past experience tells me it's too greedy to leave a 7c suit unbid because partner will often hold club values that aren't pulling weight on defense. Even a minimum reopening double with club values like [KQTxx x JTxx AKx] gives 5C some chance while 2H could easily scrape home.

 

At the end of the day I'll stick to a fundamental bridge idea - making marginal penalty passes of 2M contracts isn't a winning strategy.

I'm finding it hard to agree with some of the points made above:

• 
   
  
• If partner had a singleton spade and a long weak heart stack, partner could double for penalty. Would a double by partner really still mean takeout? If yes, of what?
  
• I don't like West's reopening double because there is an inherent risk of getting passed out in 2♥x when better contracts exist for our side. In some situations, 2♥x may even make!
  
• Finally, from East's perspective, 5♣ needs partner to hold ♣A+♣K (or Q with an onside King). Perhaps I'd still prefer that East reopen with 3♣; but IMO the bigger flaw was the reopening double instead of patterning out with a 3♣ bid.
  

[ggwhiz]

I can't jump shift over 1nt cause it's game forcing but you can't stop me from patterning out with 3♣. If we belonged in 2♥ doubled, east would hit it.

[phil_20686]

For east to pass over 2H with 7 clubs does not exist for me. If you hit partner with some Axxxx x Kxxx AKx you arent going to feel great conceding partscore with 5c a good spot, and to sit 2hx after the dble was extra strange. Partner has basically guaranteed for you that 5c will be good, with t/o orientated values.

[WesleyC]

If partner had a singleton spade and a long weak heart stack, partner could double for penalty. Would a double by partner really still mean takeout? If yes, of what?

 

This is a valid point - if responder already had a chance to double 2H for penalties then there is a lot less value in reopening with a double on this hand. Personally, I use responder's double to show a maximum 1NT bid without clear direction.