Is this a psyche?

[weejonnie]

[hv=pc=n&s=saj2hkq93dqj986c5&w=s764ht5dk74cakj63&n=st85hj642dtcqt984&e=skq93ha87da532c72&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1n2cdp2s3dp3hppp]399|300[/hv]

 

2♣ was alerted as Landy (both majors) and at the end of play I was called because West was unhappy and wanted to record the psyche. Both N and S confirmed they played Landy but, as is so often in the club, no convention cards were available.

 

At the time I ruled it as a green psyche (no evidence of fielding) with a recommendation that it be recorded (this was the pair's 2nd psyche in 3 weeks which is a lot for our club - not that it makes any difference to me).

 

But was it a psyche or a 'treatment'?

 

PS East dealt, not north.

[Cyberyeti]

Is it not slightly odd to pass 2♣X with 4 hearts ? so are we sure there was no fielding ?

 

That said I'm not clear what the damage is, W cannot let this play undoubled, and it should go off at least 1.

[StevenG]

This isn't a psyche. It might possibly be a problem with disclosure, if South would consider it normal to try Landy on this type of hand. Since there is no restriction of defences to 1NT, just saying "Landy, but could be 4-3 in majors" would seem enough.

[ggwhiz]

Seems like it's only 1 small spade away from an aggressive landy call and that's not enough to rule it a psyche?

 

I'm not inclined to believe that a player that would offer up the kamikaze 3♦ bid knows what a psyche is. Definitely sour grapes if the E/W defense was as bad as their bidding.

[Cyberyeti]

Seems like it's only 1 small spade away from an aggressive landy call and that's not enough to rule it a psyche?

 

I'm not inclined to believe that a player that would offer up the kamikaze 3♦ bid knows what a psyche is. Definitely sour grapes if the E/W defense was as bad as their bidding.

 

I suspect they took it -1 against 2♠ making their way.

[RMB1]

There are pairs (or individual players) who play 2♣ overcall as "Stayman" - asking for 4-card major, but not promising 4+/4+ in the majors. Some players call this "Landy".

 

It is possible that this is North/South's understanding: they should be educated about how to disclose this understanding and may be that there is misinformation on this hand.