Where did it go wrong?

[kjpod]

[hv=pc=n&w=s6hak74dak9643cat&e=sakj873hj85dqcq83&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1dp1sp2hp2sp3dp3hp4hp4sp5cp5hp6hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Swiss teams. 2♠ was forcing and implied more than minimum. Comment by the players about their own bids:

4♥: "Yes it's a 4-3 fit but may be better than 3NT if partner is empty in clubs."

4♠: "I really haven't shown my hand's true strength yet."

6♥: "If my partner can make a move towards slam, I can hardly refuse given all my controls."

 

Contract wasn't hopeless but needed a bit more luck than was available.

 

Who should have found the green card in their bidding box first?

[Jinksy]

Don't like 4♥. If partner has xxx in clubs and you have to ruff with the long hand, you'll probably need a 3-3 trump split (assuming P is a min). Presumably 2S was forcing at least past 2N, so opener has already eschewed the chance to bid NTs once - bidding 3N is hardly going to promise a double stop, so P will still have time to pull if he happens to hold a small doubleton.

 

4♠ seems too optimistic opposite a known misfit. Even if opener has the magic AKJxxx in diamonds, and otherwise the same hand as he has, you still need a bit of luck to find the twelfth trick (and diamonds could still split 5-1). Meanwhile, if opener has eg - AKxx AJxxxx AKx, you're already in serious trouble at the five level. (also, how strong are your reverses? If they can be less than West had, East's bidding looks a lot worse)

[wank]

Don't like 4♥. If partner has xxx in clubs and you have to ruff with the long hand, you'll probably need a 3-3 trump split (assuming P is a min). Presumably 2S was forcing at last past 2N, so opener has already eschewed the chance to bid NTs once - bidding 3N is hardly going to promise a double stop, so P will still have time to pull if he happens to hold a small doubleton.

 

4♠ seems too optimistic opposite a known misfit. Even if opener has the magic AKJxxx in diamonds, and otherwise the same hand as he has, you still need a bit of luck to find the twelfth trick (and diamonds could still split 5-1). Meanwhile, if opener has eg - AKxx AJxxxx AKx, you're already in serious trouble at the five level. (also, how strong are your reverses? If they can be less than West had, East's bidding looks a lot worse)

 

3h was silly. why is east supporting hearts on 3 when he's got such a good spade suit and a great diamond card?

 

i expect 3S over 2h would have been a better bid though to get the values and good suit across.

[MrAce]

Who should have found the green card in their bidding box first?

 

I can understand the 3♥ bid by E, willing to hear NT or 3♠. ♦Q as Wank said good card but I would not set diamonds as trumps yet. Pd still can hold same hand with Qx♠ and stiff small ♣

 

 

I agree with JInksy about the 4♥ bid. Instead I would bid 3 NT with W hand and 4 NT quantitative with E hand.

[Manastorm]

If I was west I would not bid 4♥, because I would not be sure how many hearts partner has. She could be showing good spades, but wants me to support, if I can. I have clubs covered once, so I try 3nt instead and let partner continue from there.

[ahydra]

I like MrAce's 3N by W (over 3H) and 4N by E, which W should pass. Though 3S is an alternative to 3H.

 

ahydra

[wank]

i like the 4h bid. opposite a useless misfitting bag of mush, 4h on a moysian is going to be the best game, ruffing the diamonds good in the short hand to use as surrogate trumps.

 

as far as i'm concerned, 3H shows a hand that's not keen on NT, probably weak in clubs.

 

opposite something like ajxxx qxx xx xxx 4h is a great contract and 3NT is dubious.

[rhm]

I do not like the 3♦ bid though many would make it.

2♥ promised already a good diamond suit in an unbalanced hand

I think 2NT is better not least because it shows the club stopper and leaves more room.

Preserving space is crucial on these auctions

With a good hand East should bit 3♦ over 2NT with Qx or better.

With ajxxx qxx xx xxx or similar bid 3♥ showing doubt about clubs

With the actual hand East should bid 3♠ over 2NT.

West bids 3NT and East 4NT.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[nullve]

2♥ promised already a good diamond suit in an unbalanced hand

Why? What would you rebid with e.g. ♠x ♥AKJx ♦Kxxxx ♣AQx?

[rhm]

Why? What would you rebid with e.g. ♠x ♥AKJx ♦Kxxxx ♣AQx?

Maybe I should have said suggested a good suit instead of "promised".

Of course I also bid 2♥, but the diamond suit is clearly substandard for the reverse and I would not stretch to reverse with such a suit.

Assuming a minimum of 5 cards in diamonds and 17 HCP simple arithmetic will tell you that diamonds will usually be better than that, 6-7 HCP in diamonds being average.

Bidding diamonds again should show better diamonds than AKxxxx in my opinion. I might rebid such a suit after a reverse as a last resort, say with a singleton club.

What to bid over 2♠ with your suggested hand depends on agreement, but if 2♠ is game forcing a jump to 3NT looks spot on. (Minimum misfit with good stopper in clubs)

But even if a jump to 3NT shows something else just bid 2NT followed by 3NT, even if partner suggests diamonds.

 

Big deal.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[Fluffy]

I like thing easy. Whenever I know of a major fit I show it inmediately if I can do it in a forcing way, there are some exceptions, but we all know them.

 

This means 2♠ bid denied 4♥. The 3♥ Bid was thus correct, leaving some space to partner to bid 3♠ or 3NT with no pressure. 3♠ might had been better, aiming for the 6-1 fit before it is too late, but its close.

 

The 4♥ bid was totally wrong. 3NT is crystal clear. Let's review what we have shown:

 

6+♦ (exceptionally 5), 4♥, and no big stopper in clubs (Failure to bid 2NT previous round). Given our previous bidding ♣A10 is in the 90%+ strongest possible holdings in clubs. 3NT is not a final decision, it is a proposal that partner migh accept or reject based on his hand.

[wank]

3NT is not a final decision, it is a proposal that partner migh accept or reject based on his hand.

 

when are you expecting responder to pull to 3nt to 4H? i'd guess somewhere in the region of never.

[Fluffy]

when are you expecting responder to pull to 3nt to 4H? i'd guess somewhere in the region of never.

 

No, but certainly 5♦ is a solid proposition with ♣xxx and ♦Qx(x)