High-Level Bridge

[ron]

Hello,

 

Here are some high-level competitive bidding decisions from a recent swiss teams- interested in hearing people's opinions:

 

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

1NT showed 12-14, 2C was to play. Perhaps you should have bid 2D over 2C... anyway, what now?

 

-Ron

[Codo]

Hi Ron,

 

my votes:

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

6 NT I never have a plan, but in red, my pd should have 8 clubs with KQ and some other values. Looks like 8 tricks.

If my pd has Ax,xx,x,KQxxxxx

I miss a grand, but I have no way to ask for aces now.

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

I will leave the table with an excuse, emmigrate to Tibet to become a monk.

I doubled with a great 4333 hand.

My pd bid 1 Spade, should show 5 with no extra values. Then he decides to defend, even knowing, that I have some values and some hearts for defence. My LHO double and my RHO ran to 5 Heart?

 

What is going on? No idea...anyway, I double. If my pd happens to have Axxxxxx,-,Qx,Kxx and we make 5 Spade, he should have bid different.

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

Hmm RHO passed and then jumped to 4 Spade?

Why? Again, I see no hand, where this could work well. No idea, what he wants to tell me. :)

I pass.

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

I am still a monk. I found a 2 Club bid? Okay, 3 Club from pd was non-forcing, 3 Spade shows a monster two suiter. I bid 4 NT. Maybe 6 Clubs makes opps.

xxx,xxx,AQx;Axxx

or it is a good safe, or I silent my opps, so they miss their game/slam.

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

1NT showed 12-14, 2C was to play. Perhaps you should have bid 2D over 2C... anyway, what now?

 

 

Call me chicken, I pass

 

Kind Regards

 

Roland

[the hog]

1) Bid 6NT

 

2) Get a new partner - this one has no idea about bridge. How on earth can he bid 1S and then 4 after I pass? - clueless!

 

3) Pass, reluctantly

 

4) Bid 5C. My partners raise on trash here and pd did have a cue available.

 

5) Pass

[Antoine Fourrière]

1) 4N. I don't think it is to play, although maybe it should. If opener shows two keys without the club queen, I'll bid 6N, but if he shows also the club queen, I'll bid 7N, because with only (six or) seven clubs to the KQ and an outside ace, he would have opened 3C.

 

CORRECTION

6N. I'm silly. With eight clubs to the KQ and an outside ace, he would have opened 5C.

 

2) Pass. Strange bidding, indeed, but partner has taken control with a freak, and I have no preference for Double or 5S.

 

3) 4N. It looks like they are making it, with singletons in each hand. Partner must have seven hearts or a six-four.

 

4) Pass. 3S is forcing, so there is nothing to win by bidding 4C, and I have too much defense for 5C.

 

5) Pass. Either they have eight spades or partner has five and couldn't bid over 1C. It looks like RHO wants to be doubled.

[luis]

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

your plan?

 

Seems like I have 12 tricks. 8c + 2d + 1h+ 1s.

6c. If they defend to 6s I double.

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

Pass I've said enough with my dbl.

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

Pass

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

Pass

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

Pass

[inquiry]

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

Partner will have a good hand to preempt 4C vul. So I am bidding slam. 6Clubs seems best. If they bid 6S, I will have to consider if I want to try for 6NT or take the sure +500 for 6Sx.

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

1) look around and see if there is a new partner somewhere.

2) Pass, happy if we beat them (surely we are not beating them multiple tricks).

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

Pass.

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

How good is West? This 3S bid is FORCING, so I don't play double here for penatly. I will double, suggesting a 5Club sacrafice. An immediate 4C would not invite a sacafice. I discussed this type bidding in a different thread. If 3S is forcing, and if I had a spade stack I could afford to wait to hit it.

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

1NT showed 12-14, 2C was to play. Perhaps you should have bid 2D over 2C... anyway, what now?

 

I pass. I have long ago stopped punishing my partner for balancing. Sure 4D might work out fine, but if you keep bidding on hands like this, your partner will stop balancing with you.

 

Ben

[mishovnbg]

1. We have slam, possible grand. They have cheap sacrifice, even against game. If i bid directly 6CL is sure they wil bid 6SP. My bid is 5CL. After expected 5SP - 6CL. If they are so good to bid 6SP, then: if i am next to 6SP bid, i will Pass - forcing pass for 7, if partner have A; if partner is next to 6SP and passed, i will bid 7 ( without A he must dbl, his pass is forcing too with A ); if he dbl them, i will bid 6NT, over 7SP - dbl.

 

2. 5SP. Thanks to parner, he make my decision easy. If he jump in SP early i will not be sure to do that, because i will expect some hcp in his hand and they can be down on 5HE.

 

3. Lets count distribution of deal first:

Opener have 5+SP and 5+DI. Responder with 4SP show VERY good support in DI, 5+ cards at least, 2 cards in SP ( didnt give fit directly ). Responder havent singleton/void in HE, because can bid 4HE showing same hand, but with shortness in HE. But he think about 5DI as possible contract, so he have 3-4 cards in HE, expecting opener to have singleton/void in HE.

Next hcp. Opener: 13-15hcp, partner 13-15hcp, in my hand 8hcp, so opp responder have 2-6hcp. To think about 5DI he have A in DI ( or in SP, but with less chance ). I think he like 4SP bid instead of 4DI because he have J in SP and may be 10.

 

xxx

AKJ10xx

-

KQxx

 

 

AKxxx J10

x xxxx

KQJxx Axxxx

Jx xx

 

Qxx

Qx

10xx

Axxxx

 

Conclusion: Pass

4. Pass, i like my partner ::).

5. Pass, i like my partner ::).

Misho

[luis]

2. 5SP. Thanks to parner, he make my decision easy.

4. Pass, i like my partner ::).

5. Pass, i like my partner ::).

 

Misho sometimes you are just too friendly :-)

How can you thank your pd for bidding first 1 spade and then 4 spades on board 2. If he was in a tactical manouver for whatever reason then no problem but if he really pretended to have those bids something is really wrong.... :-)

Besides my 6c and then all pass answers I do think I ought to have a conversation with pd after the session, we can't have two lunatics on the same table.

[mishovnbg]

2. 5SP. Thanks to parner, he make my decision easy.

4. Pass, i like my partner ::).

5. Pass, i like my partner ::).

 

Misho sometimes you are just too friendly :-)

How can you thank your pd for bidding first 1 spade and then 4 spades on board 2. If he was in a tactical manouver for whatever reason then no problem but if he really pretended to have those bids something is really wrong.... :-)

Besides my 6c and then all pass answers I do think I ought to have a conversation with pd after the session, we can't have two lunatics on the same table.

 

Hi Luis. At 2 board partner by bidding send me massage: "I have too much distribution and nothing for defence". I normally believe "to death" to my partner or just dont play with him. I expect from him same - not to think for me as lunatic, but searching reason for my unusual bids ::).

About 6CL - depend from opponents ofcourse, against beginners i will bid simple 6CL too ;D.

Misho

[lifemonster]

 

 

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

6NT, and claim at trick one.

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

Pass. Odd.

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

Pass, and hope declarer thinking about 8 ever 9 never so that I can score my trump Q.

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

5C. Make them guess. I don't wanna guess by myself.

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

1NT showed 12-14, 2C was to play. Perhaps you should have bid 2D over 2C... anyway, what now?

 

Pass. Enough is enough.

 

Sam

[hrothgar]

 

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

6NT, and claim at trick one.

 

 

I think that you will run into some major problems on a Heart lead.

RHO's 4 level overcall almost certianly places him with AQ of Spades and KQ of hearts.

You'll have good chances at a Squeeze of some kind, however, I don't think that you can claim at trick 1.

[luis]

I agree with Richard, why do we have to penalize pd for opening 4c with 7 cards? I fully agree with 6c if we are down one then bad luck, but 6nt is just too risky. If pd has 7 clubs chances of making 6c are really a lot better than making 6nt.

[lifemonster]

I will change a partner if he preempt 4C with 7 with this color. OTOH, if the color is reversed, I'd settle down for game.

[luis]

I agree that it is wise to preempt on sound values when Vul but if you always do that you become a predictable player and don't you love to play against a predictable player? So undiscipline from time to time is needed to make life harder for your oppos.

If pd always bid 4c with 7 cards we need to talk but if he once from time to time decides to bid a wild 4x preempt on 7 cards then it is ok to me. I like some randomness in style it's just to easy to count the hand or know what to do against very disciplined players.

 

"Colors are for kids"

M.Bergen

[lifemonster]

 

"Colors are for kids"

M.Bergen

 

 

"Stoppers are for children"

J.Meckstroth

 

:-)

[Codo]

Hi Richard and Luis,

 

Your pds frequently open 4 club on a broken 7 card suit in red against white and in second chair?

Hmm

My std. pd and I have an opening for that, but else, I think it is just EHAA. It is not just "be undisciplined once in while". I agree, that in 3. chair, or white/red, you may play "anything goes.." But here, You need an awful lot of stuff to handle your undisciplined bids. I doubt, that that will pay in the long run.

 

Kind Regards

 

Roland

[hrothgar]

Hi Richard and Luis,

 

Your pds frequently open 4 club on a broken 7 card suit in red against white and in second chair?

Hmm

My std. pd and I have an opening for that, but else, I think it is just EHAA. It is not just "be undisciplined once in while". I agree, that in 3. chair, or white/red, you may play "anything goes.." But here, You need an awful lot of stuff to handle your undisciplined bids. I doubt, that that will pay in the long run.

 

Kind Regards

 

Roland

 

 

I may need to conceed this one

 

Second seat, Red versus White I would expect partner to preempt 3C holding KQJxxxx in clubs

[luis]

Richard concedes but I don't :-)

If my pd thinks that KQJxxxx of clubs in 2nd seat red vrs white is worth a 4c bid then I disagree and we would have to talk about it, but if he just decides to bid 4c in this particular hand then I fully support him. As I said I just don't like my pd to be a predictable player and I don't want him to be a crazy bidder either so some small twists from time to time are all we need to make life harder from opps. Don't you like when they go into the tank with that expression "how can I know what does this guy have......"

If you always pretend/demand pd to have his bid and stress that to the limit you will make him play like a cyborg.

In another thread I was the only one that said that a 5s opening bid should be preemptive :-) Maybe I'm too biased towards the Marty Bergen preemptors school so don't take me seriously.

[Free]

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

your plan?

 

6NT

 

no doubt about it. Only if partner has no spade, and there is no spade lead it could be a small problem...

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

pass

 

I'll pass so nobody gets to see my cards on the table. Double with that hand??? Crazy! I bid 1S with that in stead of Dbl.

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

pass

 

If partner can bid 3H, why doesn't he do it from the first bid???

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

5C

 

The best way to make it hard on ur opponents. If you bid 4NT, you say too much about ur hand and it's not necessary.

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

1NT showed 12-14, 2C was to play. Perhaps you should have bid 2D over 2C... anyway, what now?

 

pass

 

partner has done the job: lifting opponents 2 levels higher.

[LukeG]

Hi Ron,

 

1. Kxx Axx AKxx ATx, red v. white

 

(P) 4C (4S) ?

 

I would bid 6C, which I think might be safer than 6NT if partner is something like 1-1-3-8. A direct 6NT bid may convince LHO that you are prepared for a spade lead so he may select something else. If they sacrifice at 6S then I'll bid 6NT and hope for a spade lead.

 

2. KQxx JTx KJx ATx, all red

 

(1C) Dbl (1H) 1S

(4H) P (P) 4S

(P) P (Dbl) P

(5H) ?

 

Pass. Delighted to be defending 5H rather than 4H.

 

3. Qxx Qx Txx Axxxx, all red

 

(1S) 2H (P) P

(3D) 3H (4S) ?

 

Jump preference after failure to give a single raise usually indicates a big fit for the second suit, in which case partner is short (perhaps even void) in diamonds. Partner should have a very good hand to bid again, uninvited, at the three level when it's so easy to get doubled. So I will bid 4NT as a choice of suits in case he has something like xx, AKxxxx, --, KQJxx.

 

4. x AQ Kxxx QJT8xx, white vs ??

 

(1H) 2C (P) 3C

(3S) ?

 

I bid 4C to invite partner to save at 5C over their 4S. With two likely tricks in hearts, and with partner having the spade length, I don't want to bid 5C unilaterally.

 

5. K Txxx KJT9x Qxx, all white

 

(1C) P (1S) P

(1NT) P (2C) P

(P) 2D (3C) 3D

(3S) P (4C) ?

 

Partner's most likely shape is 5-2-5-1, with LHO having 3-4-2-4 and RHO having 4-3-1-5. If partner has secondary spade strength (QJxxx) it's right to defend. If he has the Ace of King of hearts, it's right to bid. So it's close and maybe you need to be a good guesser on this one.

 

Luke