This one was too difficult to solve

[mike777]

The Bridge World May 2005

 

VUL//MP

SOUTH BIDS DIAMONDS;

 

 

A=KJ73=653=KQT65 (DEALER EAST)

 

 

KQ843=AQ2=Q74=J7 (WEST)

 

I get to 3nt on this one in SAYC, 2/1 and Canape strong club.

Does your partnership do better?

[HeartA]

I remember a couple of hands of similar situation. I opened and an opp (my lho) overcalled. Then with an unfit hand and 3 small of opp's suit on both hands, I was pushed to game no matter how I tried to sign off before game.

[cherdano]

I have to confess I have bigger worries than staying out of a no-play 27 hcp game with two nice 7-card fits...

 

Arend

[bestguru]

I would also end up in 3nt and not worry about it.

 

I haven't put any time into flushing it out, but I would like to try a canape opening system with a weak 1nt. I may be resulting, but wouldn't that go something like:

 

1♥ - 2♦ - 2♠ - P

3♣ - P - 3♥* - P

?

 

* I like the moysian fit with my AQ better than the Qxx stopper. Is this bad?

? probably pass. Some may go on to 4♥

 

 

I guess another possibility is to bid 3♦ instead of 3♥ to ask for a stopper and then west has make the pass raise decision over the 3♥ response

[pclayton]

3N doesn't seem to be too bad anyway.

 

Anyone that doesn't get to 3N or 4H has a wire on the board.

[han]

Indeed, all you need in 3NT is either opponents holding J109 tight of spades (or a 4-card overcall).

 

I hope I would get this one wrong too.

[luke warm]

canape strong club:

 

1♥ : 1nt

2♣ : 2s (game forcing now)

3♦ (help here?) : 3nt or, probably, 4♥

 

i could not fault west for bidding 4♥ instead of 3nt, and i'd almost surely do that myself, especially if matchpoints

 

2/1 (my way, which is canape when hearts is opened ;)):

 

1♥ : 1♠

2♣ : 2♦*

3♣ : 4♥

[awm]

It's hard to imagine that the auction would go much differently if east held the club ace instead of the club king (and maybe a small heart instead of the jack). 3NT is pretty decent opposite such a hand. So I wouldn't worry too much about this one. The only auction I can come up with to avoid game in standard methods is something like:

 

1♣-(1♦)-1♠-2♣-2♦-2♥-2NT-Pass

 

But I'm not convinced that's particularly realistic bidding.

[Rebound]

There's one other possibility. Were I to open 2♣ (precision), over 2♦, I suggest only that it is possible, however unlikely, that partner could double (negative) rather than a normal 2♠. So then the auction may proceed ...(2♦) - X - (P) - 2♥ - (P) - 2♠ - (P) - 3♦* - (P) - 3♥** - (P) - P or 4♥

 

* - stopper ask

** - don't like Qxx, like the moysian.

[P_Marlowe]

No.

 

We would reach 3NT as well.

 

Marlowe

[GijsH]

I think we have a chance with MIDMAC:

 

E S W N

1C 1D 1S p

2C p 2D p

2H p p p

 

1C: 1 or both 4card major, 9-19 HCP, 3+ controls

1S: natural

2C: no S support, 4H, 4/5C (E has only 12 points now, because of sin in partner's suit), 11-16 points.

2D: W could force to game with 2S, but with only 3 controls, total controls looks to be 6 which is not enough for 10 tricks. 2D is 4th suit

2H: no D stop, short S, minimum

 

for more info on MIDMAC: http://www.midmac.tk

[mikestar]

You need to be in 3N or 4H going off--bad result on this hand, but any system that lets you stay out of game on 27 HCP will have you missing laydown games.

[Finch]

Last time I felt pleased at staying out of a game like this one, their suit was blocked and we lost a bundle of imps. So I predict that their diamond suit is distributed A opposite KJ109xx and we make 3NT. Or that South isn't playing WJOs/didn't think of it/thought his hand was too good and holds xxx xx AKJ10xx xx.