Does this bidding sequence look like cheating to you

[hero080]

[hv=pc=n&s=sq865hq32d63ckq62&w=sthakj874d974cjt9&n=sak432ht6dk2ca874&e=sj97h95daqjt85c53&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1h1s2h3sp4sppp]399|300[/hv]

Specifically, the 2♥ bid by East.

[shyams]

No it does not.

[hrothgar]

The world is full of bridge players who don't know how to bid

And there are also cheats

 

An isolated weird bid doesn't allow you to differentiate between the two (and I suspect that there's a whole lot more clueless folks than cheats)

[johnu]

The bidding looks questionable but you would need a lot more examples of successful offbeat examples to establish a pattern. If an honest pair (or just one member of the pair) consistently makes offbeat bids, they should have a sizable percentage of bad and hopeless results.

[nullve]

Specifically, the 2♥ bid by East.

What should East have done, in your opinion?

[smerriman]

The 1♥ bid looks much more dubious than 2♥..

 

.. but if they were cheating I don't know why they didn't at least attempt to bid the cold 4♥. It's not like bidding this way benefitted them in the slightest.

[AL78]

What should East have done, in your opinion?

 

If I were going to bid anything, I'd bid 2♦, but would probably pass at the table, partner has another chance to bid holding a decent hand. I can't see the point of faking support for partner. In the event, EW are a couple of weak two hands facing each other, and it is not their hand. 4♠ is not a bad contract, shame the ♦A is offside, the problem is the useless honors in the red suits, meaning the trick taking potential is lower than the LTC would suggest.

[Cyberyeti]

Looks like he misclicked 2♦ to me

[RMB1]

It is always frustrating when you have more cards in the opponents' fit than one of the opponents, especially when they over ruff you in the suit.

[blackshoe]

Looks more like sour grapes to me. And not by EW.

[pescetom]

Looks more like sour grapes to me. And not by EW.

 

Otherwise you do have to feel sorry for NS though. Who would not have bid to game whatever EW said?

[hero080]

What should East have done, in your opinion?

Shouldn't it be 2♦ or Pass?

[hero080]

The 1♥ bid looks much more dubious than 2♥..

 

.. but if they were cheating I don't know why they didn't at least attempt to bid the cold 4♥. It's not like bidding this way benefitted them in the slightest.

 

It could prevent south from bidding 2♣. And the supposedly 5/3 ♥ distribution could misled NS to misjudge and lost to unexpected over trump.

 

But I agree, the benefits are not strong enough.

[hero080]

The world is full of bridge players who don't know how to bid

And there are also cheats

 

An isolated weird bid doesn't allow you to differentiate between the two (and I suspect that there's a whole lot more clueless folks than cheats)

 

This is a good point.

[hero080]

Looks like he misclicked 2♦ to me

 

That would be a very reasonable explanation.

 

Unfortunately he insisted that 7 trump match is OK for that bid.

This makes me believe he is either a clueless player, or a cheater.

 

But maybe I was the one who is clueless and 7 trump match is indeed OK to make this bid?

What do you think?

[Cyberyeti]

That would be a very reasonable explanation.

 

Unfortunately he insisted that 7 trump match is OK for that bid.

This makes me believe he is either a clueless player, or a cheater.

 

But maybe I was the one who is clueless and 7 trump match is indeed OK to make this bid?

What do you think?

 

That's interesting, if opps have the agreement that they do this routinely on a doubleton I wonder if that's alertable. It's natural but unexpected.

[Stephen Tu]

There is a case to be made for either:

• negative double followed by correction of clubs to diamonds if necessary
• 3d weak jump shift if that is the partnership agreement

2d to me needs more, and 2H is too likely to lead to various eventual disasters (although not on this particular layout).

 

 

As for original poster, you should probably get acquainted with Hanlon's razor, "Don't attribute to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity".

[bridgegasc]

[hv=pc=n&s=sq865hq32d63ckq62&w=sthakj874d974cjt9&n=sak432ht6dk2ca874&e=sj97h95daqjt85c53&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1h1s2h3sp4sppp]399|300[/hv]

Specifically, the 2♥ bid by East.

 

1♥ is more a psyche than 2♥...

[nullve]

Shouldn't it be 2♦ or Pass?

Assuming EW were playing a standard 5cM system:

 

The book call, taught to beginners, is Pass. (Insufficient heart support, no spade stopper, not strong enough for a two-over-one.) Unfortunately, much of the stuff taught to beginners is just losing bridge, and I think this is a good example. So although I would have responded 1N, not worrying much about the lack of spade stopper, I accept that others might genuinely believe 2♥ to be less of a lie than both 1N and 2♦.

[DJNeill]

[hv=pc=n&s=sq865hq32d63ckq62&w=sthakj874d974cjt9&n=sak432ht6dk2ca874&e=sj97h95daqjt85c53&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1h1s2h3sp4sppp]399|300[/hv]

Specifically, the 2♥ bid by East.

 

Glad you are keeping an eye out, best thing to do is note the player's handles and just move on in your play, ignoring it. Later when you have time, go to myhands and look for the pair over the last 4 weeks. Click through the hands, look at the bidding and the play. Look for abnormally high scores if you want to save time. Also look for abnormally bad scores. Click through and see if the play and bids make sense for a bad player, good player (or blatant cheating, but that would be a lazy cheater). I have caught several for BBO over the years but you have to do your research, else say nothing, and certainly never anything to the pair or director at the time, it just can't be determined without research and might distract you. If you find a clear case, send links to the myhands movies of choice, with a small comment on each hand, send to abuse@bridgebase.com.

 

Thanks,

Dan