How could I have foreseen this?!

[661_Pete]

It's bad form, I suppose, to blame every bad result on 'bad luck'. But this one really takes the biscuit:

[hv=pc=n&s=st7643hj75dakcaq3&w=sj5ha3dqjt9742c52&n=s982hkt86d65cj986&e=sakqhq942d83ckt74&d=n&v=e&b=5&a=pp1nppp]399|300[/hv]

Not wishing to bid my miserable spade suit, I opened 1NT (weak) which was passed out.

 

I know 1NT contracts are usually unplanned and often fail to go as one wishes, but I had some hopes of limiting this to -1 at worst, despite partner's weak holding. West led Q♦ (naturally) won by my K. I decided to set up a couple of spades, hoping that at least two of the honours would fall together - as indeed they did. East cashed her top spades then returned a diamond to my A. Silently thanking E for helping to set up my long spades, I cashed them (west discarding clubs) then led J♥ hoping to set up an entry to finesse the clubs.

 

I knew I was in for the loss of a few diamond tricks, but was not prepared for west to instantly claim the rest of the tricks! -3 and a joint bottom.

 

Yes I realise now I should have played hearts before touching the spades, but could I have guessed that?

 

Over to you guys for advice....

[pescetom]

Both E and W appear to be dead.

I doubt they won the tournament.

[FelicityR]

Lucky you weren't doubled in 1NT, Pete, then you would have got a 'bottom bottom' instead of a 'joint bottom'.

 

I think you got off lightly :)

[Wolfbag]

When EW bid as poorly as they did on this hand you just have to hope they do it next time u play against them - I am mystified as to why the East hand didnt open - equally why West would not show his long diamond suit - with balance of points its the absence of bidding from them which would raise my suspicions of each having knowledge of the other's hand ! - make of that what you will !

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=st7643hj75dakcaq3&w=sj5ha3dqjt9742c52&n=s982hkt86d65cj986&e=sakqhq942d83ckt74&d=n&v=e&b=5&a=pp1nppp]399|300|661_Pete 'It's bad form, I suppose, to blame every bad result on 'bad luck'. But this one really takes the biscuit:Not wishing to bid my miserable spade suit, I opened 1NT (weak) which was passed out.I know 1NT contracts are usually unplanned and often fail to go as one wishes, but I had some hopes of limiting this to -1 at worst, despite partner's weak holding. West led Q♦ (naturally) won by my K. I decided to set up a couple of spades, hoping that at least two of the honours would fall together - as indeed they did. East cashed her top spades then returned a diamond to my A. Silently thanking E for helping to set up my long spades, I cashed them (west discarding clubs) then led J♥ hoping to set up an entry to finesse the clubs.I knew I was in for the loss of a few diamond tricks, but was not prepared for west to instantly claim the rest of the tricks! -3 and a joint bottom.Yes I realise now I should have played hearts before touching the spades, but could I have guessed that?'

++++++++++++++++++++

IMO, 661_Pete's decision to open 1N is sensible but unfortunate. His opponents' bidding seems OK. Arguably, however, declarer was lucky to lose only 9 tricks. Had he run ♥J, he would take a trick less :(. [/hv]

[pescetom]

His opponents' bidding seems OK.

You would pass as East?

 

1NT can be made, but so can 3♦ by W.

[crapdown4]

Over to you guys for advice....

 

Interesting that nobody mentions that you should have opened 1S.

 

I know you (and many others) like your weak notrumps, but you don't HAVE to open 1NT when you have a five card major (and the hand otherwise qualifies). The trouble here was that almost all of your values were primary, which argues for a suit contract. 3 1/2 quick tricks and certainly, at least a couple of spades in a suit contract. In notrump, you couldn't assume you would ever get those spade tricks.

 

The opponents bid like they fell unconscious, and that's certainly the reason why you got a bad score rather than any real fault in your bidding per se, but I would view a 1S opening as less likely to lead to disaster. The trouble was, you were going to be at least somewhat anti-field. I would NEVER open 1NT at IMPs, and would only open 1NT at MPs if I felt I needed a swing.

 

I of course realize the inherent value of opening 1NT with a 5CM (rebid problems solved), but this hand wasn't remotely suited for that IMHO.

[Cyberyeti]

Interesting that nobody mentions that you should have opened 1S.

 

I know you (and many others) like your weak notrumps, but you don't HAVE to open 1NT when you have a five card major (and the hand otherwise qualifies). The trouble here was that almost all of your values were primary, which argues for a suit contract. 3 1/2 quick tricks and certainly, at least a couple of spades in a suit contract. In notrump, you couldn't assume you would ever get those spade tricks.

 

The opponents bid like they fell unconscious, and that's certainly the reason why you got a bad score rather than any real fault in your bidding per se, but I would view a 1S opening as less likely to lead to disaster. The trouble was, you were going to be at least somewhat anti-field. I would NEVER open 1NT at IMPs, and would only open 1NT at MPs if I felt I needed a swing.

 

I of course realize the inherent value of opening 1NT with a 5CM (rebid problems solved), but this hand wasn't remotely suited for that IMHO.

 

What are you going to rebid if you open 1♠ and partner bids at the 2 level when you don't play 2/1 ? If you play a weak NT in an Acol context for example 2N shows 15+, so you have to rebid 2♠ which partner will often pass with a singleton and minimum 2/1. It's very system dependent whether you should open 1♠.

[nullve]

What are you going to rebid if you open 1♠ and partner bids at the 2 level when you don't play 2/1 ? If you play a weak NT in an Acol context for example 2N shows 15+, so you have to rebid 2♠ which partner will often pass with a singleton and minimum 2/1.

So what is the correct rebid over 1♠-2♦ in Acol with, say, 12 hcp and 5314?

[pilowsky]

I normally open 1NT on 14-18 range against GIB. So even though everyone else excoriates me for not bidding ♠ I'm with you.

With this hand, after the ♠ were cleared and I still had 'cover' in the other suits it doesn't seem like a 'guess' to set about promoting the only remaining long suit to try and make the contract.

[AL78]

When playing weak NT and holding a 5 card major 5332 shape in the 12-14 range, I open 1NT if the major is poor and 1M if the major is good (a couple of the top five honors), so I would open 1NT on this hand and end up with the same result as you.

[Cyberyeti]

So what is the correct rebid over 1♠-2♦ in Acol with, say, 12 hcp and 5314?

 

2♠

 

If you open 1N with all 5332s in range, 1♠-2♣-2♠ shows 6 and 1♠-2♦-2♠ is either 6 spades or 5♠/4♣

[nige1]

You would pass as East? 1NT can be made, but so can 3♦ by W.

• South opens a strong notrump and East-West are vulnerable. West might still overcall 3♦ or make some system-bid; but if West passes, what action does Pescetom recommend on the East hand? It's a matter of style and judgement, but I'm afraid I'd chicken out :(
• In practice, defending 1N should result in +150 or more, for an above average result. Admittedly, in theory, South can make 1NT against any defence. For example, at double-dummy. declarer can isolate West by winning his ♦ lead, leading a ♥ to ♥K and playing another ♥. Routine stuff for self-kibitzers :)

[apollo1201]

South opens a strong notrump and East-West are vulnerable. West might still overcall 3♦ or make some system-bid; but if West passes, what action does Pescetom recommend on the East hand?

Opening the bidding the round earlier with a 14 count, maybe?

All this is very strange...

[pescetom]

The man said it for me.

[nige1]

Opening the bidding the round earlier with a 14 count, maybe?All this is very strange...

The man said it for me.

Ahh... the dealer really was North? Sorry. :( Pescetom is right. And I'm mistaken :)

[661_Pete]

All very interesting, thanks for the comments. Don't get me wrong! I'm not really gutted at what happened here, I found it quite amusing in reality. And both opponents are from my club, so I know them well (I have partnered this hand's East many times - with a fair amount of success).

 

Certainly 3♦ by west is unbeatable, so it's not all bad. And, looking again at the traveller, I was wrong about getting a 'bottom' - one pair went 4 down in 1NT somehow!

 

I agree that stiff AK in the opponents' long suit isn't an ideal holding in 1NT!