Bad Bidding, Bad Play, Best contract

[pilowsky]

I'm enjoying the new 12 board Zenith tournament.

The opportunity to gain unimaginable wealth by playing Bridge is just too tempting to pass up.

Yesterday I was given this hand on Board 7 and F**ked it up.

 

When I put this onto the teaching table, the West robot led the ♣A. In the tournament, the ♦2 was led by West making it more interesting.

I showed this to my friend the expert who told me the answer.

 

I felt a bit like Fred Waitzkin in 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' who said that he gave up playing Chess when:

"Even after he left the table and I had studied the position, I could see no possible reason why he should have resigned.

Finally, I asked another player, who briskly demonstrated that I had a forced mate in three. He had to show it to me twice before I could follow the moves."

Fred gave up Chess after that game.

I think Fred should play Bridge. I've never seen an opponent do that in Bridge.

West leads the ♦2

[hv=pc=n&s=sq92hakq986da6ck2&n=sa7hj752dkq84cq64&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2cp2np3hp4np5cp5dp5sp6hppp]266|200[/hv]

Here's what happened.

 

 

Twenty-six people played it. Ten of us bid 6♥, and 4 made it. Another six people bid 4 or 5 and made 12 tricks and another eight only made 11 tricks in Hearts.

A success rate for the Declarer of =10*100/24 of about 42%.

Here is a 'typical' example of bidding and making: http://bit.ly/6Hmaking

Here is Pilowsky failing. http://bit.ly/MeFailing6H

<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">[hv=pc=n&s=sq92hakq986da6ck2&w=skt543h3dj52caj97&n=sa7hj752dkq84cq64&e=sj86ht4dt973ct853&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2cp2np3hp4np5cp5d(%3F%20Queen)p5s(yep)p6hppp]399|300[/hv]

 

 

[shyams]

Cards appear to be perfectly arranged for a Morton's fork coup. You just have to guess which opponent has the ♣A.

 

I would tend to favour West to have the club Ace because the bot East will (often enough) cash the Ace as the opening lead if East was dealt an Ace.

[johnu]

Cards appear to be perfectly arranged for a Morton's fork coup. You just have to guess which opponent has the ♣A.

 

I would tend to favour West to have the club Ace because the bot East will (often enough) cash the Ace as the opening lead if East was dealt an Ace.

 

I'm no expert, but IMHO East will never lead ♣A in a robot game, not in 100 years. In a live face to face game, this may happen, more likely in a Midnight Swiss or a very early morning game. :)

[nullve]

I would tend to favour West to have the club Ace because

You could also apply Restricted Choice under the assumption that West would lead passively.

[shyams]

Ha! Sorry it was early morning here and I overlooked the fact that South bid ♥ first and will be declarer. I was under the impression that East made the opening lead.

 

Must. Drink. Coffee. :)

 

Edit: It seems I got the answer right but based on a wrong reasoning. I guess today's my lucky day.