BPO-003F

[hrothgar]

>Ng "3NT An 'action' bid at this vul. It's time to do something. I will be alone with this

>one, I know." ----A sound prediction, proven to be absolutely correct – ben ---

 

I went with 3N.

Scant consolation, I know.

But one is better than no...

[inquiry]

>Ng "3NT An 'action' bid at this vul. It's time to do something. I will be alone with this

>one, I know." ----A sound prediction, proven to be absolutely correct – ben ---

 

I went with 3N.

Scant consolation, I know.

But one is better than no...

I assumed he meant no one of the other panelist.. I certainly meant my comment that way.

 

Ben

[Double !]

There is another side to this, I think.

If you bid anything other than 3 spades, partner will never play you for this hand be it during bidding or defense.

Bidding 3 spades is defensible as it only suggests 3-card support, you have a top honor for partner to lead to should partner be on lead, you don't have great shape, (I think the impact of having 4 hearts is compelling), and doesn't say anything about your offensive-defensive potential other than to say you do wish to invite game given partner's 2 spade bid. To put it another way, bidding 3 spades is a "partnership bid". Give the hand more shape such as fewer hearts (making 4,5,6 hearts by opps conceivable) then pressuring with 4S might be better. Your ODR will have changed.

Oh, well, just a humble opinion by a tired school psychologist at the end of a very long school year (it's not over yet!)

[ng:)]

hrotgar:

"I went with 3N.

Scant consolation, I know.

But one is better than no... "

 

Thx Richard B)

 

My vote was (3NT) at white vs red (we were nv, they vul), see 9 down = -450.

So I don't understand Roland's comment:

"I would have liked to bid more, but not at these colours."

 

At other vul my vote is not 3NT, sry :)

 

Gabor

[Winstonm]

Seems to me as though white vs red vulnerability is as enticing to a bridge player as a cat is to a mockingbird. But in this situation, what does a bid really do?

 

We can assume partner to hold some 6-7 HCP, AQ9xxx, Jx, xx, xxx or the like -could be a little more or less. Still that leaves the opponents well short of slam unless their slam is based on fits and tricks. There is little doubt they have a game....but 3N might be tricky with 2/2 spades. Stranger things have happened than the opps going set in a 29 point 5C when we take 2 spades and either a diamond or a heart trick.

 

RHO is marked for some 9-11 HCPs, so it's a cinch he doesn't hold length in hearts; where is his length? Must be diamonds and clubs. Why didn't he raise clubs? Doesn't have enough. More an more it's looking like he holds either 2363 shape or 2354 or maybe 3254. Sure, it's nice to support with support, but I can't shut out the hearts when the opponents' don't hold that suit.

 

What does a spade raise accomplish? Well, it certainly helps my RHO evaluate his Jxx, Kxx, A109xx, Qxx as a bigger hand when he can place his partner with a singleton spade. In fact if I bid 3S and LHO continues with 4C or 4D I might actually succeed in getting them to a makeable slam. But what will this hand bid over pass and either 3D or 3C or double? More than likely, 3S, trying to get to 3N.

With the possible spade wastage (like Qx), opener cannot place the well-fitting cards either.

 

It's good to block when it accomplishes making life hard on the opponents - but to bid just to here oneself speak may sometimes aid the enemy more than ourselves.

 

So for my own choice of pass I have reviewed all the evidence and find it wanting and therefore acquit myself unanimously.

 

WinstonM

[Fluffy]

I passed because I though we were vulnerable and they weren't :-(

[kgr]

My vote was (3NT) at white vs red (we were nv, they vul), see 9 down = -450.

So I don't understand Roland's comment:

"I would have liked to bid more, but not at these colours."

...see Roland's first post in this threat. He wisread the colours.

[Echognome]

As per Luis' strong objection to the problem, I had a question. I presume that our "partner" is a pickup expert on BBO. That is we are presuming that we are sitting opposite any of the panelists who will be able to work out most of our bids without discussion. Thus, we cannot rely on ANY partnership style. Isn't that supposed to be the case?

[Elianna]

Contestant's answers:

 

3♠ 16

pass 8

4♠ 5

5♠ 1

3NT 1