Any Action?

[pilowsky]

502 bad gateway.

 

I think that's the point.

[DavidKok]

We are reaching 4Sx quite often after double. On the actual hand partner had Kxx xxx Qx AKQTx [...]

 

The other South bid 5C on my hand, which made. That was also better than Pass.

I struggle to follow North's line of thinking. Their partner bid a voluntary 5♣ over 4♠, presumably to make, hitting our AKQTx. We even have a side king and some extras in the form of Qx in diamonds. There is no way I am not raising.

[lamford]

I struggle to follow North's line of thinking. Their partner bid a voluntary 5♣ over 4♠, presumably to make, hitting our AKQTx. We even have a side king and some extras in the form of Qx in diamonds. There is no way I am not raising.

That was my thought exactly, and was one of the reasons that I did not bid 5C. If it makes, it will be raised!

[Evies Dad]

Isn't making 5C unimportant here? The main concern is not to let them make 4S vul.

You are betting some contract down 1 or 2 against the likelihood that 4S makes.

Once in a while pard raises to 6C and it makes anyway.

 

Swap the other two hands around and what is the least worst outcome?

[Winstonm]

Isn't making 5C unimportant here? The main concern is not to let them make 4S vul.

You are betting some contract down 1 or 2 against the likelihood that 4S makes.

Once in a while pard raises to 6C and it makes anyway.

 

Swap the other two hands around and what is the least worst outcome?

 

I don’t understand the preoccupation with 4S making when holding a hand more defensive than offensive and holding a void suggesting a bad rather than good break in trumps.

 

Sure, we want to find a cheap sacrifice against a making game but there is no strong reason to believe they have not already overbid.

 

The worst mistake to me would be turning +100 into -300 or -500.

[mikeh]

Isn't making 5C unimportant here? The main concern is not to let them make 4S vul.

You are betting some contract down 1 or 2 against the likelihood that 4S makes.

Once in a while pard raises to 6C and it makes anyway.

 

Swap the other two hands around and what is the least worst outcome?

Even at unfavourable, no good player opens 4S with the expectation of making the contract. One hopes that partner’s hand meshes well, in which case we’ll make…or even make slam…but the 4S opening is a preempt, usually expecting to take about 8 tricks, at this vulnerability, although some good players may be a little more aggressive even at unfavourable.

 

Bidding over a preempt is actually more constructive. One does not make a direct seat overcall as a sacrifice but, hoping for some help from partner, primarily in the hope of a plus.

 

Obviously, when the bidding starts this high, any overcall entails some risk but nevertheless one is aiming to reach a decent contract.

 

This is the main reason I do not like 5C. As I and others have pointed out, partner will expect an entirely different hand, whether I double or bid 5C. Bridge is a partnership game. There are times when one has to suppress the urge to do something simply because partner will and should act based on what you should have for your bid.

 

That’s why, for example, if you pick up KQJ10xxx in spades and out, and RHO deals and opens a weak 2H, one cannot bid 3S even though that would be obvious had rho opened 1H. Over 2H, 3S shows a GOOD hand and suit and partner will act accordingly.

 

Here, 5C shows a better suit than J high….and more tricks than we expect to take opposite a random dummy.

 

And double shows an entirely different sort of hand…more defence and less shape.

 

Hence pass is the disciplined action.

 

Bear in mind that bridge is all about probabilities. There are always times when the correct action loses, and a bad action wins. It can be very difficult to avoid the trap of reasoning: this action worked, therefore it was the correct action, and its corollary: this action led to a poor result, therefore it was a poor action.

 

Watch the best pairs in the world. Even those who are hyper-aggressive remain disciplined. Discipline is not the same as conservatism. One can play very aggressively and still be very disciplined…discipline is staying within one’s methods and style such that your hands will not be an unpleasant surprise to partner should he act in reliance upon your action.

[nullve]

Here, 5C shows a better suit than J high

[hv=pc=n&s=shaq7daktcj976532&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=4s?]133|200[/hv]

[hv=pc=n&s=sha7daktcj9765432&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=4s?]133|200[/hv]

 

etc.

[lamford]

The worst mistake to me would be turning +100 into -300 or -500.

The worst mistake to me would be turning -50 into -620 or -790

[Winstonm]

The worst mistake to me would be turning -50 into -620 or -790

 

I still don’t understand - based on your hand alone - why you think 4S is a cinch to make.