luis Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 We arrived for the final qualifying session in 11th position with 12 pairs qualifying. Not confortable. As you know it was decided that our system meet the unwritten regulations mantained by a guy who know what you can play and what not so after the director "banned" the system per-se we were back with it.There was a rumour about an attempt to ban the system based on that it was not "common" adding a verbal regulation indicating that systems must be popular to be played it seems like it didn't succeed because we sit for round one without any bad news. Prepare to laugh...... Board 1: I held Qxx, AJx, xx, AQxxx. I opened 1d alerted by pd as 10-14 without a 4 card major. LHO called the TD asked if that was allowed, the TD said it was ok. He said that he didn't have a defense against 1d, I told him it was like "precision", he babled some words and play continued. They played 3nt down 2 on a old-fashioned 4th best club. LHO called the TD at the end of the hand. "He opened with 9!" I explained that two aces two queens and a jack summed 13 in my way of counting and play continued. Then I opened 1h with: Axx, 8765, xx, AKQx. Pd bid 2NT showing 8-11 with 4 or five hearts and no singleton. Vulnerable all. 1) What do you bid? After my bid (won't reveal which) LHO called the TD, he asked if our bids were allowed, the TD said they were, he stated he feeled "raped" (textual translation) by our system. My pd laughed the TD instructed the play to continue... "I understand your feelings but I can't do anything...."I'll come back to this hand in the quiz answers. Then I opened 1h on Kx, AJ9x, Qx, QT9xx. PD bid 2s constructive but non forcing with 10 HCP... guess what... LHO called the TD, he said that he was being devastated for not having a defense against our system. I said that 2s wasn't even a WJS but a constructive bid.... We made 2s +1 for a normal result. After the hand LHO called the TD and said that 6HCP wasn't constructive in his vision of the game, my pd picked back his cards from the board and showed two aces and a queen and asked "do you even know how to count points?"... Then they played 6h pd erred the lead and that fatal board cost us the match. After winning 64-36 LHO decided he needed to present a note to formally complain against our system. I guess we are in the middle of a complot..... I can't believe it.... Back to the quiz...... Nobody vul:x, xx, ATxx, AKQxxx LHO Pd RHO You2h p 4s ? 2h was a weak 2 and 4s "to play" 2) do you bid? what? KJ9x, xx, AQx, AKxx LHO Pd RHO You 1c1d p 1h p2h 3d p ? 1c was strong (15+), pd pass showed 0-5, your second pass showed15-18 and no heart stopper. 3d is natural, 4-5 HCP and a diamond suit. 3) Do you bid? What? Your hand: AJ9xx, 932, Jx, T74 LHO Pd RHO You1d p 1s p2d p 3n pp p 4) What do you lead? After losing the 1st match against the inquisition (LHO was a complete pain in the ....) we fell to the 2nd page of the positions.. We won the 2nd match 53-47 to reach the 14th position 13 points behind pair number 13 with 12 pairs qualifying, it seemed impossible but.....Our last scorecard was:+400, +480, +510, +600,+300,+400,+90,+110,+130,-110So we win that match 71-29 and enter 11th piuf!! We were lucky to be NS in the last match with all the cards. Apparently the computer sympathized with our struggles to play Moscito and let us pass to the finals...We love you computer! We forgive you for the 3-0 split in 7d down 1 in the first round. The inquisitors were happy to almost eliminate our "satanic" system but now they all will have to play against it and our dreaded 1s opening with "only 4 spades" will be back...... May the force be with us..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 1) I don't know exactly how the answers are after the limited 2NT-answer. I guess you passed or bid 3NT. Normally I think 3H should be the bid unless you have another tool to invite partner to game. 2) I think Dbl is the best. If partner has some S he can pass, otherwise he has to bid a minor. 4NT is an alternative but 4S* is impossible then... 3) Hmmm, it's unlikely that partner has a stop in H ànd DK 5th/6th. So I pass 4) D is against the odds. The choice is between H and C I think since S is probably a dead end. Lets analyse: RHO normally has no 4-card H, a 5-card S is possible. He counts on some D-tricks to get to his 3NT so he has probably 2-3 D's, maybe more. C is unknown, but won't be too long. That leaves him with a pretty balanced hand. LHO can still have a 4-card H because he never had the chance to bid them properly. With 6-4 D-C he'll still bid 2D if he's minimal, so C is still unknown. H is some kind of risk, and partner didn't bid 1H in between. I lead C10 (unless that promisses something). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inquiry Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 The trials and tribulations of playing Moscito... why am I trying to learn it.. .lol. #1... We have balanced 8-11 opposite balanced 13 with an 8 or 9 card heart fit. We must have some play for game, so if we are vulnerable I am going to bid game in 4 hearts. If not vul, it is not so clear. Is there a way to invite game over 2NT? If not, I think I will just pass.... #2 Nobody vul:x, xx, ATxx, AKQxxx LHO Pd RHO You2h p 4s ? Hmmm. 4 choices. Pass, DBL, 4NT, and 5C. Since I play DBL here as takeout, this is the bid I choose. I would like nothing more thna if partner has the hand that allows him to pass my double when he knows it is for takeout to the minors. If your double is penatly, you have to choose between a pass and 4NT/5C. I guess i would bid 5 clubs. #3 KJ9x, xx, AQx, AKxxLHO Pd RHO You 1c1d p 1h p2h 3d p ? Someone would have to explain what 1D was. Artificial or presumed natural (yes I know people pscych). Also what is the vul. At imps, not vul, like hand 2, I think we have bid enough, and I pass. Vul, I ask myself, what would 2Hx by your partner be? If he/she had a two suiter, could she double? Vul I would try for game. Partner could have 6/7 diamonds the King, a stiff heart and the spade Queen to roll 5Diamonds home. Or he may have 4 spades for a makable game or even 4S in a mosysian fit might be possible if partner has 5D to KT, 3S to Q, and singleton or doubleton heart. So vulnerable, I would make a game try with 3H, planning probably, to try and bail out at 4Diamonds unless I catch something exciting from partner... like a 3S bid. #4 I lead the SPADE JACK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbleighton Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 "Then I opened 1h with: Axx, 8765, xx, AKQx. Pd bid 2NT showing 8-11 with 4 or five hearts and no singleton. Vulnerable all. 1) What do you bid?" How do you invite to game? 3H? Do it. "Nobody vul:x, xx, ATxx, AKQxxx LHO Pd RHO You2h p 4s ? 2h was a weak 2 and 4s "to play" 2) do you bid? what?" "4s "to play"" - I assume this means a good hand with a decent shot at making. If so, pass. Ben - you are the guru of LOTT :) Would you explain why you would bid 5C? Do you assume 4S is weak? "KJ9x, xx, AQx, AKxx LHO Pd RHO You 1c1d p 1h p2h 3d p ? 1c was strong (15+), pd pass showed 0-5, your second pass showed15-18 and no heart stopper. 3d is natural, 4-5 HCP and a diamond suit. 3) Do you bid? What?" Pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inquiry Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 ""4s "to play"" - I assume this means a good hand with a decent shot at making. If so, pass. Ben - you are the guru of LOTT :) Would you explain why you would bid 5C? Do you assume 4S is weak? 4SPADES could be weak or strong... that is, once opener limited his hand, EAST is free to bid however he likes.. he is the captain. Having said that, NO ONE typically preempts to 4S when their partner opens 2H. For one thing, their partner has some points, and they must too. For another it is hard to make 5 of a minor...so... i think the 4S bidder thinks he is going to make this contract... he may not of course. An advantage of DOUBLE for takeout... If RHO is kidding around, partner can pass for penatly, or if RHO thinks he can make it, but he runs into a 5-0-1 or similar trump split, then your partner may pass for penatly. When your partner has some ho-hum hand, he can bid a good minor or 4NT to find out if you have a good preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis Posted August 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 I think that after 2h-p-4s a double is clearly for penalties, with both minors you can just bid 4nt and with a one suited hand you can bid 4m, the penalty double is needed in case you were about to bid spades and your RHO is having some fun on-the-route to 5h, it's the only way to tell pd that you do have a spade suit and a good hand and that a forcing pass situation will be created after they rescue to 5h...... Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think we have a takeout dbl in tis situation.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbleighton Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 "4SPADES could be weak or strong... that is, once opener limited his hand, EAST is free to bid however he likes.. he is the captain. Having said that, NO ONE typically preempts to 4S when their partner opens 2H. For one thing, their partner has some points, and they must too. For another it is hard to make 5 of a minor...so... i think the 4S bidder thinks he is going to make this contract... he may not of course. An advantage of DOUBLE for takeout... If RHO is kidding around, partner can pass for penatly, or if RHO thinks he can make it, but he runs into a 5-0-1 or similar trump split, then your partner may pass for penatly. When your partner has some ho-hum hand, he can bid a good minor or 4NT to find out if you have a good preference." I think the hohum hand is much more likely, and you will wind up playing at the five level. Assuming 18 total tricks, and assuming opps can make 10, you will be down three, most probably doubled, for 500, vs 420 for letting the opps have their game. What am I missing? Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 A 10-card fit ;D :) ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inquiry Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Hi. This reply is directed not only to luis, but to all others who wonder about the double of 4S as takeout. I highly recommend you examine at least the theory as espoused by Robson/Segal on takeout doubles in chapter four of their book on Partnership bidding at bridge. It is available on line as a PDF at Dan Neill's webpages. After reading that, perhaps you wo;; start playing TAKEOUT doubles through 7S... :-) LINK: http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000/sys/ I know it is a matter of style, but I like the use of double as takeout as long as a) it is not conventional (like support dbl):) it is not a double of an artificial bidc) we have not found a fit or an implied fit Implied exist if we preempt (either of us), or use transfer, or respond to a takeout double by bidding a major partner is known to hold. I have found this very playable... I know no upper bounds on the takeout double. Of course, the higher the level, the more likely it is to be off shape, and also the more likely partner will pass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hog Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Re Ben's post above. I agree that the X here should be for takeout. This hand simply does not have enough Ds to bid 4NT.If you don't X on hands like these you will be robbed blind by competent opposition. The 4S bidder can have anything from QJTxxxxx to a hand where he really expects to make 4S. Note that he WILL NOT have a hand where he may have a play for slam opposite a perfect 2H opening, as he would have investigated this - eg ifxxxAKxxxxxxxxis all he needs, he probably has the means to discover this. If they are nv vs vul the above comments apply even more. I am not saying you won't concede the X game every so often, but if you don't x on hands like this you will be regarded as a "soft opponent"Second choice is 5C though that is somewhat too unilateral for my taste. Ben places no upper limit on the t/o x. Neither do we, but you really need to discuss your agreements over these higher level pre empts. Eg we play negative xs through 7H, but that does not mean that they are always taken out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codo Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 Ok I am late, but I love your quizzes Louis: 1.: pass, to make game, he needs AKQ in Heart and another well placed high honour in D or S to make 4. No way. I prefer pass to 3 Heart. No ruffing values here and there, maybe 2 NT is better then 3 H. Besides: I am sure, that 3 H does not invite to game.Else, how can you stop? With denial cuebids, 3 Diamond will invite, or did I mixed it up? 2. close, but I will X. This is takeoutdish, but Pd may stay there even without a trump stake. 3. I dream of Kxxxx in diamond and QT9 in hearts from pd and bid 3 Heart... Hands should be always good enough for 4 Diamond, no big risk. Or maybe he is short in Hearts and we find something else... 4. a small spade. Declarer has 4 (or less!), so even if he has good spades, I don`t miss much, "Only" a maybe vital tempo. But if I try to find pds. suit, I may miss his KTx in Spades and that will be no fun. Kind Regards Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis Posted August 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 Then I opened 1h with: Axx, 8765, xx, AKQx. Pd bid 2NT showing 8-11 with 4 or five hearts and no singleton. Vulnerable all.1) What do you bid? If you bid game in hearts or invite you are down 1, pd will accept with his maximum Qxx, AKTx, QT9x, xx. The 3nt game is far better than 4h and you have very good chances to make this, if you bid 3nt congratulations! passing 2n or bidding 3h that is of course to play then that's ok too. Nobody vul:x, xx, ATxx, AKQxxx LHO Pd RHO You2h p 4s ? 2h was a weak 2 and 4s "to play"2) do you bid? what? We were fixed by RHO, he has AKQJTxx, xxx, x, xx and the 2h opening has x, AKQxxxx, xx, xxxx so they are down 1 in 4h on the 9 card fit (cA,dA,cK, low club and pd overruffs) but 4s can't be defeated. You are down 1 in five diamonds and pd would have bid 5d over 4n or double. I passed and got a bad result, not because we didn't find the 5d save but because everybody was down 1 in 4h! KJ9x, xx, AQx, AKxx LHO Pd RHO You 1c1d p 1h p2h 3d p ? 1c was strong (15+), pd pass showed 0-5, your second pass showed15-18 and no heart stopper. 3d is natural, 4-5 HCP and a diamond suit. 3) Do you bid? What? I felt the need to do something with AQx of diamonds and zero points in hearts. Since I passed the 1h bid I can't have a 5 card spade suit right? So I bid 3s, that can get me to a 4s game in a 4-4 fit, to 3nt if pd has the magic QT9 of hearts or to 4s in a moysian fit. Pd did bid 4s with Txx, xx, AQxxxx, xx and they lead the sA and a spade (!!) so +650 was worth a bunch of imps. The contract can be defeated playing 3 rounds of hearts since RHO has Qxxx of trumps. Remember that a ruff and sluff usually is deadly when they are in a moysian fit. I like 3s, in the worst scenario you are -1 in 4s or 4d. Your hand: AJ9xx, 932, Jx, T74 LHO Pd RHO You1d p 1s p2d p 3n pp p 4) What do you lead? The point of this hand is whether a spade lead is a logic alternative, if you lead a spade declarer has his 9th trick. If you lead anything else there's only 8 tricks for them and a good result for you. I confess I touched my lowest spade... and then lead the c7, piufff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hog Posted August 23, 2003 Report Share Posted August 23, 2003 We were fixed by RHO, he has AKQJTxx, xxx, x, xx and the 2h opening has x, AKQxxxx, xx, xxxx so they are down 1 in 4h You should call the director here as the 2H opener has 14 cards. I assume it was 6H to the AKQ. Looks like a 3H opening to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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