03-25-2008
, 10:03 PM
Quote:
I have a simple question about a hand play. My partner was an "expert" player on BBO (I'm intermediate BTW), and told me I played the hand wrong.
We're vulnerable at IMPS and reach 3NT, with west dealing. The auction proceeds:
1
- 1
3NT (Is 1
the right bid here? How do I show my hand strength without reversing? Or is 2N is right bid? I figured p for at least 6 HCP, and 4 diamonds, so NT was probably the best contract).
T
J 9 8 4
Q J T 5 3
8 7 3
J 7 6 2
K Q T
A 2
A K Q 6
West leads theA, then continues the K, and East takes the third trick with Q. He then switches to the A, West playing low. I dropped the K under the A. East exits with a small heart.
Now, I won trick 5 with theQ, and then immediately played out the clubs, in case there was a 3-3 break. There was, and I claimed 9 tricks.
My P says that I should have run the diamond finesse, since West was marked with 5 spades, and already showed 7 points, it's more likely that the finesse works.
I think this plan will lose you one trick if the finesse doesn't work, and makes if it does. My line (playing off the clubs first, then reverting back to the diamond finesse if the clubs don't break) would do the same, but gives me an additional chance, with the risk of going down 2 if West has the last club and theK.
Lastly, I notice that the contract can easily be defeated if West doesn't block his partner's Q. But at vulnerable IMPs, is there any better contract?
Any improvements on my bidding or line?
We're vulnerable at IMPS and reach 3NT, with west dealing. The auction proceeds:
1
- 13NT (Is 1
the right bid here? How do I show my hand strength without reversing? Or is 2N is right bid? I figured p for at least 6 HCP, and 4 diamonds, so NT was probably the best contract). T J 9 8 4 Q J T 5 3 8 7 3 J 7 6 2 K Q T A 2 A K Q 6West leads the
A, then continues the K, and East takes the third trick with Q. He then switches to the A, West playing low. I dropped the K under the A. East exits with a small heart.Now, I won trick 5 with the
Q, and then immediately played out the clubs, in case there was a 3-3 break. There was, and I claimed 9 tricks.My P says that I should have run the diamond finesse, since West was marked with 5 spades, and already showed 7 points, it's more likely that the finesse works.
I think this plan will lose you one trick if the finesse doesn't work, and makes if it does. My line (playing off the clubs first, then reverting back to the diamond finesse if the clubs don't break) would do the same, but gives me an additional chance, with the risk of going down 2 if West has the last club and the
K.Lastly, I notice that the contract can easily be defeated if West doesn't block his partner's
Q. But at vulnerable IMPs, is there any better contract?Any improvements on my bidding or line?
Love the line. There's a theory that your average BBO intermediate is better than your average BBO expert. The wonders of a self-rating system.
03-27-2008
, 08:19 PM
2 bidding problems, damn weak shapely hands:
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93
KT32
AQT8432
-
Let's say you bid 1:
P-1-2(weak)-3-
3-?
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2, don't remember vuln:
x
KQTxx
QJxxx
Qx
2-?
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93KT32AQT8432-Let's say you bid 1
:P-1
-2(weak)-3-3
-?2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2
, don't remember vuln:xKQTxxQJxxxQx2
-?
03-27-2008
, 11:03 PM
I would bid 4D, but then stop after that.
On the second hand, I would maybe bid 3S, which is still Michaels (right?)
03-28-2008
, 08:43 AM
Quote:
2 bidding problems, damn weak shapely hands:
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93
KT32
AQT8432
-
Let's say you bid 1:
P-1-2(weak)-3-
3-?
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2, don't remember vuln:
x
KQTxx
QJxxx
Qx
2-?
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93KT32AQT8432-Let's say you bid 1
:P-1
-2(weak)-3-3
-?2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2
, don't remember vuln:xKQTxxQJxxxQx2
-?
because you don't need much from partner to be in game in 4 hearts and you have a lead
directing call. You would only consider preempting with this in 3rd seat.
2) Don't compete in this spot with these two-suiters: it's likely to be
opponent's hand (they've got spades) and any bid is giving them a roadmap
to play the hand.
03-28-2008
, 09:14 AM
(Hand 2) Pass. This hand is too weak to bid at the 3-level. If partner has something (>= 11 HCP roughly) worthwhile, he'll keep the bidding open, especially if it's matchpoints. It's an important principle NOT to get over-anxious to bid when opponents pre-empt.
03-28-2008
, 09:25 AM
2. This one's close, but I'm a bidder. In general, I subscribe to the philosophy that after a preempt, the hand with shortness should stretch a little bit. 3S Michaels (or 4D leaping Michaels, which is what I play with my regular partners) is too big a bid with this hand, so my choice is 3H.
03-28-2008
, 06:49 PM
Thanks for the responses all:
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93
KT32
AQT8432
-
I actually wanted to know more about the opening bid, but I worded my question wrong. Still, a few commented, and no one wanted to string me up for it, so OK. I can definitely see how passing here is better in the long term. I wouldn't bid 3D here, it's fine in the 3rd seat though.
I passed at my 2nd turn, which you guys agreed with, and auction proceeded:
P-1-2(weak)-3-
3-P-P-4-
P-?
I made what I think in retrospect was a horrible decision to pass. At that point I was just happy to get out undoubled, but I don't know what I was so afraid of. Partner had x-Axx-KJ-KJxxxxx, 4C was down 2, and 5D looks like a make on anything but a trump lead. If I'm going to bid like such a pansy afterwards, maybe I shouldn't open this.
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2, don't remember vuln:
x
KQTxx
QJxxx
Qx
2-?
I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3 bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.
Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93KT32AQT8432-I actually wanted to know more about the opening bid, but I worded my question wrong. Still, a few commented, and no one wanted to string me up for it, so OK. I can definitely see how passing here is better in the long term. I wouldn't bid 3D here, it's fine in the 3rd seat though.
I passed at my 2nd turn, which you guys agreed with, and auction proceeded:
P-1
-2(weak)-3-3
-P-P-4-P-?
I made what I think in retrospect was a horrible decision to pass. At that point I was just happy to get out undoubled, but I don't know what I was so afraid of. Partner had x-Axx-KJ-KJxxxxx, 4C was down 2, and 5D looks like a make on anything but a trump lead. If I'm going to bid like such a pansy afterwards, maybe I shouldn't open this.
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2
, don't remember vuln:xKQTxxQJxxxQx2
-?I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3
bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
03-28-2008
, 07:55 PM
Quote:
Thanks for the responses all:
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93
KT32
AQT8432
-
I actually wanted to know more about the opening bid, but I worded my question wrong. Still, a few commented, and no one wanted to string me up for it, so OK. I can definitely see how passing here is better in the long term. I wouldn't bid 3D here, it's fine in the 3rd seat though.
I passed at my 2nd turn, which you guys agreed with, and auction proceeded:
P-1-2(weak)-3-
3-P-P-4-
P-?
I made what I think in retrospect was a horrible decision to pass. At that point I was just happy to get out undoubled, but I don't know what I was so afraid of. Partner had x-Axx-KJ-KJxxxxx, 4C was down 2, and 5D looks like a make on anything but a trump lead. If I'm going to bid like such a pansy afterwards, maybe I shouldn't open this.
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2, don't remember vuln:
x
KQTxx
QJxxx
Qx
2-?
I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3 bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.
Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
w/r, 2nd seat imps, pickup pard:
93KT32AQT8432-I actually wanted to know more about the opening bid, but I worded my question wrong. Still, a few commented, and no one wanted to string me up for it, so OK. I can definitely see how passing here is better in the long term. I wouldn't bid 3D here, it's fine in the 3rd seat though.
I passed at my 2nd turn, which you guys agreed with, and auction proceeded:
P-1
-2(weak)-3-3
-P-P-4-P-?
I made what I think in retrospect was a horrible decision to pass. At that point I was just happy to get out undoubled, but I don't know what I was so afraid of. Partner had x-Axx-KJ-KJxxxxx, 4C was down 2, and 5D looks like a make on anything but a trump lead. If I'm going to bid like such a pansy afterwards, maybe I shouldn't open this.
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2
, don't remember vuln:xKQTxxQJxxxQx2
-?I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3
bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
2nd hand: I stand by my earlier comment that over pre-empts, you shouldn't stretch to bid. In today's bridge environment, people pre-empt on any sort of crap and you shouldn't reward them by getting them out on crap.
(Poker analogy is amazing obvious here)
03-29-2008
, 03:36 PM
03-29-2008
, 09:55 PM
NH!
The first thing you should think about is whether RHO psyched
(well, that's what I'd be thinking!). You've got a 20-count and
even if RHO has 12, there's only 8 left in the deck, so you know
partner isn't balancing and if you pass here, LHO might even
pass since he's going to have less than a five-count on average.
If opponents play a 1 NT as forcing (say they play 2/1), you
could be better off doubling since your opponents may find a
better spot than 1.
Also, if you double with the intention of rebidding 2NT, what
are the chances that partner will raise you to 3NT? (Not very
likely, unless RHO psyched!) Sure, it will be nice to hear a 3 call
by partner, but that isn't too likely either. Also, if you happen to
end up in 3NT, where's your source of tricks?
In matchpoints, because of the vulnerability, I think you've got
an easy pass. Sure, you could miss game if partner has hearts
or a diamond suit but you could also be +100/+200 on this board
if you pass; at matchpoints, frequency matters more so I'd be
more inclined to pass and get my finger or mouse on the A/K.
At IMPs, I'd be more inclined to double and bid NT at the next
level since it could be that RHO psyched and there is a slim
chance of a game. Still, at IMPs, if my partner passed here with
this big hand, I could at least understand his thinking.
The first thing you should think about is whether RHO psyched
(well, that's what I'd be thinking!). You've got a 20-count and
even if RHO has 12, there's only 8 left in the deck, so you know
partner isn't balancing and if you pass here, LHO might even
pass since he's going to have less than a five-count on average.
If opponents play a 1 NT as forcing (say they play 2/1), you
could be better off doubling since your opponents may find a
better spot than 1
.Also, if you double with the intention of rebidding 2NT, what
are the chances that partner will raise you to 3NT? (Not very
likely, unless RHO psyched!) Sure, it will be nice to hear a 3
call by partner, but that isn't too likely either. Also, if you happen to
end up in 3NT, where's your source of tricks?
In matchpoints, because of the vulnerability, I think you've got
an easy pass. Sure, you could miss game if partner has hearts
or a diamond suit but you could also be +100/+200 on this board
if you pass; at matchpoints, frequency matters more so I'd be
more inclined to pass and get my finger or mouse on the A/K
. At IMPs, I'd be more inclined to double and bid NT at the next
level since it could be that RHO psyched and there is a slim
chance of a game. Still, at IMPs, if my partner passed here with
this big hand, I could at least understand his thinking.
03-29-2008
, 10:16 PM
Quote:
2nd problem
dealer opens weak 2, don't remember vuln:
x
KQTxx
QJxxx
Qx
2-?
I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3S bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.
Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
dealer opens weak 2
, don't remember vuln:xKQTxxQJxxxQx2
-?I was playing this in an individual tourney on BBO, and was a little surprised that I was the only one that bid over this (only 2 others faced the 2S bid though). My at-the-table action isn't very enlightening, since partner mistook my 3S bid (which is definitely Michaels without agreement otherwise) and forced us to a silly club contract.
Still, I think we are going to miss game a lot of the time here by passing. Partner rates to have 3+ spades and is going to have a tough time acting with balanced hands even in the balancing seat, say with a hand like xxx-Axx-KTxx-Kxx. I read somewhere (like benz stated above) that the hand with shortness should stretch to act against the pre-empt, and thta was my logic for bidding here.
Of course, we are practically forcing to game with a quacky 10-count, so maybe the risks aren't worth the reward. benz's 3H bid is probably more sane.
one), the doubleton Q
and no intermediates in diamonds (you didn't mention the ten; having the nine would be nice). Even if you find a fit, the
hand is a 7-loser hand according to modern LTC: it would normally be six only
but because you've just got 1 control in a ten-count, you add a loser. As
mentioned earlier, if partner has anything, the danger isn't just in getting to
an unmakeable game, it's getting to a bad slam or doubling opponents when
you've got basically little in defence/quick tricks. Change the Q
to the K and having the 9
and I can see a 3 call being right.Even with the King of clubs instead of the queen and the Nine of diamonds, a
3
call is too rich; you're basically forcing your partner to at least 3 NT. The diamond suit isn't great, so basically treat it like a four-card suit.
03-30-2008
, 07:58 PM