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Board 1: North opens 1H on K10x AQ10xx xx A9x. East may pass or bid a weak 2S on A9876x xx Jxx xx; my standard for a weak jump overcall is essentially the same as a weak two opening and this does not qualify. It isn't that I don't think such a bid can gain; but I think it's more important to jump with, say, AQJxxx and a side King, and too wide a range can pose insoluble problems for partner. Opposite a passed hand, I'd be more inclined to jump.
South has a monster: Jx KJ9 AKQx KQJx. The only question is "which slam?" Although hearts should be fine as trumps, might a 4-4 minor fit provide an extra trick for a grand slam? Probably not in this case: you'd need partner to have three Aces and the Queen of hearts, which would produce 13 tricks at notrump. If you had a side suit like Axx or AKxx, it might be useful to make another suit trumps and pitch losers on the hearts.
A straight jump to 4NT is a fairly practical bid here. There's a slight chance of two quick spade losers, but there's also the chance they fail to lead spades. 6NT, however, may play better from partner's side if he holds Kx(x) of spades, so a temporizing bid of 2D has some merit. All in all, though, I think 4NT directly over 1H is the simplest approach, aiming for 6H. Partner's reply shows 2 Aces or 2 key card + the Queen, and 6H makes easily.
Over a 2S jump, South cannot ignore the sapde problem; best is a 3S support-showing cue-bid. North bids 4H and South continues with 5D, a control cue-bid. North has control of both clubs and spades and has no trouble bidding 6H. When partner goes beyond game to make a slam try, don't worrry about overall strength, the only issue is controls.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, October 16th 2011
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Board 6: East opens 1S and West, after deducting a point for no Ace and thinking pessimistically about his singleton in partner's suit, nevertheless has enough for a standard 2H response. East has excellent support, shape and controls; by point count, he can add 3 for the singleton club when raising partner with 4 trumps. 18+ partners 11+ totals at least 29, not enough to drive to slam but definitely interested. Visualizing, slam can make opposite as little as x Kxxxx KQx xxxx if the diamonds can provide 3 tricks and the trumps at least 8 on a crossruff. However, it's difficult for partner to show a singleton in your suit or to know it's an asset, not a liability, when you have Axxxx rather than KQxxx or such.
Agreements are important here: East must not make a bid short of game that partner might pass, but a simple jump to 4H hardly does justice to this powerhouse. One possibility is a splinter jump (4C), but this hand is perhaps too strong for that. A key understanding is that after a standard 2/1 response, a new suit by opener is forcing and a new suit at the three level is game-forcing. Opener can therefore rebid 3D, showing extra strength, and support hearts later. However, nothing will get West excited with his aceless minimum, but his excellent trump spots allow for an early claim: lead a club early, cash three diamond winners (else South can discard diamonds on spades and later ruff a winner) and then claim a crossruff with the eight highest trumps.
Board 9: North opens a maximum 1NT and South replies with Stayman 2C (not a transfer.) South can raise either major to game; if North replies 2D, South forces to game by rebidding 3H (or 3S, for Smolen bidders, not a gadget I recommend.) North obliges with 2S and South can think slam with his excellent controls and the heart suit as a source of discards. Adding 3 for the singleton along with 4 trumps, South's hand is worth at least 16. Visualizing, KQxx AJx xxx Kxx would give a near lock for 12 tricks and that's only 13 hcp. South can blast into 4NT (Blackwood or Key Card) or employ a gadget bid such as 4D (splinter) or 3H ("Three other major slam try.") The splinter looks like a good description; North's AK is somewhat wasted, but he has excellent controls and maximum values and can proceed with 4NT. Playing Key Card, South replies 5H (2 Key Cards without the Queen) and North settles for 6S.
East leads the Queen of clubs and North wins, plays the two top trumps, and leaving the high trump out, cashes the high diamonds and hearts, pitching a club from each hand; he would ruff a heart if needed to set up the long card in the suit. East will eventually score his trump Queen but North has plenty of tricks even without the favorable heart split. 6NT makes on this layout but would fail on a normal 4-2 heat split.
Board 6: East opens 1S and West, after deducting a point for no Ace and thinking pessimistically about his singleton in partner's suit, nevertheless has enough for a standard 2H response. East has excellent support, shape and controls; by point count, he can add 3 for the singleton club when raising partner with 4 trumps. 18+ partners 11+ totals at least 29, not enough to drive to slam but definitely interested. Visualizing, slam can make opposite as little as x Kxxxx KQx xxxx if the diamonds can provide 3 tricks and the trumps at least 8 on a crossruff. However, it's difficult for partner to show a singleton in your suit or to know it's an asset, not a liability, when you have Axxxx rather than KQxxx or such.
Agreements are important here: East must not make a bid short of game that partner might pass, but a simple jump to 4H hardly does justice to this powerhouse. One possibility is a splinter jump (4C), but this hand is perhaps too strong for that. A key understanding is that after a standard 2/1 response, a new suit by opener is forcing and a new suit at the three level is game-forcing. Opener can therefore rebid 3D, showing extra strength, and support hearts later. However, nothing will get West excited with his aceless minimum, but his excellent trump spots allow for an early claim: lead a club early, cash three diamond winners (else South can discard diamonds on spades and later ruff a winner) and then claim a crossruff with the eight highest trumps.
Board 9: North opens a maximum 1NT and South replies with Stayman 2C (not a transfer.) South can raise either major to game; if North replies 2D, South forces to game by rebidding 3H (or 3S, for Smolen bidders, not a gadget I recommend.) North obliges with 2S and South can think slam with his excellent controls and the heart suit as a source of discards. Adding 3 for the singleton along with 4 trumps, South's hand is worth at least 16. Visualizing, KQxx AJx xxx Kxx would give a near lock for 12 tricks and that's only 13 hcp. South can blast into 4NT (Blackwood or Key Card) or employ a gadget bid such as 4D (splinter) or 3H ("Three other major slam try.") The splinter looks like a good description; North's AK is somewhat wasted, but he has excellent controls and maximum values and can proceed with 4NT. Playing Key Card, South replies 5H (2 Key Cards without the Queen) and North settles for 6S.
East leads the Queen of clubs and North wins, plays the two top trumps, and leaving the high trump out, cashes the high diamonds and hearts, pitching a club from each hand; he would ruff a heart if needed to set up the long card in the suit. East will eventually score his trump Queen but North has plenty of tricks even without the favorable heart split. 6NT makes on this layout but would fail on a normal 4-2 heat split.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday, October 14th 2011
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Board 14: East opens 1H on xx AQJ10xx AJx xx and West looks at Kxx xxx K AKQJxx. 6 clubs tricks and two Kings looks like at least 8 tricks, plenty enough for slam with a fit for partner; but West is short on "prime" cards (Aces and the King/Queen of trumps.) An immediate leap to 4NT (RKCB) will tell West everything he needs to know about slam, but could easily be down one if partner is missing, say, an Ace and two trump losers, or the spade King is under the enemy Ace. West should want to suggest slam below game level, and a strong jump to 3C is perfect. Opener should certainly drive to slam holding four key cards or three plus the Queen of trumps.
East has a minimum but a strong suit and good values in diamonds; a three level jump shift should not have a side four card suit, so East's most useful rebid is 3D, showing a concentration of values (5+ hcp in the suit.) This will assure partner the suit is stopped (for notrump) and controlled for slam (does not have two quick losers.) West revels his heart support with 3H over 3D; lacking a spade control, and having made one constructive rebid, East simply raises to 4H, which should end the bidding. As it happens 6C or 6NT by West are makeable, but only because the King of hearts is finessable. A slam requiring a finesse in a key suit is not a good bet.
Many bidders play 2/1 game force with weak jump shifts, so West would respond 2C. The game-force leaves room for slam exploration, but suufers from some ambiguity about responder's goal. East rebids the good hearts (no need to invent a diamond bid here) and West raises to three. East might simply bid 4H at this point, but West is unlimited and it would be better to give him another chance to make a slam try below game. A popular method is "Serious 3NT", where 3NT after agreeing on a major shows the values for slam, while a cue-bid instead merely shows a control with no extra strength. On that basis East can rebid 4D, showing his diamond control but limited values. Personally, I prefer the opposite agreement: a cue-bid shows serious intent, while a "Courtesy 3NT" shows a willingness to cooperate if partner cue-bids. (It seems wrong to me to give the defenders the benefit of further describing opener's hand when neither partner is interested in slam.) East bids 3NT on that basis and West can assume he does not have 4 "prime" cards and so signs off at 4H.
If West were to bid simple Blackwood at some point, he'll find one Ace missing and won't know the full situation in hearts. In that case, West should proceeed to slam, but 6NT is safer than 6H, to protect West's King of spades. If the hearts come in there will be plenty of tricks.
Board 14: East opens 1H on xx AQJ10xx AJx xx and West looks at Kxx xxx K AKQJxx. 6 clubs tricks and two Kings looks like at least 8 tricks, plenty enough for slam with a fit for partner; but West is short on "prime" cards (Aces and the King/Queen of trumps.) An immediate leap to 4NT (RKCB) will tell West everything he needs to know about slam, but could easily be down one if partner is missing, say, an Ace and two trump losers, or the spade King is under the enemy Ace. West should want to suggest slam below game level, and a strong jump to 3C is perfect. Opener should certainly drive to slam holding four key cards or three plus the Queen of trumps.
East has a minimum but a strong suit and good values in diamonds; a three level jump shift should not have a side four card suit, so East's most useful rebid is 3D, showing a concentration of values (5+ hcp in the suit.) This will assure partner the suit is stopped (for notrump) and controlled for slam (does not have two quick losers.) West revels his heart support with 3H over 3D; lacking a spade control, and having made one constructive rebid, East simply raises to 4H, which should end the bidding. As it happens 6C or 6NT by West are makeable, but only because the King of hearts is finessable. A slam requiring a finesse in a key suit is not a good bet.
Many bidders play 2/1 game force with weak jump shifts, so West would respond 2C. The game-force leaves room for slam exploration, but suufers from some ambiguity about responder's goal. East rebids the good hearts (no need to invent a diamond bid here) and West raises to three. East might simply bid 4H at this point, but West is unlimited and it would be better to give him another chance to make a slam try below game. A popular method is "Serious 3NT", where 3NT after agreeing on a major shows the values for slam, while a cue-bid instead merely shows a control with no extra strength. On that basis East can rebid 4D, showing his diamond control but limited values. Personally, I prefer the opposite agreement: a cue-bid shows serious intent, while a "Courtesy 3NT" shows a willingness to cooperate if partner cue-bids. (It seems wrong to me to give the defenders the benefit of further describing opener's hand when neither partner is interested in slam.) East bids 3NT on that basis and West can assume he does not have 4 "prime" cards and so signs off at 4H.
If West were to bid simple Blackwood at some point, he'll find one Ace missing and won't know the full situation in hearts. In that case, West should proceeed to slam, but 6NT is safer than 6H, to protect West's King of spades. If the hearts come in there will be plenty of tricks.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday, October 6th 2011
Been busy, hadn't posted in a while. Right-click here for hands.
Board 3: A reasonable N/S auction might start 1C-1H; 1S-3D (game-forcing, at least 5-5); South has 16 hcp but the hands don't appear to fit well, so 3NT-4H; all pass. Three pairs reached slam, I assume North must have been more aggressively. North counts about 4.5 losers and partner opened, but the club and spade bids suggest mostly wasted values.
Board 10: East opens 1C or 1D on Axx Jx Axxx KQxx and West responds in hearts with
KJ AK987 Jx A1097. West should be thinking slam if East has good clubs and controls, or support for hearts. The simplest approach is a strong jump shift: 1C-2H; 2NT-3C; 3D-3H; 3S-4NT; 5C (0 or 3)-5D (Q ask); positive reply (5S if playing no/yes replies; playing "Specific Kings" East would bid 5NT to deny the trump Queen, since 5C is not available; here East bids 6C to confirm the Queen.) Note that East can visualize slam opposite as little as xx AKQxx xx Axxx, a rather light hand for a jump shift, so East might well jump to 4NT over 3C.
For those playing weak jump shifts, West must begin with 1H; and if East opens 1D West's is not quite worth a strong jump anyway. Possible auction: 1D-1H; 1NT-2C (artificial, the New Minor Forcing gadget); what now for East? NMF promises 5+ in respoinder's major and game invitational values; East has a maximum 14 hcp for his 1NT rebid, so he should drive to game. 3C seems to be the best description: no 3 card heart support, no 4 card spade suit, no 5 card diamond suit and only one spade stopper. West can picture the 3244 shape but it seems a bit much to hope partner has such excellent cards for slam. I'd sign off at 3NT.
As it happens, 6C (and 4H, which we stumbled into) falls prey to the horrid 5-1 heart split while nine or more tricks are easily available at notrump, but this is a slam I'd want to bid.
Board 3: A reasonable N/S auction might start 1C-1H; 1S-3D (game-forcing, at least 5-5); South has 16 hcp but the hands don't appear to fit well, so 3NT-4H; all pass. Three pairs reached slam, I assume North must have been more aggressively. North counts about 4.5 losers and partner opened, but the club and spade bids suggest mostly wasted values.
Board 10: East opens 1C or 1D on Axx Jx Axxx KQxx and West responds in hearts with
KJ AK987 Jx A1097. West should be thinking slam if East has good clubs and controls, or support for hearts. The simplest approach is a strong jump shift: 1C-2H; 2NT-3C; 3D-3H; 3S-4NT; 5C (0 or 3)-5D (Q ask); positive reply (5S if playing no/yes replies; playing "Specific Kings" East would bid 5NT to deny the trump Queen, since 5C is not available; here East bids 6C to confirm the Queen.) Note that East can visualize slam opposite as little as xx AKQxx xx Axxx, a rather light hand for a jump shift, so East might well jump to 4NT over 3C.
For those playing weak jump shifts, West must begin with 1H; and if East opens 1D West's is not quite worth a strong jump anyway. Possible auction: 1D-1H; 1NT-2C (artificial, the New Minor Forcing gadget); what now for East? NMF promises 5+ in respoinder's major and game invitational values; East has a maximum 14 hcp for his 1NT rebid, so he should drive to game. 3C seems to be the best description: no 3 card heart support, no 4 card spade suit, no 5 card diamond suit and only one spade stopper. West can picture the 3244 shape but it seems a bit much to hope partner has such excellent cards for slam. I'd sign off at 3NT.
As it happens, 6C (and 4H, which we stumbled into) falls prey to the horrid 5-1 heart split while nine or more tricks are easily available at notrump, but this is a slam I'd want to bid.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 25th 2011
No hand records for Swiss teams.
No one bid a slam in any of our 28 boards, but two hands had potential:
Board 22: West picks up KJ AK AKJ10xx A10 and hears passes from East and South. Two clubs looks right, planning to rebid either in the diamond suit or notrump. East responds with x Q10xxx 9xxx Qxx. This qualifies for 2D negative (0-7), waiting (0+) or semi-positive (4+) or a "Steps" 2H response (4-6). (Some play 2D promises an Ace or King, so they would bid 2H = bust.) After a negative or waiting 2D or 2H, I think West must leap to 3NT -- too much chance of missing game if you rebid 3D (the bidding may miss 3NT) or 2NT (not forcing.) This is likely to end the bidding.
After a forward-going 2D (4+) or 2H (4-6), West can rebid 2NT, an unlimited bid over these game-forcing responses. Stayman and transfers are on since the first two bids were artificial, so East shows the hearts with a 3D transfer. West bids 3H as requested and East must rebid 3NT despite the spade singleton --can't afford to carry the bidding any higher. From West's perspective, slam requires no diamond loser and two more tricks from partner; East's actual hand is excellent but without the big diamond fit 12 tricks are unlikely and passing 3NT looks reasonable, especially vulnerable at IMPs. If West does decide to invite slam, how? 4D is certainly a slam try, but it is apt to sound like a cue-bid in support of hearts, since West originally bid notrump. That leaves a simple 4NT raise as a quantitative slam try, which East is sure to pass with only two Queens and no knowledge of the big diamond fit.
What if West bids diamonds rather than notrump? 2C-2D (4+); 3D-? Should East raise or bid his hearts? I'd vote for the raise, particularly at IMPs where +600 or +920 at diamonds is no great loss compared to +620 or +980 at hearts. Now West can be optimistic about slam and bid 4NT followed by 6D when partner shows zero key cards or Aces.
Board 24: West picks up A10xx AKJ10xx Ax A as dealer, no one vulnerable. Game and slam chances look lively, and a strong 2C looks like a good start. You might not be passed out at 1H but I think it would be hard to portray a hand of this power after that opening. East holds x Q9xx xxx Q10xxx and responds in the same style as #22: 2D negative (0-7), waiting (0+), semi-positive (4+), or 2H steps (4-6) or bust (no Ace or King.) Over any 2D response West bids 2H and East raises. It is a key principle here that, when raising, East should bid 4H with zero controls: no ace, King or singleton. So East's 3H promises at least one control (the singeton spade on today's hand.)
West can assume no heart loser and one or two high card winners, but that does not appear to cover his four potential no-trump losers. With all the key cards, partner is not likely to cue-bid, but West may as well bid 3S to at least suggest slam. East cannot be sure how much the stiff spade is worth and likely retreats to 4H. West can try 5C -- perhaps East has the King of diamonds to cue-bid. No such luck, and East's 5H likely ends the bidding.
To reach slam, I think East must show West his singleton, such as with a splinter raise. After 2C-2D; 2H, East cannot have a very good spade suit (he would've responded 2S initially) and any raged suit can simply be bid and rebid, so a jump to 3S ought logically be a raise, so the splinter interpretation is reasonable -- but don't try this without prior discussion! Is East's hand worth 3S? I'm tempted to say no with bare minimum values and no Ace or King, but splinters can be most useful on minimal hands which could be worth a couple of extra tricks if partner can use the ruffing value.
Afer 2C-2D; 2H-3S, West trots out 4NT followed by 5NT simply to inform partner he has all the key cards or Aces, but East reveals zero Kings and the biddnig ends at 6H. Declarer counts nine tricks plus two spade ruffs; he can try for a third ruff or set up a long club for his 12th trick. I set up a club (the King fell on the third round of the suit) but on the layout give here it looks simple enough to ruff three times: win the diamond lead, Ace of spades, ruff a spade low, club to hand, ruff a spade high, trump to hand, ruff a spade high, ruff a club high, pull trumps and concede a diamond. I was able to make all 13 tricks (Ace of sapdes, two ruffs, six trumps, Ace of diamonds and three club tricks) at 4H for a not very important 1 IMP gain.
No one bid a slam in any of our 28 boards, but two hands had potential:
Board 22: West picks up KJ AK AKJ10xx A10 and hears passes from East and South. Two clubs looks right, planning to rebid either in the diamond suit or notrump. East responds with x Q10xxx 9xxx Qxx. This qualifies for 2D negative (0-7), waiting (0+) or semi-positive (4+) or a "Steps" 2H response (4-6). (Some play 2D promises an Ace or King, so they would bid 2H = bust.) After a negative or waiting 2D or 2H, I think West must leap to 3NT -- too much chance of missing game if you rebid 3D (the bidding may miss 3NT) or 2NT (not forcing.) This is likely to end the bidding.
After a forward-going 2D (4+) or 2H (4-6), West can rebid 2NT, an unlimited bid over these game-forcing responses. Stayman and transfers are on since the first two bids were artificial, so East shows the hearts with a 3D transfer. West bids 3H as requested and East must rebid 3NT despite the spade singleton --can't afford to carry the bidding any higher. From West's perspective, slam requires no diamond loser and two more tricks from partner; East's actual hand is excellent but without the big diamond fit 12 tricks are unlikely and passing 3NT looks reasonable, especially vulnerable at IMPs. If West does decide to invite slam, how? 4D is certainly a slam try, but it is apt to sound like a cue-bid in support of hearts, since West originally bid notrump. That leaves a simple 4NT raise as a quantitative slam try, which East is sure to pass with only two Queens and no knowledge of the big diamond fit.
What if West bids diamonds rather than notrump? 2C-2D (4+); 3D-? Should East raise or bid his hearts? I'd vote for the raise, particularly at IMPs where +600 or +920 at diamonds is no great loss compared to +620 or +980 at hearts. Now West can be optimistic about slam and bid 4NT followed by 6D when partner shows zero key cards or Aces.
Board 24: West picks up A10xx AKJ10xx Ax A as dealer, no one vulnerable. Game and slam chances look lively, and a strong 2C looks like a good start. You might not be passed out at 1H but I think it would be hard to portray a hand of this power after that opening. East holds x Q9xx xxx Q10xxx and responds in the same style as #22: 2D negative (0-7), waiting (0+), semi-positive (4+), or 2H steps (4-6) or bust (no Ace or King.) Over any 2D response West bids 2H and East raises. It is a key principle here that, when raising, East should bid 4H with zero controls: no ace, King or singleton. So East's 3H promises at least one control (the singeton spade on today's hand.)
West can assume no heart loser and one or two high card winners, but that does not appear to cover his four potential no-trump losers. With all the key cards, partner is not likely to cue-bid, but West may as well bid 3S to at least suggest slam. East cannot be sure how much the stiff spade is worth and likely retreats to 4H. West can try 5C -- perhaps East has the King of diamonds to cue-bid. No such luck, and East's 5H likely ends the bidding.
To reach slam, I think East must show West his singleton, such as with a splinter raise. After 2C-2D; 2H, East cannot have a very good spade suit (he would've responded 2S initially) and any raged suit can simply be bid and rebid, so a jump to 3S ought logically be a raise, so the splinter interpretation is reasonable -- but don't try this without prior discussion! Is East's hand worth 3S? I'm tempted to say no with bare minimum values and no Ace or King, but splinters can be most useful on minimal hands which could be worth a couple of extra tricks if partner can use the ruffing value.
Afer 2C-2D; 2H-3S, West trots out 4NT followed by 5NT simply to inform partner he has all the key cards or Aces, but East reveals zero Kings and the biddnig ends at 6H. Declarer counts nine tricks plus two spade ruffs; he can try for a third ruff or set up a long club for his 12th trick. I set up a club (the King fell on the third round of the suit) but on the layout give here it looks simple enough to ruff three times: win the diamond lead, Ace of spades, ruff a spade low, club to hand, ruff a spade high, trump to hand, ruff a spade high, ruff a club high, pull trumps and concede a diamond. I was able to make all 13 tricks (Ace of sapdes, two ruffs, six trumps, Ace of diamonds and three club tricks) at 4H for a not very important 1 IMP gain.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23rd 2011
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Board 3: East has a huge 5260 hand: what to open in 4th seat? With 18 hcp, the odds of being passed out at the one level are fairly low; if partner can't respond, one of the opponents is likely to bid. Diamonds are the best suit and the hand is certainly strong enough to bid and rebid spades later. Would it be easier to reach slam with a 2C opening? A likely auction might be 2C-2D; 3D-3NT; 4S -- does that suggest 5-6? I'm not sure, so I think I'd try opening 1D. South overcalls 2C, West passes, North raises to 3C -- opposite a passed hand, there's little risk of partner overbidding and the raise helps blockade East. A leap to 4S, however, should clearly suggest the powerful 5-6 shape (at least 5-5 for a jump shift opposite a passing partner, and longer diamonds since East bid the lower ranking suit first.) Holding an Ace and tolerance for both suits, West can pass or take a preference back to diamonds. In general, it's wrong for the shorter trump hand to insist on a non-fit (5-2 or 4-3) when there is a known fit. It's fine to suggest playing in a major, but the decision should be left to the one with the trump length, who will have a better idea how solid the suit is. Here West may suspect spades is a good spot but as partner could've opened spades with good spades and indifferent diaonds, I think it's safest to return to the known fit, 5D. East does not have enough information to bid further.
In the play, East expects to lose a club and a spade or possibly a diamond, hopefully not both. In fact both suits split well and East rolls up +620; as it happens spades would score +680, but slam would be a poor bet.
Board 4: North opens 1C in second seat, and East's suit is too weak for a vulnerable preempt. South responds 1H. North counts 7 likely winners and several plus values; if the clubs run or partner can provide some help in whatever suit they lead 3NT looks like a good bet. Note that this is the normal type of hand for a 3NT rebid -- with 18 or 19 balanced, North would rebid 2NT; with more, North would open 2NT or 2C. So North's 3NT suggests long, strong clubs and at least 7.5 tricks. South can expect to add at least 4 tricks and should invite slam in case North has extras. 4NT here should be invitational, and if not 4C should be a clear slam try (it would be silly to run from a game to a part-score) but in many partnerships South can expect 4NT to be taken as Blackwood. Still, there's probably some play for 12 trick if partner has at least two Aces. As North, I'd pass 4NT (only 6 clubs and 3NT was a bit of a stretch) but would react favorably to 4C with 3 Aces and the Queen of trumps: a possible sequence might be 1C-1H; 3NT-4C; 4D-4H (cue-bids); 4NT-1 ace or 2 key card reply; 6C or 6NT-all pass. If South bids 4NT as Blackwood, North replies 5S (3 Aces) and South should bid 6C -- the trump suit may be needed to set up hearts for 12 tricks.
North can win a spade lead and set the hearts up with a losing finesse. A diamond lead is trickier -- perhaps West doubled 4D for a lead. This dooms 6NT but 6C can be made by ruffing a heart before pulling the last trump. Should declarer try the ruff or finesse? A 3-3 split is about a 36% chance; in half of those cases the finesse also works, so we can say the ruff gains 18% (Qxx offside.) If East has Qxxx, the finesse wins and declarer can ruff a heart, return to dummy with the King of trumps, and pitch two diamonds; I make the odds of East having Qxxx about 16%. Hmm, the ruff also gains when West has Qx, another 8%, so it looks like ruffing is the better play. A singleton Queen or Qx with East will be obvious in any case, so overall the ruff looks like a better than 50% chance.
Board 3: East has a huge 5260 hand: what to open in 4th seat? With 18 hcp, the odds of being passed out at the one level are fairly low; if partner can't respond, one of the opponents is likely to bid. Diamonds are the best suit and the hand is certainly strong enough to bid and rebid spades later. Would it be easier to reach slam with a 2C opening? A likely auction might be 2C-2D; 3D-3NT; 4S -- does that suggest 5-6? I'm not sure, so I think I'd try opening 1D. South overcalls 2C, West passes, North raises to 3C -- opposite a passed hand, there's little risk of partner overbidding and the raise helps blockade East. A leap to 4S, however, should clearly suggest the powerful 5-6 shape (at least 5-5 for a jump shift opposite a passing partner, and longer diamonds since East bid the lower ranking suit first.) Holding an Ace and tolerance for both suits, West can pass or take a preference back to diamonds. In general, it's wrong for the shorter trump hand to insist on a non-fit (5-2 or 4-3) when there is a known fit. It's fine to suggest playing in a major, but the decision should be left to the one with the trump length, who will have a better idea how solid the suit is. Here West may suspect spades is a good spot but as partner could've opened spades with good spades and indifferent diaonds, I think it's safest to return to the known fit, 5D. East does not have enough information to bid further.
In the play, East expects to lose a club and a spade or possibly a diamond, hopefully not both. In fact both suits split well and East rolls up +620; as it happens spades would score +680, but slam would be a poor bet.
Board 4: North opens 1C in second seat, and East's suit is too weak for a vulnerable preempt. South responds 1H. North counts 7 likely winners and several plus values; if the clubs run or partner can provide some help in whatever suit they lead 3NT looks like a good bet. Note that this is the normal type of hand for a 3NT rebid -- with 18 or 19 balanced, North would rebid 2NT; with more, North would open 2NT or 2C. So North's 3NT suggests long, strong clubs and at least 7.5 tricks. South can expect to add at least 4 tricks and should invite slam in case North has extras. 4NT here should be invitational, and if not 4C should be a clear slam try (it would be silly to run from a game to a part-score) but in many partnerships South can expect 4NT to be taken as Blackwood. Still, there's probably some play for 12 trick if partner has at least two Aces. As North, I'd pass 4NT (only 6 clubs and 3NT was a bit of a stretch) but would react favorably to 4C with 3 Aces and the Queen of trumps: a possible sequence might be 1C-1H; 3NT-4C; 4D-4H (cue-bids); 4NT-1 ace or 2 key card reply; 6C or 6NT-all pass. If South bids 4NT as Blackwood, North replies 5S (3 Aces) and South should bid 6C -- the trump suit may be needed to set up hearts for 12 tricks.
North can win a spade lead and set the hearts up with a losing finesse. A diamond lead is trickier -- perhaps West doubled 4D for a lead. This dooms 6NT but 6C can be made by ruffing a heart before pulling the last trump. Should declarer try the ruff or finesse? A 3-3 split is about a 36% chance; in half of those cases the finesse also works, so we can say the ruff gains 18% (Qxx offside.) If East has Qxxx, the finesse wins and declarer can ruff a heart, return to dummy with the King of trumps, and pitch two diamonds; I make the odds of East having Qxxx about 16%. Hmm, the ruff also gains when West has Qx, another 8%, so it looks like ruffing is the better play. A singleton Queen or Qx with East will be obvious in any case, so overall the ruff looks like a better than 50% chance.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22nd 2011
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Board 15: Roman Key Card Blackwood should keep N/S out of slam, missing an Ace and the King of hearts. An auction like 1H-2C; 4H-4NT; 5D-5H; all pass would be reasonable, where 5D shows 1 or 4 key cards. Slam makes if declarer guesses to drop the stiff King, but there is no obvious reason to make that play.
On lead, West should not consider a club -- if partner has anything there, he'll get it sooner or later. The threat is that a side winner may go away on dummy's clubs. Since East rates to have few values, underleading diamonds is risky. The ten of spades has some hope of helping to set up a trick, and a good chance of not giving anything away. As it happens, the defense collects two spades, and East shifts to a diamond at trick three. Declarer then tries the trump finesse and finishes down one. On a foolish club lead, the defense should still prevail sicne West can find the spade shift after winning the King of hearts -- but declarer might try a safety play, reasoning that he must keep West off lead. Going up with the Ace allows declarer to run the table.
Can the risky five level be avoided? Perhaps South's jump to 4H should deny as many as three key cards or two plus the Queen. With that understanding, North has no reason to disturb 4H.
Board 21: East opens 1C and West shows a balanced 13-15 hcp with a standard 2NT (forcing) or that modern abomination, a direct leap to 3NT. Either way, East counts 8 tricks and expects opener to provide 4 more; it seems unlikely a trump suit will add anything so East jumps straight to 6NT. West wins the lead, tests clubs, and then cashes the Ace of diamonds, one high heart (that may have been the lead) and three spades before running all the clubs, pitching diamonds from his hand. South shuold guard diamonds while North guards hearts; a defensive slip allows declarer to take all 13 tricks.
Board 15: Roman Key Card Blackwood should keep N/S out of slam, missing an Ace and the King of hearts. An auction like 1H-2C; 4H-4NT; 5D-5H; all pass would be reasonable, where 5D shows 1 or 4 key cards. Slam makes if declarer guesses to drop the stiff King, but there is no obvious reason to make that play.
On lead, West should not consider a club -- if partner has anything there, he'll get it sooner or later. The threat is that a side winner may go away on dummy's clubs. Since East rates to have few values, underleading diamonds is risky. The ten of spades has some hope of helping to set up a trick, and a good chance of not giving anything away. As it happens, the defense collects two spades, and East shifts to a diamond at trick three. Declarer then tries the trump finesse and finishes down one. On a foolish club lead, the defense should still prevail sicne West can find the spade shift after winning the King of hearts -- but declarer might try a safety play, reasoning that he must keep West off lead. Going up with the Ace allows declarer to run the table.
Can the risky five level be avoided? Perhaps South's jump to 4H should deny as many as three key cards or two plus the Queen. With that understanding, North has no reason to disturb 4H.
Board 21: East opens 1C and West shows a balanced 13-15 hcp with a standard 2NT (forcing) or that modern abomination, a direct leap to 3NT. Either way, East counts 8 tricks and expects opener to provide 4 more; it seems unlikely a trump suit will add anything so East jumps straight to 6NT. West wins the lead, tests clubs, and then cashes the Ace of diamonds, one high heart (that may have been the lead) and three spades before running all the clubs, pitching diamonds from his hand. South shuold guard diamonds while North guards hearts; a defensive slip allows declarer to take all 13 tricks.
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