unlucky or poor judgement

[Adam Lea]

This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
hand as East, no-one vulnerable:

AKT2
T9743
JT72
-

Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.

N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?

1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
and came up with the following reasoning:

1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.

I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
modest HCP. The auction proceeded:

N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP

I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.

The full deal was:

J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862

The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?

Thanks

Adam

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by Adam Lea
This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
AKT2
T9743
JT72
-
Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?
1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.
I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP
I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.
J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862
The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?
Thanks
Adam

I agree with your reasoning but do not agree with 6S from partner. Just
cue 5D and now you have the chance to offer a choice of slams with 6D.
If partner now chooses 6S then bad luck as it will usually make if
trumps are 3-2 however with 5 diamonds and knowing you are ruffing clubs
in the short trump hand and IMP scoring 6D should be passed as 9 trumps
is a huge advantage over 8 trumps.

[p***@infi.net]

Post by Adam Lea
This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
AKT2
T9743
JT72
-
Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?
1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.
I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP
I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.
J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862
The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?
Thanks
Adam

The bad split was a bit unlucky, but was probably part of South's bid. Agreeing with Lorne, your bidding can't be too far wrong since there was an excellent, making slam available in diamonds. From partner's point of view, the diamonds might have provided discards opposite, say,
AKxxx Axxx xxx x .But sometimes it's the 4-4 fit that needs not to be trumps so one can be discarded , as here. Bridge is a tough game :)

[Will in New Haven]

Post by Adam Lea
This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
AKT2
T9743
JT72
-
Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?
1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.
I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP
I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.
J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862
The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?

Looks like mostly bad luck. If partner gives you a chance to offer 6D as a choice it might work out better but I don't think either of you did anything wrong.

[Adam Lea]

Post by Will in New Haven

Post by Adam Lea
This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
AKT2
T9743
JT72
-
Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?
1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.
I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP
I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.
J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862
The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?

Looks like mostly bad luck. If partner gives you a chance to offer 6D as a choice it might work out better but I don't think either of you did anything wrong.

Thanks, I had wondered if my 5C bid was a bit pushy. The opponents
bidding stopped me from showing partner the double fit so she would not
consider a diamons slam as the auction went. I like the suggestion of
partner bidding 5D so I can bid 6D offering a choice of slams. Evidently
most of the room did not get the club barrage from N/S, as four out of
the six other pairs stopped in a part score (one was in 3H going three
off!), so if I had left it in game we would have gained about 6 or 7
imps instead of losing 14. A 20 imp swing on one board is harsh but that
is how it goes sometimes.

[jogs]

Post by Adam Lea
Thanks, I had wondered if my 5C bid was a bit pushy. The opponents
bidding stopped me from showing partner the double fit so she would not
consider a diamons slam as the auction went. I like the suggestion of
partner bidding 5D so I can bid 6D offering a choice of slams. Evidently
most of the room did not get the club barrage from N/S, as four out of
the six other pairs stopped in a part score (one was in 3H going three
off!), so if I had left it in game we would have gained about 6 or 7
imps instead of losing 14. A 20 imp swing on one board is harsh but that
is how it goes sometimes.

I don't try to win boards. Believe in not losing boards.
Would have passed 4S. And would bid 5D if they went to 5C.
In contested auctions while 12 tricks are possible, let
the opponents do the gambling.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Adam Lea
This hand came up at the club IMP pairs evening, opponents were a couple
of grandmasters and the best players in the room. I held the following
AKT2
T9743
JT72
-
Our system was 5 card majors, 15-17NT.
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P ?
1D promises at least 4 cards in the suit. At this point, I had a think
1. Partner has freely bid 4S opposite a double which could be as little
as 8HCP. This suggests she has a strong opening hand.
2. The opponents have bid clubs aggressively and I have a void. This
means partner is unlikely to have wasted values in clubs, therefore it
is a 30 point pack situation.
3. We have a double fit in spades and diamonds. Partner, showing at
least nine cards in this suit, and probably having two or three clubs is
also short in hearts. Therefore she has one or two hearts, if two, she
could easily have the ace. In other words, combined with my rubbish in
hearts there is no wastage in the heart suit.
I therefore decided to cue bid 5C to suggest slam interest, despite my
N E S W
P P P 1D
2C X 4C 4S
P 5C P 6S
X AP
I can't remember exactly which opponent doubled, it may have been South.
J875
Q8
8
KQ9543
Q964 AKT2
2 T9743
AKQ64 JT72
AT7 -
3
AKJ65
953
J862
The 4-1 spade break kills any chance of making. Partner flounded, tried
desperate measures to bring it home but ultimately went four off for
-800 (if she accepts it is going off and plays for mimimum losses she
can hold it to one off on best play). According to Deep Finesse 6D
makes. Is this a case of bad luck, poor judgement or a combination of
both? Was there a fatal flaw in my reasoning above?
Thanks
Adam

Should opener be jumping to 6 with such mediocre trumps?

Carl

[p***@gmail.com]

I like the daring, aggressive bidding. That heart singleton is looking very useful. Just think of how great it would have been if it had worked out. I guess partner didn't realize you had such good diamond support.

There is only so much meaning that one may cram into bridge bids, especially in such an unusual auction. I guess I prefer daring over caution. Who wants to play yet another spade game? Ho hum.