interesting hand from novice evening

[Adam Lea]

I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
make up the numbers) and this hand came up on the last round:

no-one vulnerable

8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73

N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P

*weak

I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

[Player]

You have me at a quandry on this hand. 2s - the sth hand is too good in my opinion. 1s or pass coming in later. 3c is ridiculous, though to be honest I dont know what to bid. All of pass, 3d and x are possibilities. I might try x knowing full well this could be a disaster.

[Player]

After the x you can call the ambulance for nth sth.

[Co Wiersma]

I dont understand the problem
South bids 2S
you either bid 3C or 3D
2NT would have worked better on this deal, but would way to easy go
wrong as you did not see the whole deal yet
so pre-emps work
next board!

Post by Adam Lea
I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
no-one vulnerable
8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73
N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P
*weak
I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

[Adam Lea]

Post by Co Wiersma
I dont understand the problem
South bids 2S
you either bid 3C or 3D
2NT would have worked better on this deal, but would way to easy go
wrong as you did not see the whole deal yet
so pre-emps work
next board!

Post by Adam Lea
I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
no-one vulnerable
8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73
N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P
*weak
I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

The problem is that is difficult for West to describe his hand, and as a
result, difficult for E/W to find their optimal contract of 3NT. Bear in
mind E/W are novices, so will not necessarily appreciate there are times
you can bid NT naturally with an unbalanced hand.

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by Adam Lea
I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
no-one vulnerable
8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73
N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P
*weak
I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

With W, my choice is between 3D and 2N, 2N being favourite. The other 2
hands have 6 spades between them so there are resonble odds you have the
suit stopped and a reasonable chance of making 3N if partner raises 2N.
I would run if doubled and it was passed back to me (Rdbl to shw 2
places to play but obviously not with a novice).

[Robert Chance]

Post by Adam Lea
I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
no-one vulnerable
8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73
N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P
*weak
I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

I can see how declarers might go a couple off in 3C (by trying to cash the ace of hearts before drawing trumps), but the mind boggles how someone managed to go two down in 2NT with eight tricks off the top and good play for overtricks!

[Adam Lea]

Post by Robert Chance

Post by Adam Lea
I was helping out at the novice evening on Monday (sitting in playing to
no-one vulnerable
8
KJ97654
7
8542
K J9632
A8 QT32
K8632 AT
AKJT9 Q6
AQT754
-
QJ954
73
N E S W
2S* 3C
P P P
*weak
I was North playing with another helper who wanted to play 5 card
majors, 15-17NT (everybody else is playing some variant of Acol). 3C
went three off. It seems that E/W should be in a game, and one pair bid
3NT and made it (another was in 2NT going two off), one other pair was
also in 3C going two off and one North was in 3HX three off. We had a
good discussion about the hand after the round and we came to the
conclusion that it was not obvious what to do with the West hand after
the 2S opening (given the limited bidding knowledge of the novices). A
strong two suited minor hand is one of the worst hands to try and
describe, without the 2S opening I think E/W should be able to find 3NT
but what would you do with the West hand after a weak 2S opening on your
right? I did have a thought that 4NT would show something like this hand
but then decided with the stiff SK likely waste paper it was not strong
enough. Swap the SK for the DQJ and there would be a case for bidding
4NT. What do you think?

I can see how declarers might go a couple off in 3C (by trying to cash the ace of hearts before drawing trumps), but the mind boggles how someone managed to go two down in 2NT with eight tricks off the top and good play for overtricks!

Yes it is odd, but this is Horsham bridge club. Anything can happen, and
often does. Another pair made 3NT on the same cards and with the same
opening lead of the H7. I've seen it before when novices need to set up
a trick or two in a side suit but first cash all their high cards and
then try and establish a suit, then go down because they have removed
all their stoppers, but I don't see how this could have happened here.

The declarer at my table went three off by losing control of the hand,
and I think I got a diamond ruff at some point.