James Dow Allen
2023-06-17 18:25:50 UTC
I've started playing at BridgeBase; yesterday I partnered with an "Expert"
from USA. I was not impressed.
If it matters, we're playing "Casual" IMPS; non-vs-vul on both hands.
Partner held
QJx AKQTxxx K Ax
and opened 1H in second seat.
I need a very good hand to open Two Clubs (and occasionally miss
games for that reason), but I would open 2C with this
hand despite that it has only 16 HCP if the singleton K is ignored.
I call it a 9-trick hand. But partner opened 1H, his LHO overcalled
2D, Pass-Pass back to him. What now?
I think he should make up for his 1st-round underbid by bidding 4H
now. In fact he bid just 2H. (I suppose he was trying to "operate"
but isn't that hugely insolent when playing with a new partner?)
Another hand was more interesting. He held
AKQ65
KQ853
A
53
I dealt and opened 1C with
T9
AJ9
764
AQT86
Would rgb'ers open this hand? Some open most 12-pt hands;
others open only "good 12s", but I might open this hand
even if partner expects a good 12. The 4-3-2-1 count
is only an approximation to the honor values, and in particular
undervalues Aces and Tens. Given this and the nice club
suit, I think opening is correct even for players
who pass with "mediocre 12s."
I have a very simple rule about Jump shifts, whether by
responder or opener. The meaning is "I'm not looking
for game; I'm looking for slam."
If the jump-shifter signs off in 4 of a major, his partner
should assume he has values to bid 5.
Obviously, partner should jump to 2S here
with his 18 count; then bid hearts twice.
Instead he bid 1S; his vulnerable LHO pre-empted 3D.
This was passed back to partner who bid 6H.
KD was led.
What is the proper play? One might try the club
finesse immediately to learn whether we can afford
a spade loser, but this is troublesome.
Instead I think he should just play hearts and spades
in some order.
As it happens, LHO has xxx T Jx KQxxxxx.
Spades split 3-3 AND the Jack is onside. Yet my
"expert" partner found a way to go down.
He then blamed ME. My opening was unsound he said;
he told me to "learn the rule of 20."
I don't believe in such facile rules.
(There is a rule I DO use: The "Rule of 15" (HCP plus spades)
for opening in 4th seat.
James
from USA. I was not impressed.
If it matters, we're playing "Casual" IMPS; non-vs-vul on both hands.
Partner held
QJx AKQTxxx K Ax
and opened 1H in second seat.
I need a very good hand to open Two Clubs (and occasionally miss
games for that reason), but I would open 2C with this
hand despite that it has only 16 HCP if the singleton K is ignored.
I call it a 9-trick hand. But partner opened 1H, his LHO overcalled
2D, Pass-Pass back to him. What now?
I think he should make up for his 1st-round underbid by bidding 4H
now. In fact he bid just 2H. (I suppose he was trying to "operate"
but isn't that hugely insolent when playing with a new partner?)
Another hand was more interesting. He held
AKQ65
KQ853
A
53
I dealt and opened 1C with
T9
AJ9
764
AQT86
Would rgb'ers open this hand? Some open most 12-pt hands;
others open only "good 12s", but I might open this hand
even if partner expects a good 12. The 4-3-2-1 count
is only an approximation to the honor values, and in particular
undervalues Aces and Tens. Given this and the nice club
suit, I think opening is correct even for players
who pass with "mediocre 12s."
I have a very simple rule about Jump shifts, whether by
responder or opener. The meaning is "I'm not looking
for game; I'm looking for slam."
If the jump-shifter signs off in 4 of a major, his partner
should assume he has values to bid 5.
Obviously, partner should jump to 2S here
with his 18 count; then bid hearts twice.
Instead he bid 1S; his vulnerable LHO pre-empted 3D.
This was passed back to partner who bid 6H.
KD was led.
What is the proper play? One might try the club
finesse immediately to learn whether we can afford
a spade loser, but this is troublesome.
Instead I think he should just play hearts and spades
in some order.
As it happens, LHO has xxx T Jx KQxxxxx.
Spades split 3-3 AND the Jack is onside. Yet my
"expert" partner found a way to go down.
He then blamed ME. My opening was unsound he said;
he told me to "learn the rule of 20."
I don't believe in such facile rules.
(There is a rule I DO use: The "Rule of 15" (HCP plus spades)
for opening in 4th seat.
James