potentially instructive hand this evening

[a***@yahoo.co.uk]

Pivot teams, all vuln, playing 5 card majors, 15-17NT, RKCB:

QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42

At my table:

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

Just making, losing the two top spades. At the other table:

N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H

Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).

I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.

The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.

What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

[Player]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
4NT P 5D P
5S AP
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H
Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).
I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.
The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.
What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

The S are tatty. With 3 to an honour I think it is clear to support; here it is marginal. French or Polish players would never support as this is not their style.
Btw I dislike the bidding at both tables after the S raise.

[Dave Flower]

I assume that you were playing with an unfamiliar partner, in which case RKCB is an unwise choice, as you need to clarify all the situations when the 'agreed' suit is unclear

Dave Flower

PS I accept that it was helpful on this hand

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
4NT P 5D P
5S AP
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H
Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).
I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.
The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.
What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

[Fred.]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
4NT P 5D P
5S AP
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H
Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).
I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.
The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.
What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

Like Ron, I dislike raising on the tatty 3-card support and prefer a 2C rebid.
I don't want to punish partner for bidding a weak 4-card suit. Nor do I want
partner with a good hand to get carried away with the spade support. The clubs are valuable in spade contract only if partner can draw trump. More, despite
my 3-card fit for spades, we may well have a game based on the long clubs with partner furnishing the stoppers and we won't likely find it if I rebid 2S.
rebid 2S.

Fred.

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
4NT P 5D P
5S AP
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H
Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).
I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.
The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.
What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

I generally like to bid 2S with 3 card support and a weak hand with a
shortage as it makes life difficult for the oppo when partner passes and
they have to risk the 3 level to protect and we should get to the right
game when partner is strong as he can offer 3N when we have a 4-3 fit.

However in this case the very good 6 card club suit and very poor spade
pips and any suit the oppo protect in breaking badly would lead me to
rebid the clubs.

[Sandy Barnes]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
4NT P 5D P
5S AP
N E S W
P 1C P
1S P 2S P
3H P 4H P
4NT P 5D P
6H
Making, because teammates didn't cash their two spades at trick one (difficult for them), so one spade loser went on the top diamonds (they can take the first three tricks double dummy).
I had a think about whether to rebid my club suit, and decided to support spades with my three rag, as when it goes 1C-1S there is a good chance partner has at least five, and my diamond void will provide useful ruffs (although not on this hand as it turns out). I wasn't expecting my partner to go looking for slam, but I guess the initial pass from RHO and LHO failure to overcall suggests partner has a strong hand, given my minimal opener.
The NS at the other table were a couple of grandmasters. East at my table is one of the best regular players in the club and is high up in the MP ranks. He didn't approve of my spade raise, and thought I should have re-bid my clubs. If I do, partner will likely bid hearts and we possibly end up in some number of hearts, whether we bid slam I don't know.
What do you think, was it reasonable to support my partners spades? Does there come a point where it is best to rebid your opening suit rather than raise partners major on three?

If you have Excel, this may be a simple way to post such hands, which I question is what you did. Am I correct?

QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
void
AKJT42

In response to your question about the auction, the raise to 2S is, at best, questionable. In fact, opening this hand with 1C is borderline at best. However, if you select to open this hand, which is reasonable, you must rebid 2C, not 2S. The value of the hand is the strength of the club suit, and, if partner can not bid further, you have got your best information already passed to partner. As it is, after partner rebids 2H (forcing), you can now rebid 4D, and uncover the duplication below the level of 4H.

[t***@att.net]

QT875
AKJT
AKT
9
AJ K92
842 76
976543 QJ82
Q6 8753
643
Q953
-
AKJT42

Natural canapé bidding.

1H 1S
2C 4D (shows A or K of Diamonds, denies C control as singleton is probably not useful on the bidding)
4H (Diamond wastage.)

Should make. North should devalue the Club singleton as there are too many Spades to discard even on a good suit.