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Catch-up time?

Today’s deal caused problems for just about the whole 18 table field in a recent tournament. Hence, it gets an airing today:

 

2 was either a Weak 2 in a major or 20-22 balanced with 2 being “Pass or Correct”. We posed two questions to the Panel, as to whether they would have bid 3 directly over East’s opening and if they had not, what they would bid now?

To an extent, style over the Multi 2 is important. If an immediate overcall promises no more than an opening hand, then the overcall seems fine. If at the 3 level, it promises a little better, then maybe the “wait and bid next time if suitable” approach might be better.

Generally, our Panel favoured bidding.

Nigel Kearney “On the first round I would like to make a take-out double of spades if our system permits that. I usually play that double is takeout of spades and 2 is take-out of hearts. Doing that here gets the hand off my chest immediately which is usually a good idea in a competitive auction. Otherwise, pass is ok. 3 is a slight overbid and could lose a heart fit but is also acceptable.”

agreeing with Nigel's method is:

Michael Cornell "The problem is absurd and one I would never be in.

I will say the initial pass is ridiculous. In my methods I could double which is take-out of spades but with that unavailable, I would overcall 3.

In 4^th seat I play double of 2 as either take-out or penalties. The opener will tell me which most of the time.”

 

Peter Newell “ No, I would have bid 3 - seems a clear descriptive bid and I think better to bid your hand before the bidding gets potentially higher and murkier...e.g., if West had bid 3 rather than 2.”

Andy Braithwaite, Michael Ware and Kris Wooles all would have bid an immediate 3. However, not all would have done:

Bruce Anderson “ I agree with the pass of 2. This is quite a nice hand but it lacks playing strength if we don’t have a fit, and the West hand is unlimited.”

Stephen Blackstock “ I have mixed feelings about the initial pass. There is no completely sound action available - for 3 I would prefer (and partner will expect) a longer suit. On the other hand, lacking any high diamonds he is unlikely to bid too much if I overcall, and if West doesn't know East's major, we may escape unwelcome competition. In addition, with such a strong suit, I don't expect to be doubled, and the less well-prepared E/W pairs in the field may be unsure whether 3  of a major is natural or pass/correct, or whether double is penalties or take- out. Bidding gives them a chance to have an accident! So, while 3 has more danger but perhaps more upside, pass is reasonable too and I don't have a strong preference.”

Had we overcalled 3 and heard 3 from partner, we might feel we had done enough and just raised to 4, though our honour cards and shortage are all pulling full weight. The same might apply if East had opened 2, as they surely have a Weak 2 in that suit, and we had overcalled. However, we now seem to have a little catching up to do after our initial pass.

Andy Braithwaite “3: surely 3 now would not be natural but would agree partner’s suit and be a slam try?-So, 3 it is.”

Maybe even 4 as a splinter, though perhaps with controls in all suits except trumps, it is our hand which should do the asking. At least, we will discover how good or bad partner’s trumps are.

Michael Ware “4NT: Now, the question really is, if I cue bid (3), will I really pass a 4 sign-off? I don't think I will. So, let’s just make it simple - 4NT.”

Kris Wooles “4NT: Key card. It would be nice if North has 3 and Q.”

Michael Cornell "4NT: Presume 3 is natural. I think I can Key Card. Hate the whole thing!”

Peter Newell  “4NT: Now the hand is too good to bid 4. While I would rather have better hearts on this auction, partner should have 6+ hearts, and West’s 2 bid suggests no more than a doubleton (otherwise 3). I'll bid 4NT now, maybe a slight overbid but unambiguous and with a good structure to find key-cards and the queen, though if partner has 7 hearts, the queen is likely unnecessary.”

Stephen Blackstock “4NT: Partner is strong enough to enter directly. I prefer to simplify the auction. The critical cards (conveniently) are the AKQ and A. So, I will trot out 4NT RCKB. Opposite all those cards 7 will at worst have a play and will often be cold. If North shows two keys and Q, we will be in 6; without the Q we will stop in 5. It would be an unlucky mesh and layout to go down at the five level.”

Bruce Anderson “4NT: Key card 1430. Partner has three options with a good heart suit and values after this sequence:

·       3 which will not be as strong as doubling and then bidding hearts.

·       4 showing a lot of playing strength but not too much on the side.

·       Double and then bid hearts, the strongest of them all.

However, partner could be as good as Axx AKQ10xx xx xx for 3, in which case the grand will be odds on. With no A, partner’s suit should be strong, and if headed by AKQ, the small slam will be unlucky to go down. If partner shows 2 key cards but no trump queen by bidding 5, that is where we will play.”

Nigel Kearney “4NT: It isn't perfect but has the benefit of avoiding a misunderstanding which could easily occur if I tried something more scientific. Two key- cards plus the queen will usually be enough.”

It would seem the real question now is whether you bid 6 or 7 if partner shows A and AKQ. Our Panel seems to think that it would be worth the risk. All the key-cards were present but when South asked for the Q (5 bid), the answer was negative. So, the 6-level was high enough.

 

  5showed 0 or 3 key-cards. 

A club lead from East would have made North a little nervous, though the more normal K lead allowed declarer to ruff one spade in dummy and take an immediate heart finesse. The favourable breaks in both red suits allowed all 13 tricks to be made.

The other card, not mentioned above, that might endanger 7 had North held Q was the J if North did indeed have only a 5-card suit and West had 4. On this day, just reaching the small slam proved a very good result. Ironically, the initial pass by South seemed to make it easier to reach that level than had they overcalled initially, although it would have been harder for North-South had West bid 3 over 2 as Peter Newell indicated. 

The quality of one red suit (diamonds) and the length in the other (having 3 hearts) made this a very good slam to bid.

Richard Solomon

 

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