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Three Way: Three Wrong.

It’s one of those familiar situations today. Do you bid on, double or pass…and it is one of those deals where there has been very little passing to date! Take a look:

 

It’s Pairs and everyone is having their say. Only our opponents are vulnerable. What say you now?

Let’s begin with those who bid on:

Michael Ware “6: They might be making 5, we might be making 6. Both might be going down but very cheap "insurance".

And with some thoughts about our 3 bid:

Leon Meier “6: I'd play here that 2NT is a competitive bid of 3 of a minor but given that we don't play that then I assume my 3 is not necessarily strong. In these positions I tend to trust my opposition when they are at unfavourable vulnerability so I definitely won't double. Here I lean towards bidding 6 as it might make if partner has perfect cards for me but if it doesn't, then it is often a good save against 5.

and with a degree of optimism:

Wayne Burrows “6: I only need an ace, a minor suit king, and a working finesse to make this. All of that is within the range of what I can expect or hope for from partner and the hand for the bidding.”

Could partner be sacrificing, perhaps with a little less than your wish list? After all, our side is “green”. Then, we have a dollar each way for:

Kathy and Anthony Ker “6: It’s kind of a two way shot. There’s a chance partner will turn up with the perfect dummy: Axxxxx x Kxxxx and we make it. It looks like we will be close anyway. More likely we will be one or two down. It’s possible the opponents are serious, vulnerable, about their prospects in 5 e.g. AKJx AQxxxx xx x with East opposite xxx Kxxxx Kxx xx with West. Maybe it will be a worthwhile sacrifice. This would be an easier decision at Teams, where you would take insurance by bidding 6. At Pairs doubling 5 could easily be the right move but I’m going to risk 6.”

Steph Jacob "6:I’m happy that my partner has shown some support and I’m willing to give 6 a shot, my hand reeks of playing strength, not a hand with which I wish to defend.

Normally, the player in our partnership who bids to game should know what to do at the 5-level. However, here, we are that much more distributional than our partner will suspect. However, there are those who pass:

 

Peter Newell “Pass: It sounds like partner has at least 5/4 in the black suits, probably with a shortage in a red suit, I suspect hearts. I don't expect to make 6, as it seems likely we are off the major suit aces, and possibly a minor suit trick. So, while a sacrifice is cheap, I'm not sure at all that they can make 5. They probably have between 1-3 minor suit losers, and possibly a spade loser too. So, I'm going to leave the decision to partner, though at Pairs, I am tempted to double and take my chances.”

Stephen Blackstock “Pass: I have already shown a fair hand with 5+-5+ in the minors. So, this is very near what North will expect. On the other hand, North may have been pushed to bid 5 so there is a wider range to North's holding. I can't see a good reason to take a decision to bid or double in front of him. Double would I think be presumptuous - if the auction is sensible the A is unlikely to cash.”

One of our passers is near to doubling: not so the other. However, we have some firmly in the doubling camp:

Andy Braithwaite “Double: I double with my two aces. I cannot risk 6 with 2 aces missing and pass may not be forcing here. Hopefully, I can grab 500 if we can make 6 and still gain some match points from those only in game.
While pass may not be forcing at this vulnerability, your partner did know you opened the bidding and have volunteered two suits. Also, Stephen Blackstock did not expect our A to be worth a trick in defence.

Nigel Kearney “Double: These decisions are always tough. I am not bidding 6, especially at match-points when it looks like more often than not 5 and 6 will both fail. We are not in a force so pass from me will probably end the auction. I do have two aces and don't expect a good score if 5 makes undoubled, so double is my best guess at this point.”

Bruce Anderson  “Double: although pass might be considered on the basis I have already shown my hand, the way it is made up; 2 aces and a singleton spade, which I will lead, greatly improves our defensive prospects against vulnerable opponents. A slam is problematical while there are good prospects for a worthwhile penalty.”

So, we have votes for all three actions and varying thoughts about the prospects of 5 making. At the table, South did bid on to 6 and was one of three players around the table, maybe all four, who got it wrong in the auction:

 

East perhaps did not distinguish themselves with their 5 bid. They had plenty of losers outside hearts and ought to have left the decision as to whether to bid on over 5 to their partner and West surely would more likely double than bid. Then, either East or West should have doubled 6.

North misguessed by bidding 5 though they appeared to have little defence to 4 while South’s 6 bid was certainly wrong on the day.

The defence led hearts and South lost a trump, a spade and a heart for down two. Meanwhile, 5 doubled or undoubled would not have been a happy place for the declarer on East’s 3 lead. East can win, draw trumps and exit a club. If South can resist exiting A and a second diamond, the defence will take 2 spades, 2 diamonds and A, down 3 and + 800 or 300.

West’s 4 bid was in hope and caused the other three players to misguess.

Ultimately, the old guidelines that the player in one’s partnership who bid game should know what to do at the 5-level. Here, game was bid by 2 players whose combined high-card point count was 12. Their stronger partners, certainly East, should have remembered that guideline.

Richard Solomon

 

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