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Daily Bridge in New Zealand

  Too passive?

                              Too Low, Joe”

It was not that the partnership had 28 hcp combined and missed game or that they played what should be a slam with 34 hcp in 3NT. It was just that with a combined 22 hcp they played in a lowly part-score when there was a choice of games available. Strangely, neither of those games was in a major suit and the more normal was indeed in diamonds.

So, why was game missed?

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North Deals
Both Vul
A J 9 5
6
6 5 4
10 8 4 3 2
   
N
W   E
S
   
 
K 8
A 10 9 7
A K Q J 8 3
9
West North East South
  Pass Pass 1 
Dbl Pass 1  2 
All pass      

 

There were 9 top tricks in no trumps and 11 in diamonds on any lead. Yet, the auction died in 2Diamond-small. Who should have done more?

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              Blame!

The Panel were sharpening their knives for their analysis here. While South perhaps could, maybe even should have done a little more, there are almost no kind words for North’s silence throughout.

Bruce Anderson “I do not understand North’s failure to bid 1Spade-small after West doubles, particularly given the partial diamond fit.

Over 1Spade-small, South should then bid 3Diamond-small to show his/strength if East either passes or makes a negative double. It is not easy to reach 3NT but if the bidding proceeds in this way, North could invite with 4Diamond-small. With the partial spade fit, it would not be unreasonable for South to then bid game.

 

South is close to bidding 3Diamond-small as North is likely to be short in hearts but cannot be decried for bidding only 2Diamond-small after North’s pusillanimous pass.”

 

Strong words. It may depend a little on your system but if the South hand could contain a weak no-trump, I do not see it mandatory to bid a suit likely to be held by your right-hand opponent and finish in an uncomfortable 1NT or some higher level doubled.

Also, the jump to 3Diamond-small will not be a jump should East bid 2H as would have been the case. There are plenty of hcp and hearts in this pack available for the opposition, too.

More understanding of the initial pass but still pointing in the North direction is:

Michael Ware “ I'm happy enough with North's pass over 1Diamond-smallx, but their pass of 2Diamond-small is beyond belief. Assuming North has shown a weak hand by failing to bid over 1Diamond-smallX (no bid or XX), North had the most obvious 2Heart-small cue of all time, let alone a 3Diamond-small raise. Astonishing.”

Me, too. 3Diamond-small does seem a token gesture if only to make it harder for the opponents to bid hearts once more. Back to the spade bid that never was:

 

Stephen Blackstock “Principally or entirely North. South’s 2Diamond-small isn’t aggressive, but the auction suggests the Spade-smallK may be valueless. And consider that North may have held Spade-smallJxxx,Heart-smallxx,Diamond-smallxx,Club-small10xxxx. Now even 2Diamond-small is not cold. 1NT is likely to make, but that won’t coax a bid out of North on the hand held.

On the other hand, I see no reason for North not to bid 1S: N/S may have a 4-4 fit notwithstanding West’s double, and for most four spades would not in any event be guaranteed by the double. Having not acted on the first round, it is imperative that North later shows some real signs of life. The Spade-smallA, a singleton, and three trumps opposite South’s long and likely strong suit is worth at least three tricks, and the Spade-smallJ may be another. A strength showing 2Heart-small or even a 3Heart-small splinter would both have got N/S to game.

In short, South’s auction was arguably very reasonable, while, alas, North was far too timid.”

 

 

Peter Newell “North definitely, South little or no blame. The opening bid is fine:  so looking at the other 3 actions:

Norths first pass is timid – yes only 5 points, but nice spades probably sitting over the double, 3 card support for partner and a singleton….clearly worth a bid, why not bid 1Spade-small?

South had a good hand to bid 2Diamond-small, but given partner couldn’t find a bid over 1Diamond-small it is hard to think of hands that can make game, so why jump? If partner had a poor hand or there was a bad diamond break, 3Diamond-small wouldn’t make. Vulnerable bidding 2Diamond-small is not a weak action anyway.….and

finally Norths final pass. – to bid 2Diamond-small, one would expect partner to have 6+ diamonds and you have 3 card support, a singleton and some good spade values: clear to bid 3Diamond-small. If  partner didn’t have such good hearts, the opponents would be likely making 2/3 hearts so 3Diamond-small has value to keep the opponents out as well as waking up that you have a good hand for partner.”

Nigel Kearney “North gets most of the blame. The worst error was passing 2Diamond-small. In the context of the auction, North has an absolute powerhouse. The ability to ruff hearts plus an ace and possibly a second spade trick mean the hand is worth a bit more than three tricks on average. Of course, you will miss games if you pass throughout with anywhere near that much. I would also respond 1Spade-small rather than passing the double. Most 5 HCP hands should respond and this is much better than average. Also, 1Spade-small pre-empts their heart suit a little.

South could have done more . 2Diamond-small is conservative but understandable. 3Diamond-small or 2NT instead will occasionally get you to a making game but is more likely to work as a pre-empt since you don't expect to buy it in 2Diamond-small and they may need space to find their best trump suit.”

So, South’s 2D was perhaps conservative. There was a little more blame sharing from:

Michael Cornell “Both. When partner has opened 1Diamond-small and I have a singleton and an ace( and three diamonds)  you would have to point a gun at my head not to bid with Spade-small AJ9x, just because RHO has doubled.

However, if my partner is known to be a feeble bidder, the 2Diamond-small rebid is quite pathetic. You know you will bid 3Diamond-small if they compete to 2Spade-small or 3Club-small so why not bid it immediately?

I allocate the blame 70% North  30% South ,a  little tough on South but they get 10-15% for being daft enough to play with North!”

 

Kris Wooles “ North should bid 1Spade-small and thereafter most sensible auctions should lead to game. (Zia Mahmoud said you should always respond with an ace but this hand is better than just an ace). 

On the actual bidding, South should bid 3Diamond-small and I would expect North to bid at least 4Diamond-small .”

 

Or perhaps a little more understanding from:

Pam Livingston North.   Though it does depend on your partnership style for the 2Diamond-small bid.  My preferred style is that, vulnerable when partner couldn't find a response the first time, 2Diamond-small shows a pretty good hand.  That makes North's ace, singleton and three card support valuable.  A raise to 3Diamond-small is in order.

That is assuming that North chose to pass after the double which some may not with those spades and a singleton heart. If you are the kind of partnership that bids 2Diamond-small here every time you have a six card suit, then North would be more reticent about raising.”

And finally:

Andy Braithwaite “2Diamond-small was a gross underbid. Surely 3Diamond-small then 3Heart-small partner and 3NT?

Well, it seems South could have been a little more aggressive whereas North should. The end result of double conservatism (if indeed South was) is usually a poor result. For all the criticism especially of North, it would have been interesting to see how the partnership would have bid to game had North called 1Spade-small and East overcalled in hearts. North may not be so keen to bid freely twice. Here were the 4 hands.

 

   
North Deals
Both Vul
A J 9 5
6
6 5 4
10 8 4 3 2
Q 10 4 3
K J 5
10 9
A Q 7 6
 
N
W   E
S
 
7 6 2
Q 8 4 3 2
7 2
K J 5
 
K 8
A 10 9 7
A K Q J 8 3
9
West North East South
  Pass Pass 1 
Dbl Pass 1  2 
All pass      

 

Rule Breaking?

 

     
North Deals
E-W Vul
 
N
W   E
S
 
A Q
8 4
A 6 5 3
K Q 10 5 4
 
J 4 3
A J 10 7 6 3 2
J
J 3
West North East South
    dummy you
  Pass 1  3 
3  Pass 4  All pass

 

Your pre-empt pushed your opponents into what may be an awkward contract. Your partner leads Heart-smallK and follows that with Heart-smallQ with declarer following to both. What now?

Richard Solomon

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