One from the club

[sbt]

I wasn't present for this hand, but have had two different people call
and ask me what I would do. I don't really think there is a "right"
answer, but figured that it would generate a lot of discussion here.
RHO opens 1H in first seat and you gaze upon:

AKQxxxxxx, A, Kx, x

they're vul and you're not. What's the popular choice here?

--
Dennis Cohen

[Mark Brader]

Dennis Cohen:

> RHO opens 1H in first seat and you gaze upon:
>
> AKQxxxxxx, A, Kx, x
>
> they're vul and you're not. What's the popular choice here?

I bid 4NT (Blackwood).
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "I like the other Bobs. Now, if I can only
m...@vex.net | recall which Mark I hate." --Al Fargnoli

[Dave Flower]

Depends on the opponents; if opponents are aggressive, I'll try 1S,
hoping to be pushed into 4S*.

Against passive opponents, I'll bid a direct 4S

Dave Flower

[Lorne]

"sbt" wrote in message
news:060220121919376686%dogb...@chaseabone.com.invalid...

....................

4S.

To make a slam you need partner with the diamond ace or the club ace with
the diamond onside. With 3 others at the table and RHO having 50% or more
of the outstanding points I say this is against the odds and the 5 level is
not safe so I do not try 4N.

If they bid 5H I bid 5S and expect to win if ether:
1. they bid 6H; or
2. we make (doubled or not); or
3. we go -1 but they were making

[Eric Leong]

Playing pairs, I would start off with 1S and reserve the right depending on the opponent's and partner's bidding to either "walk the dog" and hope to get doubled or bid Blackwood later in order to find out about partner's aces. The one thing I know for sure is with results all over the map playing some higher level spade contract undoubled is going to score below average or worse.

Eric Leong

[derek]

I don't know what the "popular" choice is yet, but I'm for X, followed
by as many spades as it takes.

[Henry Lockwood]

On Feb 7, 3:19 am, sbt <dogbre...@chaseabone.com.invalid> wrote:

Is this at MPs? There's a certain attraction to a gambling 3NT!

HenryL

[David Stevenson]

sbt wrote

3NT.

--
David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways
Liverpool, England, UK bluejak on BBO Mbl: +44 7778 409 955
<webj...@googlemail.com> EBL TD Tel: +44 151 677 7412
bluejak666 on Skype Bridgepage: http://blakjak.org/brg_menu.htm

[Adam Beneschan]

On Feb 6, 11:20 pm, m...@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote:
> Dennis Cohen:
>
> > RHO opens 1H in first seat and you gaze upon:
>
> > AKQxxxxxx, A, Kx, x
>
> > they're vul and you're not. What's the popular choice here?
>
> I bid 4NT (Blackwood).

You're the only one I know who plays Blackwood in that position. My
partner would think I have a big 2-suiter.

-- Adam

[Nick France]

2C followed by a jump to 3S. This hand is just too good for a 4S bid.

Nick France

[sbt]

In article <oa9Yq.15677$4K5....@newsfe16.iad>, Lorne

If you double, your partner will probably convert it for penalties. At
least, that's what I'm told happened at the two tables where a takeout
double was proffered.

Partners hand is: x Q109852 Axx Axx

Opener held: -- KJxxx QJ10x KQJx

As can be seen, you're spread for 7S or 7NT. The one pair that bid 7S
reportedly started with an old-fashioned strong cue bid of 2H and got a
jump to 3NT as a response, then Blackwood and an incredulous look at
the two ace response...so surprised that they didn't even notice that
7NT was also available.

When the hand was given to me, my first reply was that I wished I were
back playing rubber bridge in the '60s, where a jump to 2S would have
been a "demand bid" showing spades with game in hand.

--
Dennis Cohen

[Co Wiersma]

Op 7-2-2012 16:56, Nick France schreef:

My partner might very well pass 2C :)

[Co Wiersma]

Op 7-2-2012 4:19, sbt schreef:

I would double and make a high level spadebid next


Co Wiersma

[Will in New Haven]

On Feb 6, 10:19 pm, sbt <dogbre...@chaseabone.com.invalid> wrote:

There are two factors here. Usually the more important one would be
having the opponents double me in a makeable Spade contract, with
being allowed to play a makeable Spade contract being the next best
thing. The less important factor is finding out that partner has one
of those minor-suit Aces since either Ace would make a slam excellent.
This would be more important if RHO is known to make light opening
bids.

Catering to the more important factor would involve manipulating the
opponents' behavior, something that is more akin to poker than to
technical bridge bidding. Many opponents are going to be more likely
to double 4S or at least let me play it if I simply jump to 4S Others
are going to be more likely to react the way I want if I simply bid 1S
now or double now. Of course, double could lead to other problems. On
the other hand, partner's response to a takeout double would give me a
hint about whether he has some useful cards. Which kind of opponents
are these?

If I don't know, I am likely to try 1S.

Bidding 1S could also gain in the less important matter, since partner
might put in a bid and then I could ask him for Aces.

--
Will in New Haven

[Nick France]

> My partner might very well pass 2C :)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Seems I answered to quickly. Thought I was the opener. Guess I'm
bidding 4S like everyone else.

Nick France

[derek]

On Feb 7, 12:19 pm, sbt <dogbre...@chaseabone.com.invalid> wrote:
> In article <oa9Yq.15677$4K5.15...@newsfe16.iad>, Lorne

[Adam Beneschan]

On Feb 7, 9:22 am, Will in New Haven <bill.re...@taylorandfrancis.com>
wrote:

> On Feb 6, 10:19 pm, sbt <dogbre...@chaseabone.com.invalid> wrote:
>
> > I wasn't present for this hand, but have had two different people call
> > and ask me what I would do. I don't really think there is a "right"
> > answer, but figured that it would generate a lot of discussion here.
> > RHO opens 1H in first seat and you gaze upon:
>
> > AKQxxxxxx, A, Kx, x
>
> > they're vul and you're not. What's the popular choice here?
>
> There are two factors here. Usually the more important one would be
> having the opponents double me in a makeable Spade contract, with
> being allowed to play a makeable Spade contract being the next best
> thing. The less important factor is finding out that partner has one
> of those minor-suit Aces since either Ace would make a slam excellent.
> This would be more important if RHO is known to make light opening
> bids.

Giving partner a minor-suit ace would give your side a total of 20
HCP, leaving quite enough for RHO to have an opening bid even if he
favors sound openers.

-- Adam

[Fred.]

I think you're right about the no right answer.

There are arguments for every sort of action,
including some psychic ones. Who knows, 3NT
might be the winner.

I think the reasonable call to eliminate is the double.
Opener scrambling down one in 1H doubled when you can make
a game or a slam seems an unbearable possiblity.

The last time partner held a 9-card suit we were
fortunate enough to be yellow at IMPs and the suit a
minor. Partner overcalled 5 of the minor and I made a
playing trick raise to 6. In the other room our team
played 1c doubled down not nearly enough to reward the
opponents for passing up their small slam.

Maybe the best way to get the message to partner
that you are too strong for a green preempt is to
pass and come back in with 4S or the minimum
necessary if they are higher.

However, I buy the argument that the slam is not
likely enough to compromise your goal of playing
the hand in some makable number of spades,
preferrably doubled. Against good opponents with
a sensible hatred of playing at the 5-level 4S
seems a reasonable call. Are they likely to make
better choices than if you had given them a
chance to compare notes while you walkd the dog?

Fred.

[Fred.]

I don't think you need to worry too much about being passed
out in 2C.

Fred.

[Will in New Haven]

That's true, even if he has a Quick Trick minimum for a one-bid.
However, going with probabilities, the chance increases if the
opponents open light.

[HoneyMonster]

4NT (old fashioned). Not Blackwood; partner will bid 5D with DA, 5NT with
two, or 6C with CA. I plan to continue as follows:

5D or 6C -> 6S, obv.
5NT (fat chance!) -> 7NT. Laydown unless Spades are 9-4-0-0.
5C (the most likely, admittedly) > 5S.

Yes, 5S may well go one off with no entry to dummy, but such is life. I
am certainly not doubling, or trying to walk the dog by passing or
bidding 1S. Any opponents but the most dense are unlikely to be fooled by
that when I subsequently keep bidding Spades.

Next best, I think, is 4S but I do have a sneaking admiration for David
Stevenson's 3NT.

[Mark Brader]

Mark Brader:
> > I bid 4NT (Blackwood).

Adam Beneschan:

> You're the only one I know who plays Blackwood in that position.

And now you see why I do. :-)
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Unfortunately, real life is usually
m...@vex.net | not a movie." --Al Kriman

[Henry Lockwood]

... and mine! :)
The thing about 3NT is, unless oppo can cash a whole lot of clubs off
the top, it makes exactly as many tricks as spades - and scores more
matchpoints. The risk of a club lead when partner has no stop (or a
diamond to the ace and club switch) is there, but slim.

HenryL

[Will in New Haven]

On Feb 8, 2:45 am, m...@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote:
> Mark Brader:
>
> > > I bid 4NT (Blackwood).
>
> Adam Beneschan:
>
> > You're the only one I know who plays Blackwood in that position.
>
> And now you see why I do. :-)

I think it's very reasonable that the bid be Blackwood.