[inquiry]

Couple of issues...

1) even echo should win 12 tricks, not 11....
2) 5♦ shouldn't buy the contract, and even if it does, you missed 6♦
3) After 3♦, and then ♠ raise, surely south will bid ♣ for lead should that become necessary (after 3♦ equality style, opener always goes to at least 5♦)
4) AFter 6♠-X north REALLY lead a ♦? What kind of doubles do they play?

Not only does one hand prove nothing (you did miss 6♦, but what proof is that), but this one does not even prove that 3♦ is right.

[han]

inquiry, on Sep 28 2005, 10:30 PM, said:

Couple of issues...

1) even echo should win 12 tricks, not 11....
2) 5♦ shouldn't buy the contract, and even if it does, you missed 6♦
3) After 3♦, and then ♠ raise, surely south will bid ♣ for lead should that become necessary (after 3♦ equality style, opener always goes to at least 5♦)
4) AFter 6♠-X north REALLY lead a ♦? What kind of doubles do they play?

Not only does one hand prove nothing (you did miss 6♦, but what proof is that), but this one does not even prove that 3♦ is right.

1) I believe that Echo indeed made 12 tricks, my fault.

2) Who of the two has a clearcut bid over 5D NV against VUL? These were very good opponents.

3) I agree. I don't know this pair and I didn't look at their auction.

4) The contract was 6HX, and I don't know what this pair was doing. But even 6HX-1 is a nice pick-up for us.

5) There was no (5)


We did miss 6D, but our result was better than the par spot. I do not think that an equality jump to 3D shows such a powerhouse. This hand is great both for NT and for ♦. 5D might miss slam, 3D might miss game. Bidding 3D followed by 5D over their 4M (which you will surely bid because 3D does not show this hand) is very bad in my opinion.

[civill]

Hannie, on Sep 28 2005, 10:00 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

---

I bid 5D and the hand turned out to be echo-proof: partner made 11 tricks.

At the other table the bid was only 3D, and the opponents were able to compete. The final contract was 6H doubled by east-west, which rolled home after a diamond lead.

One hand proves nothing, but in my opinion the 3D bidder got exactly what he deserved: -19 IMPs.

1♦ then 1♠ ? Almost impossible!

[Free]

What would a 4♥ bid mean? If it's splinter it would sure get us to slam!

[Echognome]

Hannie, on Sep 29 2005, 04:00 AM, said:

I bid 5D and the hand turned out to be echo-proof: partner made 11 tricks.

Ouch!

Actually, you look at the hand and your first thought is "Why aren't we in six?" Then you realise that 6♥ and 6♠ are not only going to beat you as sacrifices, they are also going to be tough to beat outright. I had been planning to bid 5♣ over 4M on my right. However, Han made what I thought to be a good practical bid that left everyone guessing. When our best strain is a minor and it looks like there is going to be competition, I don't mind that at all.

[jdeegan]

Hannie, on Sep 28 2005, 10:00 PM, said:

Dealer: South Vul: E/W Scoring: IMP

♠ J5 ♥ 6 ♦ AQ9765 ♣ 10963 ♠ KQ10743 ♥ AK104 ♦   ♣ 542 ♠ A9862 ♥ QJ732 ♦ 2 ♣ J8 ♠   ♥ 985 ♦ KJ10843 ♣ AKQ7

I bid 5D and the hand turned out to be echo-proof: partner made 11 tricks.

At the other table the bid was only 3D, and the opponents were able to compete. The final contract was 6H doubled by east-west, which rolled home after a diamond lead.

One hand proves nothing, but in my opinion the 3D bidder got exactly what he deserved: -19 IMPs.

One hand doesn't prove anything, but this one hand says 5♦ would have been the best bid even against the best opponents. The doubler's partner should have taken a stab at 5♠. Given that, opener HAS that rare hand worth a raise to 6♦, either as a save or (as was the case) to make.

The doubler ought to bid 6♠ (right or wrong) to play it safe just on account of his hand. When this rolls around to the opener, he should recognize that 7♦ will not make (no ace of hearts) and double and lead a club.

My point here is that after a 5♦ bid, our side's bidding is easy, almost foreordained. The opponents' have to make two awkward judgment calls and get them both right just to salvage par on the hand.

[Fluffy]

I can't vote, I know the hand, but I remembered as they bid 4♦ not 3, but probably I am wrong. I remember for being upset for not being able to show ♥+♠ as West, luckylly it was Henri who introduced the ♥ suit at the 5 level

Also note that a ♠ lead turns -19 IMPs into +3