[Chamaco]

Wackojack, on Dec 11 2005, 04:14 PM, said:

"there are 2 lines:the safest is ♥AK, then ♣s".

If hearts are 4-2 and clubs 3-1 (not that unusual) then the defence ruffs the 3rd club and plays the queen of hearts to remove dummy's last trump and then a diamond.  Down 2!

(4-2) = 48%
(3-1) = 64%

the combined probability of such combined layout is slightly less than 32%, quite reasonable IMO.

Also note that the risk of the second round of clubs being ruffed is non-existent when the ruffing hand is sitting *before* the high club honor, so he will be ruffing a club loser, which reduces even more the risk

However, it's MP, and it does give up the ovetrick, as Gonzalo suggested.

[Wackojack]

Quote Robert "If you are playing Acol you could open a 4 card major.

If the other pair bids up to 3Ds, you might be 'fixed.'

You play against people who double 1C-p-1NT-p-p with

AQx xx Jxxxx QJ9 ???

Do they like to play for money? Their heart support 'looks' a trifle 'thin' by my standards"

Hi Robert,

I am not trying to defend Acol or the players at my local club but just for the record:

Opening 1h is not Acol

Overcalling 1d or not with the west hand is a judgement decision not an Acol decision. Since -110 was a popular score I would bet that many would have overcalled 1d.

True- if the bidding goes 1c-1d-p-3d you have been out competed.

No, but I do play against people who might double with Kxxx, Qxxx, A10xx,x especial at green after 1c-p-1s-p, 1nt-p-p.

Yes we pay £1.50 for the privelage of playing.

Quote Winston "I ran this hand through Deep Finesse, and it seems the only 3 cards south can play at trick 3 that lead to defeat are the J of hearts, the 3 of hearts, or the K of clubs. Any other line can lead to a make"

Hi Winston,

Is this Deep Finesse solution double dummy as the cards lie, or the line most likely to succeed not knowing opps cards? I think we have worked out how to make double dummy. I was still uncertain whether going to the Ace of clubs and finessing was the best line with unknown opps cards.

[Robert]

Hi Wackojack

I open 1H playing Acol with a somewhat weaker hand than the example hand and my favorite Acol partner of many years(he is English) would also do so while playing a 12-14HCP 1NT(which we did also play)

Since it contains extra values you can rebid 1C-1S-1NT 15-16 or 1C-1D-1H

Our 'opinions' differ as to what is Acol 'if' you do not open 4 card majors when playing Acol. I learned Acol from a booklet published in England from a longtime well known English writer and player. The methods are several decades old, however, they open the bidding much like Goren methods in American bidding.

David did reverse a bit lighter than I did(my American background), however, he did often open four(repeat 4) card majors(as I did) and he would not have reversed holding this collection.

I recall that I used to comment that David only opened 1C holding less than four(4) cards in clubs only one time in the first three years that we played Acol on a regular basis. Playing a four card major system, we often opened a 4 card major when the hand was not worth a reverse bid.

You did 'not' say that the other pair would overcall 1D. You did write that the auction might go
1C-p-1NT-p-p-(X) holding AQx xx Jxxxx QJx which I looked at in horror.

Kxxx Qxxx A10xx x is an automatic balance and some(many?) would make a direct seat double of 1C. This is 'worlds removed' from balancing with a reopening double on 'your' suggested AQx xx Jxxxx QJx hand

I did not ask 'if' you paid an entry fee.

Do they bid like that(a balancing double on AQx xx Jxxxx QJX) and play rubber bid for coin of the realm? Cash money even?

Regards,
Robert

[Wackojack]

Quote"1C-p-1NT-p-p-(X) holding AQx xx Jxxxx QJx which I looked at in horror."
The balancing hand is Kxxx, Qxxx, AJxx,x which is as you say an automatic double. You have shown the opposite hand.

[Winstonm]

Quote

Wackojack:

Hi Winston,

Is this Deep Finesse solution double dummy as the cards lie, or the line most likely to succeed not knowing opps cards? I think we have worked out how to make double dummy. I was still uncertain whether going to the Ace of clubs and finessing was the best line with unknown opps cards.

This was just on this one layout and note that with a club to tha Ace at trick to it requires a heart lead at trick three and not a club continuation.

Winston