[pclayton]

Last hand of the stratified:

Scoring: MP

---

LHO opens a weak 2♠, double by pard and pass by RHO.

You?

[han]

Difficult, I voted for pass.

[jdonn]

I like pass, especially since game could very well go down. I thought this was close, but the more hands I construct for partner the more clear I think pass is. 4♥ is very very difficult to make opposite normal 1444 minimums.

[joshs]

Pass. Plus good. Minus bad.

[mike777]

pass, need to punish these light bidders sometimes or die trying. .

[mikeh]

I was pleasantly surprised to see (so far) everyone passing.

We have all seen favourable vul opps open 2♠ on KJxxx or (even better) Jxxxxx.

On most hands on which we can make game, they go for 800 or more. On most hands on which they go 500 or less, game our way is poor.

True, opposite a huge double, we are cold for slam or even grand and even 1400 won't help us if the field bids and makes 6♥, but that is a tiny, tiny target. I am taking the bird in the hand on this one.

[pclayton]

I also passed, but thought it was close. The entire hand:

Scoring: MP

---

The hand is sort of complicated, but declarer did not play optimally. However, pard shortened declarer at every available opportunity , so we only nipped it for +100.

RANT: I was playing with a 'pro' with about 6,000 MPs here. I have no idea how players of this caliber are able to make a living out of the game, much less accumulate so many points.

I agree with the passers (obviously), although DF says we can make 4♥; primarily due to the fine club position.

[FrancesHinden]

pclayton, on Apr 14 2006, 04:03 PM, said:

I also passed, but thought it was close. The entire hand:

The hand is sort of complicated, but declarer did not play optimally. However, pard shortened declarer at every available opportunity , so we only nipped it for +100.

RANT: I was playing with a 'pro' with about 6,000 MPs here. I have no idea how players of this caliber are able to make a living out of the game, much less accumulate so many points.

I agree with the passers (obviously), although DF says we can make 4♥; primarily due to the fine club position.

I don't think this is close, pass just seems normal.

By the way, I'm not sure what occasioned the rant.

This looks a difficult hand to defend. I would anticipate declarer coming to 7 tricks much of the time (you haven't given all the pips, but if declarer had them all DF says partner needs to lead a low heart at trick 1 to take it 2 off).

[han]

I don't understand the rant either. If you were paying the pro then you'll know better next time (in case he played badly on other boards too). If not, what's the big deal?

The 6000MPs certainly isn't a reason to be upset about. You should know better than to judge somebody on the amount of points they have. (says somebody who has won about 1.6 MP in the last 8 months ).

[pigpenz]

so what were the matcpoint results for various contracts on the hand?

[pclayton]

FrancesHinden, on Apr 14 2006, 12:07 PM, said:

pclayton, on Apr 14 2006, 04:03 PM, said:

I also passed, but thought it was close. The entire hand:

The hand is sort of complicated, but declarer did not play optimally. However, pard shortened declarer at every available opportunity  , so we only nipped it for +100.

RANT: I was playing with a 'pro' with about 6,000 MPs here. I have no idea how players of this caliber are able to make a living out of the game, much less accumulate so many points.

I agree with the passers (obviously), although DF says we can make 4♥; primarily due to the fine club position.

I don't think this is close, pass just seems normal.

By the way, I'm not sure what occasioned the rant.

This looks a difficult hand to defend. I would anticipate declarer coming to 7 tricks much of the time (you haven't given all the pips, but if declarer had them all DF says partner needs to lead a low heart at trick 1 to take it 2 off).

I think its obvious.

I have high standards for a player that has that many masterpoints and portrays himself as a bridge professional. Someone that misses INT / ADV plays frequently should not be making a living playing bridge. I'm sure his students don't know the difference, either.

In a sense, his behavior reminds me a little about another Southern Cal player who is claims to be a pro that is horrible.

About the contract. Declarer didn't take the diamond finesse at T1, and played a spade at T2. By winning and playing a spade back, we are already two tricks ahead. Regardless of what DF says, there was no way this declarer was going -1 with this start.