[awm]

My team was in second place heading into day two of the national swiss in Chicago. While we weren't a favored team or anything, it was somewhat surprising after this start that we didn't even make the top fifty! Things started off on a bad note against the Welland team, where we basically lost the match at both tables. Our second match, partner and I had a strong set (bid and made a no-play game on board one, didn't make any mistakes the rest of the time) but teammates managed to bid 4NT going down on one of the boards where opponents were in an unbreakable 3NT to lose the set. In the third match partner tried a couple swingy actions (bidding 3NT instead of 4M with a 6-2 fit on one board, making an unusual lead against 3NT on another) both of which were reasonable (if mildly anti-percentage) and backfired spectacularly. This pretty much ended our chances of contending for the win, but we still had plenty of chances at making the overalls... Here are three boards from the rest of the day where we could've done better. The theme was slam bidding in competitive auctions. Hands are rotated so my team is N/S in all the diagrams.

Hand one:

Scoring: IMP

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At my table, east dealing:

1♣ - X - Pass - 1♥
2♦ - 4♥ - 5♣ - 5♥
6♣ - X - All Pass

Of course, 6♠ is ice cold and 6♥ from the heart bidder's side will make. This slam was missed at the other table as well when dealer opened 1♦ and north bid 4♥ in response to partner's takeout double (!). South checked keycards but found out they were off two of them (north didn't show the void) and opponents played 5♥ with an overtrick. Even assuming opponents at my table would sacrifice in 7♣, we lost a bunch of imps on the board for missing slam.

Hand two:

Scoring: IMP

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At my teammates table, south dealing:

1♥ - Pass - 2♣ - 3♦
X - All Pass

Best defense will take 3♦ for 800, but teammates dropped a trick and got only 500. Of course either of these is little compensation for the cold 1440 in 6NT (or 1390 in clubs). At my table the opponents were unobstructed and still missed the slam, playing 3NT on a spade lead for 720.

Hand three:

Scoring: IMP

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At my table:

1♠(1) - 2NT - 3♦(2) - 5♣
5♠ - Pass - 6♠ - All Pass

(1) This is a normal, albeit minimum, opening in our methods (we play precision+light openers).
(2) Limit or better spade raise.

At the other table teammates did not compete vigorously and N/S played 4♠ making.

Who's to blame on these hands? What should we have done better?

[joshs]

I really dislike openers 5S bid. Responder has a tough call over that.

[pclayton]

Hi Adam:

I was wondering what happened too. Saw your name after day 2 (with the masterpoint awards mistakenly awarded in the Daily Bulletin ).

This is what I told Brian after the Open pairs, "If we keep putting ourselves in a good position with one session (or day) to go, something good will eventually happen". Little consolation after your great start in the Swiss I know.

Hand 1. I think this is tough, but I don't like the 4♥ call. If South ever wants to consult his pard in the (anticipated) competitive auction, spades have to be mentioned and I like a 3♠ call. Presumably west will raise clubs and North will take the push to at least 5♠. The knowledge of the double fit will really help South who I think can take a push to 6♠ eventually. But not getting to slam would likely be duplicated at any tables.

Hand 2. I don't like making penalty doubles of preempts on power, and a minimum North with an apparent misfit and a few trumps reasonably passes. 100% to South here. I prefer either a FP or natural 4N if available.

Hand 3. Easier in retrospect, but whats wrong with a 4♣ splinter over 2N? On the actual hand, this warns North of the club duplication. I think this is enough to keep N/S out of the bad slam. But preempts sometimes work and this hand is no exception. I think your teammates get to share in this one; action is mandatory with the E/W cards at green.

[mikeh]

1. Shrug...I don't fault NS at all.. .well done, EW

2. Double is not best...would like to know just how strong 2♣ was, but South should not be suggesting defending opposite an unlimited hand. The 3♦ bid makes his hand worth even more than it already was... slam has to be a factor..

A natural 4N would be one possibility but may well be unavailable... I doubt that I would take it as natural were I North. I think that pass is probably a decent start, assuming that it is forcing, as it would be in a strong 2/1 style. North will probably pattern out with 3♠, altho his choice will be mildly uncomfortable, thinking, as he may, that his red holdings should be discounted. My guess is that all roads then lead to slam... so long as North does not double, and even then I think South should bid... if N doubles, south should try via 4♦.

3. I don't mind the limit raise+ bid... with those red holdings, I refuse to splinter unless I have no choice.. partner has no meaningful cue. The fault lies in 5♠.

It may be that the partnership was on unclear ground in terms of forcing pass implications. My view is that the 3♦ bid did not establish a 5 level force. But even if it did, North has the wrong hand to bid 5♠...

Now, if it was a FP situation, South has a problem: he has an awfully good hand over a FP and may well bid slam. As I said, to me this is not a fp, so as S I would bid 5♠ or maybe 5♦... a probably futile cue, promising minor controls and keeping open, in theory if not reality, the chances of slam opp AQKxx Kxx xxx xx