[han]

Scoring: IMP

p-1♦-p-3♦
3♠-3NT-Dbl-p
4♥-5♦-Dbl-all pass

♥K lead

---

Two forum members played in a team game for the very first time. This was their first hand, as NS, great start!

Not having discussed preempt style, north decided to pass initially, but then came in with 3♠, hopefully partner could read that he had side hearts.

When south doubled for penalties, north pulled to 4H. The opponents bid 5D and south stubbornly doubled again. This wouldn't have been so bad if not for the lead. South reasoned that north must have fairly strong hearts for the decision not to open 2S and lead the heart king. Ouch!

A lot of questionable decisions on one hand. What was the single worst decision?

[gwnn]

I think if North thought he'd better be cautious and pass the first time, he should pass throughout. Don't get me wrong, I understand his reasoning. It's just that I disagree with it.

[mike777]

1) Prefer 2s by North first
2) I do not understand the 3D bid by west with only 4 D and North and south passing? East can have the majors and a good hand, why not just bid 2D if allowed? I was taught I need 5Ds for a 3D bid here.

3) Bidding 3S now seems to be a Law violation?
4) Do not understand trying to save now in 4H, just wants to come alive with 6-5?

[jdonn]

If north feels he has shown about what he has, then he has no business pulling the double. Although I am sympathetic in a new partnership since he thinks his partner might expect something different.

I think south's decision to pass over 1♦ when not vul was strange at best. A lot of bridge players overcall on the 2 level on pretty lousy hands, but there are some pretty good players who I think overcompensate the other way and talk themselves out of correct 2 level overcalls.

[mike777]

Ya good pt...seems a clear 2club call here by south but then who else had their bids

[Apollo81]

Something to think about:

If EW had gotten to 5♦ with North/South silent, South has an interesting lead problem, no?

[cherdano]

I couldn't overcall 2♣ with this. The hand is not only too bad, but also way too defensive for me.

I think after partner pulled 3NX to 4♥, South should understand what's going on, refrain from doubling, and make a normal lead.

[BillHiggin]

The worst single decision came when they decided to sit opposite each other.

[han]

I was south, I also think that the lead was the worst. I would have opened 2S with partner's hand, but that's a style issue and we didn't know eachother. I think I shouldn't have doubled.

We played a 30-board team match, this was the first one. The rest went better .

[HeartA]

I don't know what is worst. But as South I would certainly overcall 2C with an opening hand and decent clubs. As North, I would not overcall 3S with so little (although good shape). After the wrong pass and wrong overcall, everything got messed up.

[mike777]

cherdano, on Apr 2 2007, 07:54 PM, said:

I couldn't overcall 2♣ with this. The hand is not only too bad, but also way too defensive for me.

I think after partner pulled 3NX to 4♥, South should understand what's going on, refrain from doubling, and make a normal lead.

See Sabine Aukens last book which was voted book of the year on the subject of overcalling 2clubs over 1D for one viewpoint.

Btw I have not noticed her on bbo lately, has anyone?

[skjaeran]

This isn't a 2♣ overcall for me. Certainly not vs a passed partner. The suit isn't good enough. Put in the 9 of ♣ so it's a 6c suit, and 2♣ is fine.

I've read Sabines book (a great one!) and her views on overcalling 2♣ over 1♦. It's true that it can create problems for opps, but I still don't think it's a winning style.

[Edmunte1]

1. I like first pass by North. Opening 2♠ and finding yourself playing in a 6-1 fit instead of 5-5(4) in hearts won't get you good marks
2. I like pass (not overcalling 2♣ by South). This is a defensive hand, i'll beter try to take 5 tricks in defense then 8 in offense.
3. I like 3♠ by North. He expected a second chance , even if it came to level three. Dbl would have been a better bid, but being a new partnership and spades being longer than hearts 3♠ is OK
4. Double to 3NT - opthimistic. 4♠ was a much better call. Partner surely has 6 spades and shortage in diamonds
5. 4♥ is undisciplined, showing a weak 6-5 call
6. Dbl in 5♦ - bad double
7. Spade would have been the normal lead, the hearts are not going anywhere

[pclayton]

1. Its my style to open hands like this 3♠. Why give the opponents a round of bidding before coming in at the 3 level?

2. Pass is OK I guess, but I'd definitely overcall 2♣ at MPs, and maybe at teams, although pard's passed hand status is a concern. This is an opening hand with a decent 5 card suit. It seems the requirements for a 2 level overcall have increased over the last couple of years, but the same people who criticize a 2♣ overcall are the same who make a one level overcall on QT-5th and another Q.

3. 3♠ looks normal.

4. Double. Clearly the opponents have a big trick source, but maybe pard made the bid that gets the spade lead that beats 3N. Why chase them out and double for a one trick set?

5. 4♥ looks normal, although it turns a small plus into a small minus.

6. The double of 5♦ is just nuts. Its a machismo action and a partnership killer. There is no way South should assume ownership of this deal.

7. The lead of the ♥K. The coup de grace. Going to teach the opponents for stepping into their auction and planning to take 2 hearts, a heart ruff, spade to pard and another heart for down 3. A first time partnership probably hasn't discussed the nuances of North's delayed action, so why assume North has strong hearts? Clearly North has some flaw that prevents preemption, but South can't tell what it is, and shouldn't take such a strong position. Next to the ♣A, the ♥K is the last card I'd lead.

South 90%, North 10%.

(Sorry Han; just saw you fessed up to being South - don't take this personally )

[Chamaco]

I do not like 3S as preemptive: the objective of preempts is *stealing space*, so in my opinion 3S, even by a passed hand, should not be preemptive (it does not really steal space after East has bid 3D) but provide at least *some* defense.

Moreover, coming in with a preemptive-type hand when one opponent has limited the hand (and the other has opened) is like handing an axe to opps "Do what you want of me" :-)

In this view, the double of 3NT by south is acceptable in my view: and, one rule of doubles is "Don't double if they can run to a contract you cannot double": so the double of 5D is at least consistent: once you double a game, you aare committed to double any game of theirs (or to bid yours)

[bid_em_up]

Jlall, on Apr 3 2007, 01:02 AM, said:

He could make 6 on the actual lead but played it like a little girl.

Just curious, were you the declarer, Justine?

And, how DID you set up a team match where all 4 players on your team were jlall?

[Apollo81]

I know a spade lead doesn't set anything, but...

The irony of this deal is that I bid 3♠ instead of 4♦ to ensure a spade lead. I don't belive in preempting when holding a side five card major.

[han]

pclayton, on Apr 3 2007, 11:06 AM, said:

(Sorry Han; just saw you fessed up to being South - don't take this personally )

Hahaha, if I would be offended by your comments then I'd better not post hands where I know I messed up badly.