Help
Yesterday, I was hired for my first pro engagement. One of the local pros has moved to Texas and has left a few of his clients without a partner.
What the hell I say. Real Estate is slow, and if I'm going to spend the afternoons on BBO, I'd just assume doing it for a little scratch in a club somewhere.
After the 1st board it is evident this nice old lady is a sheer novice. How she got her Life Master is beyond me, but here we sit. You can rely on her very little information. Her opening bids are normal, but continuations are murky. Similarly, she knows enough to lead A from AK and 4th best. She'll echo with a doubleton. Beyond, that, you're on your own for defense. Declarer play is random at best, but she did have one or two nicely played hands. She knows about 1/2 of the conventions on the yellow card. Its very much 'seat of the pants' bridge.
I could revoke on every hand, and I don't think she'd care as long as I am polite. If we turn in a 35% game, I'm sure she wouldn't care one way or another.
Me, on the other hand, HATES to have a bad game! The good news is, most of the field is pretty terrible too, although there were three other pros in this 14 table section.
The following are three bidding decisions. Get them right, and you'll end up with 55% and some fractionals for your effort. Get them wrong, and you can use your fees for some therapy somewhere: .
All MPs:
1. Kx, xx, KQ9x, AKQxx. Three passes to you - None Vul.
2. K6xx, AK97, Kxx, Ax. The opponents are vulnerable. Pard opens a weak 2♠ as dealer and RHO intervenes with 3♥. Your call.
3. Jxx, K, AQTxxx, AKx. Pard opens 1♦ and RHO intervenes with 1♠.
Note: If you choose to bid 2♠, pard will get a confused look and bid 3♥.
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Tales from the Dark Side
#1
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Posted 2007-October-05, 12:13
"Phil" on BBO
#2
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Posted 2007-October-05, 12:17
pclayton, on Oct 5 2007, 11:13 AM, said:
Yesterday, I was hired for my first pro engagement.
Congratulations
"And no matter what methods you play, it is essential, for anyone aspiring to learn to be a good player, to learn the importance of bidding shape properly. MikeH
"100% certain that many excellent players would disagree. This is far more about style/judgment than right vs. wrong." Fred
"Hysterical Raisins again - this time on the World stage, not just the ACBL" mycroft
"100% certain that many excellent players would disagree. This is far more about style/judgment than right vs. wrong." Fred
"Hysterical Raisins again - this time on the World stage, not just the ACBL" mycroft
#3
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Posted 2007-October-05, 12:38
congrats Phil!
should include a therapist surcharge next time
are we doing our best hog imitation?
1N, 3N, 5D(but 3n a very close second)
should include a therapist surcharge next time
are we doing our best hog imitation?
1N, 3N, 5D(but 3n a very close second)
#4
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Posted 2007-October-05, 12:53
Hmmm
I'm strongly tempted to say
1. 3N
2. 3N
3. 3N
However, I'll try to be semi-realistic and suggest
1. 1NT
2. 4♠
3. 3N
I'm strongly tempted to say
1. 3N
2. 3N
3. 3N
However, I'll try to be semi-realistic and suggest
1. 1NT
2. 4♠
3. 3N
Alderaan delenda est
#5
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Posted 2007-October-05, 13:51
I am close to Richard
1NT
3NT
3NT
are my answers, but my client's worse skill is card playing, not defending or bidding.
Congrats Phil, I'll share one with you from this week:
♠Qx
♥QJ108
♦A10x
♣Axxx
partner opens 1♣ and it went
1♣-(1♠)-X-(ps)
2♣-(2♠)-3♠-(ps)
4♣-(ps)-......
What now?
Obviously 4♥ wich was passed out and partner produced
♠K10
♥Kxx
♦Jxx
♣KQxxx
Wich turned out to be the only makeable game
1NT
3NT
3NT
are my answers, but my client's worse skill is card playing, not defending or bidding.
Congrats Phil, I'll share one with you from this week:
♠Qx
♥QJ108
♦A10x
♣Axxx
partner opens 1♣ and it went
1♣-(1♠)-X-(ps)
2♣-(2♠)-3♠-(ps)
4♣-(ps)-......
What now?
Obviously 4♥ wich was passed out and partner produced
♠K10
♥Kxx
♦Jxx
♣KQxxx
Wich turned out to be the only makeable game
#6
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Posted 2007-October-05, 13:55
I dreamt I was Bobby Wolff playing with Malcolm Brachman's mother at a Ft. Worth sectional. 1NT
3NT
3NT
A no brainer of a problem set.
#7
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Posted 2007-October-05, 16:50
1. 1N
2. 3N
3. this is the only tough one, and I'd probably go 3N
2. 3N
3. this is the only tough one, and I'd probably go 3N
#8
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Posted 2007-October-05, 20:39
Quote
Hmmm
I'm strongly tempted to say
1. 3N
2. 3N
3. 3N
However, I'll try to be semi-realistic and suggest
1. 1NT
2. 4♠
3. 3N
I'm strongly tempted to say
1. 3N
2. 3N
3. 3N
However, I'll try to be semi-realistic and suggest
1. 1NT
2. 4♠
3. 3N
I think I would use your first suggestion.
Sean
PS: Although, if I knew my partner would always signoff after my 3NT bid, I might be tempted to bid 1♥ on the first one.
#10 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-October-05, 20:54
Why is everyone opening 1N with a hand that is closer to 2N?
#11
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Posted 2007-October-05, 21:43
1C
4S
5D
4S
5D
#12
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Posted 2007-October-06, 01:33
Jlall, on Oct 5 2007, 09:54 PM, said:
Why is everyone opening 1N with a hand that is closer to 2N?
Some random thoughts:
If you open it 1C, you are going to either reverse into 2D and then have no idea what her next call means (and she probably doesn't either) or you are going to rebid 2N and she may still get lost. Worse still, she may keep rebidding her 5 card major.
If she moves over 1N, you have very little to worry about.
If you open 1N, you will play any delicate 5/6-2 major fit (assuming she transfers into it).
You will still be ill-placed after 1C-1S.
None of these make 1N correct, but all could be considerations in choosing 1N instead of 1C.
My choices:
1N
4S
6D, heck give her a chance to shine.
Is the word "pass" not in your vocabulary?
So many experts, not enough X cards.
So many experts, not enough X cards.
#13
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Posted 2007-October-06, 02:48
1NT
4♠
5♦ (edit: after bidding 2♠ ofcourse)
4♠
5♦ (edit: after bidding 2♠ ofcourse)
"It may be rude to leave to go to the bathroom, but it's downright stupid to sit there and piss yourself" - blackshoe
#14 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-October-06, 02:53
As someone who plays with clients almost every day, I can say I think people in general tend to think more hogging and jumping is necessary than really is.
Opening 1C is not likely to lead to you not declaring the hand. Partner is passed, and is unlikely to have a 6 card major. Partner is likely to have a 4 card major and thus is unlikely to bid 1N themselves. If you are able to open 1C and rebid 2N you show what your hand is worth and don't just automatically lose the board by misisng a game that others will be bidding. Also there may be some other bidding that enables you to get to a minor suit (like the opponents bidding and raising hearts) rather than playing in NT. You will still be playing the hand so it is not so imperative to try and steal the dummy.
There is no reason to suspect that partner won't know what to do if you open 1C and rebid 2N, they will probably just bid naturally. If they rebid their major, just bid 3N. They won't just drive to 4M with 5 of them. When you elect to do something strange you are putting the board up in the air immediately with that action which is VERY dangerous because if you are going to play the hand you want to be in a normal contract for sure. I just don't think the gains of opening 1N justify such a risk.
On hand 3 I think just bidding 3N or bidding 5D or 6D directly is silly. Partner is not going to pass you in 2S. Maybe they will be confused, but they will make some kind of natural bid and you will have more information before judging the final contract. In my opinion, when you don't know what the final contract should be, your goal should just be to elicit as much information as possible before deciding. It's like a relay system, partner may not have any idea what you're showing and in some cases you may be showing a very different hand than you have, but partner will still show you something about their hand.
Hand 2 is a good problem regardless of who you're playing with. I chose to X because we are in an average minus position if she's going to declare 4S and I think rolling the dice on getting 500 is a good gamble. Even if we only get it 40 % of the time it's probably ok. However, it is a high variance action, and depending on how your game is going it may well be right to just bid 4S and put yourself in an average minus position. Sometimes she will get you an average, or even an average plus, and sometimes she will just dump a trick and you get a zero or an average minus. You have to accept that someitmes the best you're going to do on a hand is get an average minus, and you don't want to convert those into zeroes. 30 % of the matchpoints is a big difference from 0 % of the matchpoints. I think 3N is just a bad gamble that is too unlikely to work, spades just plays a trick better than NT way too often.
The thing you don't want to do with clients is just take crazy gambles in order to not involve them, then you just pretty much have no chance.
Opening 1C is not likely to lead to you not declaring the hand. Partner is passed, and is unlikely to have a 6 card major. Partner is likely to have a 4 card major and thus is unlikely to bid 1N themselves. If you are able to open 1C and rebid 2N you show what your hand is worth and don't just automatically lose the board by misisng a game that others will be bidding. Also there may be some other bidding that enables you to get to a minor suit (like the opponents bidding and raising hearts) rather than playing in NT. You will still be playing the hand so it is not so imperative to try and steal the dummy.
There is no reason to suspect that partner won't know what to do if you open 1C and rebid 2N, they will probably just bid naturally. If they rebid their major, just bid 3N. They won't just drive to 4M with 5 of them. When you elect to do something strange you are putting the board up in the air immediately with that action which is VERY dangerous because if you are going to play the hand you want to be in a normal contract for sure. I just don't think the gains of opening 1N justify such a risk.
On hand 3 I think just bidding 3N or bidding 5D or 6D directly is silly. Partner is not going to pass you in 2S. Maybe they will be confused, but they will make some kind of natural bid and you will have more information before judging the final contract. In my opinion, when you don't know what the final contract should be, your goal should just be to elicit as much information as possible before deciding. It's like a relay system, partner may not have any idea what you're showing and in some cases you may be showing a very different hand than you have, but partner will still show you something about their hand.
Hand 2 is a good problem regardless of who you're playing with. I chose to X because we are in an average minus position if she's going to declare 4S and I think rolling the dice on getting 500 is a good gamble. Even if we only get it 40 % of the time it's probably ok. However, it is a high variance action, and depending on how your game is going it may well be right to just bid 4S and put yourself in an average minus position. Sometimes she will get you an average, or even an average plus, and sometimes she will just dump a trick and you get a zero or an average minus. You have to accept that someitmes the best you're going to do on a hand is get an average minus, and you don't want to convert those into zeroes. 30 % of the matchpoints is a big difference from 0 % of the matchpoints. I think 3N is just a bad gamble that is too unlikely to work, spades just plays a trick better than NT way too often.
The thing you don't want to do with clients is just take crazy gambles in order to not involve them, then you just pretty much have no chance.
#15
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Posted 2007-October-06, 10:09
Quote
1. Kx, xx, KQ9x, AKQxx. Three passes to you - None Vul.
This was later in the day. If you open 1N, you'll play it there. If you open 1♣, you'll play 3N (probably). No one chose my call of 2N (
). Pard has AQxx 8xxx, xxx Jx. The defense started with ♥K, ♥Q, ♥A (it appears the heart suit is blocked) and LHO shifts to a low diamond. I'm ready to accept my fate. But the ♦K holds
I run my clubs and an automatic double squeeze develops.
Quote
2. K6xx, AK97, Kxx, Ax. The opponents are vulnerable. Pard opens a weak 2♠ as dealer and RHO intervenes with 3♥. Your call.
Agree with what Justin says. If she plays the hand 4♠, we rate to be in an average / average minus position. 3N is silly. I play the hands well, but the other tables will be scoring a club ruff from the other side of the table.
I doubled. I can run the defense from my side and we have a nice tap suit. +800 (declarer can hold it to -500, but that still beats the 450's).
Quote
3. Jxx, K, AQTxxx, AKx. Pard opens 1♦ and RHO intervenes with 1♠.
Doesn't there seem to be a great chance pard has a high spade here? I know I'm never getting any cooperation, so I just blasted 6♦ after 2♠ - 3♥. She held: ♠Axxx, ♥AQxx ♦Kxx ♣ xx. Furthermore, she was up to the task in the play. ♠A, 2 trumps (RHO has 3). ♥K, ♣AK, ruff, ♥AQ pitching spades), ruff heart (it lives) low, K♦ for a very nice +940.
"Phil" on BBO
#16
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Posted 2007-October-06, 11:49
pclayton, on Oct 6 2007, 10:09 AM, said:
Quote
3. Jxx, K, AQTxxx, AKx. Pard opens 1♦ and RHO intervenes with 1♠.
Doesn't there seem to be a great chance pard has a high spade here? I know I'm never getting any cooperation, so I just blasted 6♦ after 2♠ - 3♥. She held: ♠Axxx, ♥AQxx ♦Kxx ♣ xx. Furthermore, she was up to the task in the play. ♠A, 2 trumps (RHO has 3). ♥K, ♣AK, ruff, ♥AQ pitching spades), ruff heart (it lives) low, K♦ for a very nice +940.
I am not sure I have played in a club where I would expect ave- just because your partner is declaring a normal contract.
The easiest way to count losers is to line up the people who talk about loser count, and count them. -Kieran Dyke
#17
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Posted 2007-October-06, 12:09
cherdano, on Oct 6 2007, 09:49 AM, said:
pclayton, on Oct 6 2007, 10:09 AM, said:
Quote
3. Jxx, K, AQTxxx, AKx. Pard opens 1♦ and RHO intervenes with 1♠.
Doesn't there seem to be a great chance pard has a high spade here? I know I'm never getting any cooperation, so I just blasted 6♦ after 2♠ - 3♥. She held: ♠Axxx, ♥AQxx ♦Kxx ♣ xx. Furthermore, she was up to the task in the play. ♠A, 2 trumps (RHO has 3). ♥K, ♣AK, ruff, ♥AQ pitching spades), ruff heart (it lives) low, K♦ for a very nice +940.
I am not sure I have played in a club where I would expect ave- just because your partner is declaring a normal contract.
Arend - this doesn't parse. You quoted the 6♦ hand but your comments relate to the hand where I doubled 3♥. What did you mean?
"Phil" on BBO
#18 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-October-06, 12:16
lol he meant your partner played the hand well and must be better than the average player at the club in declarer play.
#19
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Posted 2007-October-06, 12:22
Given how she played 6♦ (even if that was one of her better played hands) I would not expect an ave- just because she is declaring a normal contract.
The easiest way to count losers is to line up the people who talk about loser count, and count them. -Kieran Dyke
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