[rogerclee]

Jlall, on Jan 27 2008, 03:33 AM, said:

Ax KQxx K AKQJxx

r/w imps.

4H p p. The player at the table who had this hand PASSED!!!!!!!! Any reasoning to this? How bad is this player on a scale of 1-10.

[thebiker]

I don't think it appropriate to ask such provocative questions as "How bad is this guy"
Surely more appropriate to ask the forum what they would bid?

Have you considered that the player thought he would almost certainly get a plus score by passing and could see no clear cut bid available that would deliver a plus.
Double, 4NT and 5C or 6C are all flawed to some extend, on the right day all will deliver a plus score, but there are bad days as well.

regards

Brian Keable
alias thebiker

[kenrexford]

I smell a rat.

[Blofeld]

I don't think we can conclude much about their ability from this bid.

No options look particularly appealing here, and pass certainly seems a reasonable option. Double will lead to failing spade/diamond contracts too often, 4NT is kind of silly, and there's no guarantee 5♣ will make. I might bid 5♣, but I'm afraid I don't think pass is silly.

So the conclusion that I reach is "the strongest statement we can make is that the player is not stronger than me". [obviously, not being better than myself, I can't make that judgement call, but there it is]

[skjaeran]

I'd say you've got two sensible alternatives; pass and 5♣. There's no obvious "correct" call. I guess I'd try 5♣, but with no great conviction that it's the winning bid.

We all know you're bad Justin - you don't have to put in a hand for us to answer that question.

[inquiry]

I have to admit, i would try 5♣s if I held that hand, especially if i held the 9 fo clubs for one of the x's.

This post has been edited by inquiry: 2008-January-27, 08:59

[PassedOut]

Pass. Al Roth taught me to "stay fixed" with these hands and I do. Could be wrong, but at least I figure to go plus.

[cherdano]

Certainly the most likely result from bidding is turning +100 or so into -100. I know I would bid at the table, the price for being right is too tempting, but I have this suspicions that I behave like a poker player who can't get out of a hand even though he knows the guy opposite him will beat his hand for sure.

P.S.: Of course only a novice would pass at the table.

[helene_t]

Would try 5♣ but pass is not unreasonable. Would pass at matchpoints.

[gwnn]

1

[Winstonm]

One thing is for certain - if you pass declarer will never play you for this hand.

[mr1303]

What looks likely to me is the possibility of ♥A, ♥ ruff then A♦ being cashed meaning that you can't make anything. Against that, you have 4 almost certain winners against 4H. My possible bids are 4NT if natural, double if for penalty, 5C or pass. I think pass is probably the most likely way to go plus on this board. I certainly wouldn't be mocking anyone who decided to pass with these cards.

[Al_U_Card]

First, I would try an insufficient bid of 3NT......

[Al_U_Card]

Then I would prepare for the committee concerning my pard's pass of my now "sufficient" 4NT bid....

[awm]

Passing is rather pessimistic. This hand is so strong that partner is unlikely to have a call over 4♥. While it's true that you can basically set 4♥ on your own, and that you can't make 5♣ without help, I think it's still clear to bid.

Passing misses out on a possible +400 fairly frequently and occasionally misses a +920. Even at MP, it seems like decent odds partner holds two of the ♣T, ♠K, ♦A and any two of those cards is enough to make 5♣ pretty cold (in fact you can make 5♣ if partner has a heart void, club length, and none of those three cards).

On the other hand, anyone who passes with this hand is probably a pretty good player. Bad players never pass when they have this many high card points.

[pclayton]

Hopeless. Should give up bridge pronto and take up needlepoint or clogging.

Eh - preempts work.

[FrancesHinden]

3NT insufficient corrected to 4NT NF is obviously right.

[han]

I think passing is horrible, I wouldn't want to be on a team with a guy who bids like this.