[rona_]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

Pass 1♣ 1♠ Dbl
Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠
Pass 3♣ Pass 4♦
Pass 5♣ Pass 6♦
Pass Pass Pass

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

- 1♦ Pass 2♣
Pass 2♦ Pass 4♦
Pass 5♦ Pass Pass
Pass

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

- 1♠ Pass 2♣
Pass 3♣ Pass 3♥
Pass 3NT Pass 4♥
Pass 4♠ Pass 5♦
Dbl RDbl! Pass 7♣
Pass Pass Pass

I would like to understand why on the first board South drove to a minor slam with his 5 card suit, didn't drive to slam on the second board and finally, how he knew his partner had the ace of clubs to bid grand on the last. They were ahead in the match so there was no reason to commit suicide.

Rona

[helene_t]

1) is an enigma to me unless S is a beginner
2) I can sorta understand, maybe S thought N had a mandatory cuebid over 4♦.
3) is a somewhat wild gamble I would say. Not the wildest I have seen (or made myself ftm). If N promised 4-card support there is a good chance that he has the ace, especially after the double of 5♦ which limits the amount of diamond-values N can have.

[skjaeran]

The first sequence is very strange. First south doubles, then cuebids and is able to show his suit at the 4-level only. I don't know if 2♦ would be forcing or not, the double may indicate it wasn't - thus they play hi-lo doubles. If so he should rebid 2♦ GF over 2♣. The whole sequence is ridicilous to me and it looks like south had no idea what bids would be natural and forcing. The jump to 6♦ is bizzarre.

Thesecond sequence was much more normal than the first. With north not making a 4♥ cuebid I can understand that south passes 5♦. Slam was only so-so.

The last was really weird. He needed partner to hold the ♠A, ♣AK (or Axxx and K dropping) and the ♥ finess as well. No guarantee that 6♣ was making from his POV even, but that should be a fine contract.

[hotShot]

[mcphee]

The south player was WIRED into getting a helping kib. What possible explanation for bidding 7C, or even reaching this unassited 6D? Come on, this does not take any sensible person to see mirrors were involved. The 6D hand had me convinced before I saw 7C.

I wonder to myself about this sort of thing. I once watched a player do very much a similar action where he bid key card with a void then bid a grand having no idea it would work. Naturally he found the magic A of trumps on dummy but the slam still required a successful finesse for a side Q which the declarer took through the known short D hand. What a player!! This could be the same guy with a different name!

[mr1303]

Bidding looks no worse to me than what I'd expect from a random pick-up partner.

[Edmunte1]

South is a beginner, and possible, being an internet match, South is a cheater (you can't be so lucky 3 times in a row). Some comments:

1) South doubled instead of bidding a forcing 2♦, then after creating game forcing, jumped in his 5card suit. Then, not knowing anything about spade control jumped to slam. Here he was very 'lucky' and found exactly Qx in diamonds and three card fit with the essential ♦9 as entry

2)North forgot to cue bid his ♥A (as in previous board, North seems a very defensive bidder). It seems that south likes a lot to bid 4♦

3)Seven on a finesse, not everyone's choice. Probably 3♣ showed extras, but
S7even seems a bid inspired from the same movie

[mr1303]

If I was abuse@, I'd want to see much stronger evidence of cheating than this before I were to get involved.

[inquiry]

mr1303, on Nov 25 2007, 04:51 PM, said:

If I was abuse@, I'd want to see much stronger evidence of cheating than this before I were to get involved.

Well, since there is no identity given on the bidder, and no amount of checking rona_ hands will uncover the south identity, let me add a few comments.

Auction 1 is not possible except by an absolute beginner, and maybe not even then. To insist on diamonds in a five card suit when partner never supported you and when partner bid, rebid, and rebid clubs again is, well, impossible to fanthom. Of course, entry problems mean 6♣ does not make on the expect spade opening lead.

Auction 3 likewise is impossible. To bid 7♣ here without ACE or KING, and without asking, and have to be worried about the second round of hearts, is well, also impossible to fathom.

But if you think south is wired, as these hands might suggest (see mcphee's post, for instance), what about auction 2? If you are wired, surely you would stay off 6♦ as it looks like a sure heart and trump loser. But might you not bid 3NT? +660 is a better than +600. Also if it is the south player that is "wired", then his forcing leap to 4♦ might encourage his partner to bid one more for the road. Not bidding 6♦ over 5 is automatic when partner didn't cue-bid 4♥. Also, luckily, 6♦ doesn't make unless WEST in the diagram fails to cover the heart QUEEN,

I agree with mr1303, these three hands are not enough to prove cheating. But in my opinion, the first and third hand is certainly strong enough to get south a through examination.

[rona_]

Quote

I agree with mr1303, these three hands are not enough to prove cheating. But in my opinion, the first and third hand is certainly strong enough to get south a through examination.

He must have passed the examination with flying colours, as he is now a BBO Vugraph Commentator!!......