[Free]

Scoring: MP

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Bidding:

S [space] [space]W [space] [space]N [space] [space]E
1[sp] - p - 2[di] - p
3[cl] - p - 4[sp] - p
4NT - p - 5[he] - Dbl
6[sp] All pass

Lead: ♦K.

How do you play? You're in a tight slam, so no need for overtricks

[the hog]

A comment on the bidding - South is a nutter. If I were Nth I would want a new partner. Very quickly, take 2 C hooks, drawing 2 rounds of trumps in the process, then ruff a C and take the H hook. Hope this was the last hand in the event as you would need to find a new partner after this.

[inquiry]

The_Hog, on Mar 3 2004, 08:01 PM, said:

A comment on the bidding - South is a nutter. If I were Nth I would want a new partner. Very quickly, take 2 C hooks, drawing 2 rounds of trumps in the process, then ruff a C and take the H hook. Hope this was the last hand in the event as you would need to find a new partner after this.

Well, the bidding wasn't very good, but taking 3 different hooks (two in clubs and one in hearts) simply can't be the right line (see below). And ruffing two clubs is not a safe line.

First thing you should do is thank partner is the happiest voice you can find. The thought of ducking a ♦ for some exotic squeeze seems useless to me (although I have seen the moon squeezes in adventures in card play, and endplaying some one seems like a possibility, to endplay someone after you duck a trick is obviously down).

If you play for double hook in clubs to work, you can easily make by giving a ♥. That is win ♦ lead ♣9 to say J, Q. Cash ♠KQ, ♥A, and exit ♥J. You will win 3♣6♠2♥and 1♦ with out ever ruffing anything.

So the double hook in ♣ is one line, odds of success about 23.8%.

Another line is to hook the ♥ immediately. If that loses back comes another ♦, which you ruff. Now you are in a bad spot. You have to either rely upon double hook in ♣ (and you could have done that to begin with with better odds), or that you can safely ruff two clubs in dummy (This will require EAST with Kxxx, or with Kxxx and JT or JTx of spades), or Kxx without ♠x or ♠xx. However if the if the ♥ hook wins you are slightly better off. Now a ♠ to A, and hook ♣Q, if that wins too, you can play ♠K and then ♣A... if EAST drops the king, you can pull last trump and give ♣ to J.. and if EAST retains high ♣, you can safely lead a ♣ to ruff in dummy. So both ♣ Kings being onside is roughly 25%, plus there is some play if the ♥hook loses (you get one ♣ pitch on the ♥Q, so only one ruff needed.

All in all, I think I win the ♦ lead and hook a ♥. If that wins, I cross ♠A and hook ♣Q.. playing for one ♣ ruff... dropping JACK if I hook looses.

After the session is over, I will invite my partner out for a beer and while in the comfortable setting of a friendly bar, try to explain the basics of bidding to him in a non-hostile environment....

[the hog]

Just a couple of points Ben. I think we can assume the H hook works - note the X in the bidding. Also, I only need to ruff 1C in dummy, not 2; so taking the double hook is relatively safe and only loses if both hons are offside or if the third C gets overruffed. - hence draw 2 rounds of trumps in the process in the hope that this exhausts rho if he is 2542.

Take the point about the beer in a non hostile environment. lol

[mishovnbg]

Spoiler

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Hi friends!

Spoiler

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I don't share your point of view about N bidding. The problems of N: he is too good for 2♠ raise; can't bid 2NT jacoby - show 4 card support and gf; can't bid 1NT - it is nf; can't bid 3♠ - it is preemptive; can't bid Bergen raise - also 4 cards support; finally can't bid 2/1 and 3♠ - it show slam try . It is true that in 2/1 system you can 1NT rf and later 3♠ . It is also true if you play sayc you can bid limit raise with 3 cards support . If you play acol(simple natural) you can bid 2/1 and inv raise 3♠. But, you will be probably shocked that most of normal players, up to advanced(BBO standard) will bid this hand same way - result of unwise and random usage of popular conventions. This remember me my play with Borko and our discussion about major raises at the beginning of BBO - nice, peace days, hehe. By the way Ben, will you bid here 2♣ or 2NT playing our system ?

Spoiler

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About play of slam... I really don't like K♦ lead, instead of ♥ lead. Depend of level of play of course, but ♦ can't be discarded over ♣ unlike ♥. So in my opinion W know, that it is impossible, because he hold ♣ suit - for sure with K, probably with J too. Can E to double with long suit ♥ for sacrifice for example? I am not fan of such bidding, but it exist in reallity. Can I make my contract, if ♥K is off side? Not, except exotic endplay. Shortly: take ♦A, finesse ♣J , if lose and next ♦, ruff, 2 rounds of trumps take with A from dummy, finesse ♥, A♣ and trump finesse of ♣K to dummy.

Spoiler

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Misho

[inquiry]

mishovnbg, on Mar 5 2004, 08:21 AM, said:

By the way Ben, will you bid here 2♣ or 2NT playing our system ?

Clear 2♣ response...

1♠ 2♣
2♦ 2♠
3♣ 3♦
3♥ 3NT
4♦ 4♠
Pass

2♣ = multi meaning
2♦ = more than minimum, nothing about ♦'s (3♣ gf also possible)
2♠ = (8)9-12 hcp, 3 card support most likely, 1 RF
3♣ = game force, ♠ agreed
3♦3♥ cue bids
3NT = extra values, but no ability to cue-bid in ♣
4♦ = cue bid
4♠= told my story....
Pass ok....

[Trpltrbl]

I think ♥ finesse is going to work after the X. So I will play a ♣ to the Q at trick 2, if ♠ 2-2 and I win the Q of ♣ I might mention that if I was going to be in slam I might as well have been in grandslam.

Mike