[sathyab]

matmat, on Sep 23 2008, 04:50 PM, said:

ArtK78, on Sep 23 2008, 03:34 PM, said:

Clearly, bidding clubs is obvious.  Bidding 5♣ is certainly reasonable, and it is probably the percentage call.  But I am not convinced that bidding 5♣ specifically is obvious.

matchpoints
in the long run you are rewarded for taking percentage actions
if you agree that 5♣ is the percentage call, then it is the OBVIOUS call.

Let's say it was IMPs instead of MP. What then ? Partner's T/O doubles will have better support for unbid suits than at MP where support for minors may be suspect. You're still not off the hook by any means in deciding whether to bid just 5♣ or contemplate something higher .

[FrancesHinden]

cherdano, on Sep 23 2008, 09:45 PM, said:

Bidding 5♣ is specifically obvious. Making 6♣ is possible, but clearly against the odds (and obviously so). Even if that wasn't obvious to begin with, it should convince you that your example hands (for a one-level takeout double) contained 8 controls or the magic ace PLUS the magic AKQ.

You don't need 8 controls

AQ10x
xx
AKxx
Qxx

and it's on the spade finesse

Axxx
xx
AQJ9
Qxx

(careful inclusion of the D9 as part of my example hand permit)

and it's on the diamond finesse

I'm a 5C bidder too. But I think this will be making an overtrick a significant percentage of the time, although not enough to make it worth bidding a slam.

[jdonn]

What is this overtrick talk? I bet down is more likely than overtrick.

[Lobowolf]

Wow, I thought I was an optimist...can you all sign this release form? I have to forward this thread to a couple of my partners...

[skjaeran]

5♣ is the absolutely obvious bid here.

It's possible that we make slam, it's even possible that slam will be absolutely cold.

However, it's at least as likely that we go down in 5♣.

[Ant590]

Well, here are the actual hands, not that these are any more relevant (or likely) than the example hands above!

1)

Scoring: MP

---

(1♥) - dbl - (4♥) - 5♣
(pass) - pass - (5♥) - ap
I can't say I was fond of my partner's t/o double...

2)

Scoring: MP

---

1♥ - 2♣ - 3♥ - 4♥
I can't say I was fond of my partner's reverse... but she rolled home 10 tricks

Both boards were tops.

[Walddk]

Ant590, on Sep 24 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

2)

Scoring: MP

---

1♥ - 2♣ - 3♥ - 4♥
I can't say I was fond of my partner's reverse... but she rolled home 10 tricks

Both boards were tops.

It strikes me as odd that this was a top, considering that 3NT (North would normally declare) makes 10 tricks on any lead.

And when you write "reverse", you surely mean jump rebid. No matter what, you are right: 3♥ is a serious overbid.

Roland

[sathyab]

Ant590, on Sep 24 2008, 04:16 AM, said:

Well, here are the actual hands, not that these are any more relevant (or likely) than the example hands above!

When interesting problems are posted, I usually look forward eagerly to see what the actual hands were. In this case however, I wish you had not bothered.