[Wackojack]

Scoring: MP

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An enjoyable contest but he bidding of many hands tied the contestants in knots. (I suppose it to be expected in an Indiv tourney, even with knowledgable players) This is one of them. 6♣ +1 against us at our table. Only beaten by 6♠= at another table. 4♠+3, 4♥ and 7NT-1 were the other results. Any suggestions on how to bid with your favorite partner?

Declarer had a routine squeeze play for 13 tricks. I led 3♥ declarer playing the Ace (Vienna coup preparation). Top diamonds and clubs left me on the last club with ♠J753 ♥K and dummy had ♠AKQ102. Declarer claimed the remainder when playing the last club before I had the chance to discard my ♥K. I conceded seeing the queen with declarer.

Later this got me thinking. How did declarer know for certain that I was squeeezed because partner kept his last heart? I dont think he can. Also from a results POV it was a pity this routine squeeze was not repeated at any other table.

A general comment. Sad to see a couple of hopeless doubled redoubled contracts. Thought they were confined to the Main Club.

[BillHiggin]

I am rather sure that declarer was quite aware that 6♣= and 6♣+1 were going to give exactly the same MP result. He was going to beat all the non-slam bidders and any that went down in either 7N or 6♠ and lose to any 6N, 6S=, 6S+1 or 7N=. There were not going to be any other club slams bid.

The booby prize goes to the 7N-1 result. That declarer must have banked everything on a 3-3 ♠ split. Even if he failed to clear the ♥A early enough for the squeeze, the count in the minors should have steered him to the hook for the ♠J.

[awm]

This hand was funny at my table. I thought partner and I had a bidding accident. Our auction went:

1♦(1) - 1♠
3♣ - 3♥(2)
3♠(3) - 4♦(4)
6♦(5) - 6♠(6)
Pass(7)

(1) Didn't want to show 22 balanced with two suits wide open.
(2) I suppose partner intended this as natural, but I thought it might just be a punt.
(3) Didn't want to bid 3NT with hearts open... partner thought this showed three spades.
(4) Intended as cuebid for spades, but I thought we were still negotiating the trump suit.
(5) Might be a reasonable contract.
(6) Correcting to what he thinks the trump suit is.
(7) Maybe I should bid 6NT?

6♠ made on a non-heart lead despite misguessing the spades. I figured this for a near-bottom since 6NT is totally cold (12 tops) and 7NT can be made on a fairly simple squeeze. Surprisingly, this was a 100% board!

[dicklont]

Wackojack, on Oct 5 2008, 09:25 AM, said:

Later this got me thinking.  How did declarer know for certain that I was squeezed because partner kept his last heart?  I dont think he can.  Also from a results POV it was a pity this routine squeeze was not repeated at any other table.

By the time he claimed declarer knew you had 1 diamond en 3 clubs.
You have 3 spades or more. He must have placed the ♥K in your hand based on your lead.

[Codo]

I think this hand is ugly to bid in a natural system. If you treat it as 23 balanced, you will reach 6 NT, but I see no really good way to 7 NT, which makes, whenever the actual squeeze is there, diamonds are 4-3, spades 3-3 or Jx, or when you get the count that a finesse in spades is right. (When west shows long diamonds f.e.)
If you open 1 Diamond and jump in club, there is still not enough space to find the solidity of the suits.

For the play: I am sure that Gerben knew it for the reasons Dick mentioned.