[han]

Justin and I played in a Calcutta tonight at the honors bridge club in New York. For those who don't know, a calcutta is a money bridge game where the pairs are sold in an auction beforehand and not the winners get the money but the owners of the winning pair. Just like the Cavendish it was IMP pairs, there were 10 pairs, we would play 3 boards against each of the other three pairs.

I was thrilled to play in an unusual event like this, and of course it was a great opportunity for me to play with Justin. We were sold for $500 to Joe Grue, who allowed us to buy back 70% so we could win a fair amount of money. Well, first we had to win the event. Bobby Levin and Joe Grue went for $1250, they were the most expensive pair. Ozdil and his partner, Bob and Shane Blanchard and Gail Greenberg and Mike Moss were other pairs that were sold for more than average.

Well, the Blanchards won and we didn't finish in the top three so we didn't win money. We were in third place going into the last round but then Greenberg-Moss bid a grand slam against us on the very last board. That's your one-session IMP pairs to you, your faith is decided on just a couple of expensive boards so you'd better get those right if you have the opportunity. Here are some interesting (and expensive!) bidding problems:

1.

x
Kxx
J109xxxx
10x

Red against white, first seat. Your call?

[edit: this is against perhaps the weakest pair in the room]

2.

xxx
AKQx
Kxxxxx
-

(2S) - 3D - (4S) - 5S
(p) - 5NT - (p) - 6C
(p) - ??

3.

xxx
x
Jxxxx
KQxx

(1S) - p - (1NT) - p
(2H) - p - (2NT) - p
(3S) - p - (4H) - ???

[edit: I should add that opener is the weakest player in the room (no Josh not me!) and the pro responder took a long time to bid 4H.]

4.

All vulnerable.

Q9x
Q
Qxxx
87654

2C - (p) - 2D - (3H)
3S - (p) - ??

5.

Jxx
AKJxx
KJx
xx

1D - (2S) - 3H - (4S)
6D - (p) - ??

[655321]

1. Pass

2. 6♦, probably way too cowardly, but I hate bidding grands when I am not very sure.

3. Pass, I don't get it. If somebody did something clever here to win IMPs, I am impressed.

4. 4♥

5. Pass, same comments as for (2)

6. I like 1 question per post.

[TimG]

1. Pass.
2. 7D.
3. Pass.
4. 4S.
5. Pass.

I played in one NYC Calcutta and finished in the money, but it was a Flight B event!

[hrothgar]

1. Pass
2. 6♦
3. Pass
4. 4♥
5. 7♦

(I find it amusing that Tim and I are completely out of sync on the two grands)

[TimG]

hrothgar, on Oct 26 2008, 09:30 AM, said:

(I find it amusing that Tim and I are completely out of sync on the two grands)

Amusing, but not surprising!

[helene_t]

1. pass (unless p is very comfortable by a 2♦ opening with this hand)
2. 6♦, my suit sucks
3. dbl. The weakest declarer in the room might get lost when I double based on partner's trumps (well this works at the local club, obviously I haven't tried it at a calcutta)
4. 4♥.
5. 7♦ I have lots of extras.

[ArtK78]

hrothgar, on Oct 26 2008, 09:30 AM, said:

1. Pass
2. 6♦
3. Pass
4. 4♥
5. 7♦

(I find it amusing that Tim and I are completely out of sync on the two grands)

Agree with all of these choices with the possible exception of (4).

If a 2♦ response to 2♣ shows values (2♥ would be a negative), then I would just bid 4♠. If the 2♦ response was waiting or negative, then 4♥ is the right call.

[jdonn]

1. I would just pass regardless of opponent, at this vul.
2. 6♦ seems obvious with a lousy suit, heart control already suggested, and grand slam try already made. Also any club control of partner's is wasted.
3. Am I supposed to double because it's the weakest player in the room? I'll let partner double the weakest player with his five trumps if he wants, if he doesn't then I'm fine.
4. I'll bid 4♠. Sure I'm better than I might be, but if partner is close to a slam try he shouldn't assume the absolute worst, that I have nothing at all. I think he is entitled to figure me for something more to cuebid, like a control.
5. I really don't know what partner would have to bid this way without doing something like a forcing pass to involve me. Since he doesn't want to involve me, and since my best guess is he has a heart void anyway, I'm not involved. Pass.

[han]

1. The opponents will probably get to 6S as they did against us. If you preempt then they pick up partner's Qxx of spades and make. If you don't then they go down. Lose a ton of IMPs for the good guys.

2. Partner has - 1098 AQxx AJ10xxx so 7D is excellent and makes. I'm not going to tell you what mistake I made but another loss of IMPs was the result.

3. The opponents are in the 4-3 fit after a perhaps hesitant auction to game, the trumps split 5-1 behind and the weakest person in the room is going to declare, this could be 800 or even 1100! Well, it was -1190 for us, declarer had AKxxxx AKQxx x x and dummy had both minor suit aces.

4. Our opponent bid 4S and they missed 6S which is not great but happens to make. 6C is good though. A few IMPs finally flowing in the right direction.

5. Gail Greenberg thought about it for a long time and decided to bid 7. Mike Moss had A x Axxxxxx AKJx and diamonds split. Game over.

[jdonn]

The only one I don't like my answer is 2. Han told me Justin would have forced to 7 over 5♠, and I think that's right, but being given the 5NT bid mentally fooled me into thinking I had made my move and I was done. At least I'll make that my excuse.

The 6♦ bid on the last hand seems obviously ridiculous to me. Maybe pass then pull to 6♦ is right, but if someone else believes there is even a better auction I bet they are right.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 Pass.
#2 I would go with 6D.
What was 5NT?
#3 Pass
#4 4S
#5 Pass

With kind regards
Marlowe

[EricK]

Did I understand the OP correctly that you were "bought" by another competing player?

[han]

No that's the other Joe Grue who just came to kibitz.

[EricK]

han, on Oct 27 2008, 05:45 PM, said:

No that's the other Joe Grue who just came to kibitz.

That's alright then, otherwise there would be a terrible conflict of interest.

[TimG]

It is common in a Calcutta for players in the event to own a piece of other players in the event. Generally, when a pair is sold, that pair must buy back at least 25% of themselves, and can demand up to 50% of themselves. But, anyone can resell their stake in a pair, to other players in the event or to individuals who are not playing.

[EricK]

TimG, on Oct 28 2008, 12:26 PM, said:

It is common in a Calcutta for players in the event to own a piece of other players in the event. Generally, when a pair is sold, that pair must buy back at least 25% of themselves, and can demand up to 50% of themselves. But, anyone can resell their stake in a pair, to other players in the event or to individuals who are not playing.

What happens if towards the end of an event a pair who is out of contention is playing against a pair in whom they own a stake?

[cherdano]

EricK, on Oct 28 2008, 12:05 PM, said:

TimG, on Oct 28 2008, 12:26 PM, said:

It is common in a Calcutta for players in the event to own a piece of other players in the event.  Generally, when a pair is sold, that pair must buy back at least 25% of themselves, and can demand up to 50% of themselves.  But, anyone can resell their stake in a pair, to other players in the event or to individuals who are not playing.

What happens if towards the end of an event a pair who is out of contention is playing against a pair in whom they own a stake?

In the Cavendish, pairs that have a stake in each other will meet early in the event.