[Fluffy]

x
AQJ10xx
xx
AK108

xxxx
9x
AQxx
J9x

W - N - E - S
ps-1♥-X-1♠
ps-2♣-ps-2♥
ps-3♥-ps-ps
ps


I was south and feel some blame because the 1♠ bid missdirected partner, maybe after 1NT he would bid 4♥ instead of 3?. The hands fit well, but I don't know if this is just a case of bad luck or incorrect bidding.

[hrothgar]

Fluffy, on Jan 5 2009, 06:14 PM, said:

x
AQJ10xx
xx
AK108

xxxx
9x
AQxx
J9x

W - N - E - S
ps-1♥-X-1♠
ps-2♣-ps-2♥
ps-3♥-ps-ps
ps


I was south and feel some blame because the 1♠ bid missdirected partner, maybe after 1NT he would bid 4♥ instead of 3?. The hands fit well, but I don't know if this is just a case of bad luck or incorrect bidding.

Hard to say what's what...

One the plus side,

You have AQ of Diamonds sitting over the doubler
Partner rates to have spade shortage opposite your xxxx. The points you have are working.
You have the J9x of clubs opposite partner's 4 card suit
You have two trump and partner has rebid hearts

All of which is a significant plus after partner invites game

On the down side, you have a pretty mangy 1♠ advance. (I wouldn't call this a maximum). I'd probably bid 4♥. Your 2♥ preference already limited your hand. However, I don't consider it completely clear cut.

I consider a 1♠ much better than 1NT

[helene_t]

yeah, the alternative to 1♠ would be pass rather than 1NT for me.

Bad luck IMHO.

[Winstonm]

I don't think a clear-cut error exists - if I were to assign any fault it would be to opener for being timid with the 5-loser hand.

[whereagles]

I think South could have bid game.

He's got no spade wastage, a tenace which rates to make 2 tricks, given RHOs double and some help in pard's 2nd suit.

If this is IMPs, better bid first, ask questions later

[Fluffy]

To Richard: I actually took ♣J9x as a negative factor, a very negative one indeed, probably exagerated.

[hrothgar]

Fluffy, on Jan 5 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

To Richard: I actually took ♣J9x as a negative factor, a very negative one indeed, probably exagerated.

Three small opposite three small is a deadly holding. However, this is a case where partner chose to show a second suit when he probably had another rebid available... I think that J9x is pretty good (all things considered)

It seems strange to kick yourself for the 1♠ bid because it mislead partner, but then not consider what his 2♣ bid implies.

BTW, I think you might have gotten better responses if you had posted your hand in isolation...

[Fluffy]

hrothgar, on Jan 5 2009, 04:06 PM, said:

BTW, I think you might have gotten better responses if you had posted your hand in isolation...

But then all the blames would go to me!!!, I wanted someone to blame my partner .

Actually you are be very right, but didn't know at wich point to put the problem.

[mcphee]

The S hand has no real reason to bid after the t/o dble as they are not forced to reply now. Normally I like to bid in this position and if my S and D were reversed I would bid 1S, but not here. Pass would be my choice leaving me well placed later to make a better decision. So I blame S for getting the ball going the wrong way.

Now lets look at N. This player surely has to take the greatest portion of blame here. 2C/3H what is that all about? I can not come close to thinking N should have this powerful a hand after a limited 2C NF (he was willing to play in 2C), and should have advanced to game, not doing so is losing bridge. This hand has no other viable action, if it goes down 1 so what, no one forced partner to bid and now that they have we do not pussy foot around ASKING their opinion now that we have surivived 2C. I believe I would treat this huge 6/4 playing hand as a game going venture once partner hesitates when they play the pass card!

[whereagles]

mcphee, that is a bit of an optimistic view. What if pard comes up with, say,

KJxx
xx
Qxxx
xxx

Sure, you can say this is a cherry-picked hand, but it's by no means that unusual a hand.

I do agree I also feel an urge to bid 4♥ with North's hand. Just that some of the times I did take the flier, it landed badly. I know it's risky to leave the decision to the weaker hand, but you gotta trust partner a bit this time

[EricK]

I don't like the 1♠ at all. If you do have a 4-4 fit there, they are almost certainly breaking badly with the missing honours misplaced; you give LHO more options (he now has pass and double, as well as all his other options); you mislead partner as to the location of your strength; it's not lead directing. The bid seems all downside with no compensating upside.

[Fluffy]

There is one upside Erick, if you pas it is very hard to define your strenght later. bidding now will make it easy to put you in the 6-9 range.

[mikeh]

I don't mind the 1♠ bid at all... indeed, I think it is the correct call.

Pass will fetch a bid on your left, and now, even if partner takes a call, the chances are that you will never catch up.

1N is ok, except that partner should probably be declarer in that contract.

1♠ is unlikely to catch a raise, and you should be reasonably well positioned after partner's rebid... which will often be 1N.

As it is, I don't think either partner did anything wrong. In particular, I don't see how N could or should do anything differently.. opposite AQxx xx xxxx Jxx, game is not favourite... to give an example clearly consistent with the auction.

Note that this exaample also shows why S has a problem.. how would he know to bid with xxxx xx AQxx Jxx and not AQxx xx xxxx Jxx?

Anyone who claims that either player had a clear 4♥ call sees something I don't.

Sometimes both partners are on maximums for their actions, and the cards mesh better than expected, and the result is (usually) overtricks and a discussion about who was to blame.

[mike777]

Fluffy, on Jan 5 2009, 10:14 AM, said:

x
AQJ10xx
xx
AK108

xxxx
9x
AQxx
J9x

W - N - E - S
ps-1♥-X-1♠
ps-2♣-ps-2♥
ps-3♥-ps-ps
ps


I was south and feel some blame because the 1♠ bid missdirected partner, maybe after 1NT he would bid 4♥ instead of 3?. The hands fit well, but I don't know if this is just a case of bad luck or incorrect bidding.

I thought the bidding was fine until 3h, prefer 4h.

[Deevan]

I don't like the 1S bid either for the simple reason that I like to have some useful lead directing values for 1S bid. I prefer a pass.

Having said that, perhaps, your partner is more familiar with your bidding style. His 2C and then later 3H sounds like asking you to evaluate your S, D and C holdings and make a decision (you have already shown a minimum ... reluctant support in Hs).

Sorry, but I cannot find anything to blame your partner. I would probably bid on with your hand since DK likely onside, no wasted values in Spades, Jxx in clubs is some help.

A subtle point might be, how does one differentiate the quality of 6-4 holdings with your partner. Do you always re-bid the new 4 card suit first; or. do you rebid the Major when you are barest minimum e.g. x,AQJTxx,xx,KJxx!

[skjaeran]

1♠ is OK with me, prefer it over 1NT.

I'd have raised to 4♥ with the south hand. But I agree with Mike that it's not a crystal clear raise.