[Walddk]

In another thread it is debated whether a 2NT call by responder over a weak two is a pysche or not (I don't think it is). From an expert game on BBO the other day, Peter Bertheau of Sweden showed what a psyche is.

Scoring: XIMP

---

1♠ pass 2♣! pass
2♠ pass 4♠! all pass

'he he, thx' was what he got from partner Marion Michielsen when he tabled his cards. No comment from E-W. Next case. Just as well that Marion and Peter were not playing in certain BBO tourneys. They would have been barred for life.

Inspiration, imagination, luck (you name it). They got lucky, but as far as I know, there is nothing in the bridge laws that prevents you from being lucky.

Roland

[helene_t]

What happened at the other tables? If Peter starts with 2♠ or 3♠ it will be hard for EW to enter the auction as well, I think.

Of course Whereagles would have solved the problem by overcalling 1NT with the East hand

[Walddk]

helene_t, on Feb 11 2009, 04:08 PM, said:

What happened at the other tables?

http://tinyurl.com/d9jd3r

Only 4 of the 16 players in the North seat opened, so you may call that a psyche too if you like (it's obviously not!).

Roland

[jillybean]

Thanks for posting this Roland, Im used to seeing psyches by 3rd seat openers so this is very interesting. Long live the bridge laws.

[Walddk]

helene_t, on Feb 11 2009, 04:08 PM, said:

If Peter starts with 2♠ or 3♠ it will be hard for EW to enter the auction as well, I think.

I don't think so. Over 2♠ pass pass, East will surely balance with 2NT. Whether that will lead to game or not, I don't know, but West must be tempted with a good hand and fit for both minors.

And no-one would bid 3♠ with a weak hand and only three spades.

Roland

[jtfanclub]

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

And no-one would bid 3♠ with a weak hand and only three spades.

Curious. With one point, white vs. red, and partner opening 2♠, I would have guessed that 3♠ was automatic. Maybe even 4♠.

[jdonn]

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

helene_t, on Feb 11 2009, 04:08 PM, said:

If Peter starts with 2♠ or 3♠ it will be hard for EW to enter the auction as well, I think.

I don't think so. Over 2♠ pass pass, East will surely balance with 2NT.

I don't think it's so sure. He is vul against not, and with Qx of spades. Common logic is it doesn't matter that his hand is good since it usually means his partner is broke. He also has the wrong shape in the minors. I could easily imagine someone passing it out. I mean other than a 15 count it's nothing but negative factors. (Of course having 15 is a very positive factor when partner has 13, but he can't know that!)

[Walddk]

jtfanclub, on Feb 11 2009, 06:11 PM, said:

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

And no-one would bid 3♠ with a weak hand and only three spades.

Curious. With one point, white vs. red, and partner opening 2♠, I would have guessed that 3♠ was automatic. Maybe even 4♠.

True, but this is opposite 1♠ where opener most of the time has five cards. If you volunteer to jump to the 3-level, you want to be sure that you have at least nine trumps between you.

Roland

[Walddk]

jdonn, on Feb 11 2009, 06:41 PM, said:

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

helene_t, on Feb 11 2009, 04:08 PM, said:

If Peter starts with 2♠ or 3♠ it will be hard for EW to enter the auction as well, I think.

I don't think so. Over 2♠ pass pass, East will surely balance with 2NT.

I don't think it's so sure. He is vul against not, and with Qx of spades. Common logic is it doesn't matter that his hand is good since it usually means his partner is broke. He also has the wrong shape in the minors. I could easily imagine someone passing it out. I mean other than a 15 count it's nothing but negative factors. (Of course having 15 is a very positive factor when partner has 13, but he can't know that!)

You may well be right that it's not that obvious for East to balance at these colours. However, that doesn't take anything away from the psychic 2♣ (game-forcing!). It's poetry in motion ... when it works!

Roland

[jdonn]

Yes agreed, I don't take anything away from 2♣. Just that in a sense this hand shows why it is so risky. It's entirely possible that through normal bidding he could have bought the hand in 2♠ anyway, or that at least the opponents wouldn't have found game. So even the 'victory' has not clearly been a gain and may even have been a loss. But of course a potential disaster would be a very clear loss...

[maggieb]

Nice thread, interesting hand and amusing psyche but I do not buy this comment:

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

And no-one would bid 3♠ with a weak hand and only three spades.

With such shape and at these colors, I think 3S is perfectly reasonable.

Quote

If you volunteer to jump to the 3-level, you want to be sure that you have at least nine trumps between you.

I think that preempting with 3721 shape is more attractive than preempting with 4432 shape. The size of our combined fit is important, but it is not everything.

[JLOL]

maggieb, on Feb 11 2009, 12:33 PM, said:

I think that preempting with 3721 shape is more attractive than preempting with 4432 shape. The size of our combined fit is important, but it is not everything.

LOL

[orlam]

At the other table it started P-1N-3H-X-P-3N. This got doubled by North for a heart lead, and LHO redoubled on his extra strength.
South led a heart to North's ace, who returned the 3(!). East cashed diamond A and 3 clubs, then took the diamond finesse into the "safe" North hand (he would make with either ♦Q onside or ♠A with North). -100 at this table didn't win many wins against -2200 at the other table.

[JLOL]

Guys I'll let you in on a secret...sometimes when really good players play on BBO (especially younger ones) they make strange bids and plays because it is fun to do!

[jtfanclub]

Walddk, on Feb 11 2009, 11:54 AM, said:

True, but this is opposite 1♠ where opener most of the time has five cards. If you volunteer to jump to the 3-level, you want to be sure that you have at least nine trumps between you.

Roland

I think I misunderstood a comment in there, sorry. Never mind.