[matmat]

Playing with a v. good partner in a rather random and small matchpoint field.


1) AKxx Axxx x AK9x (R/W, 1st seat)

1♣ - 1♠
3♦ - 3NT
?

plan?

2) K9 AKT9x AKTxx x (all red, 3rd seat)
1♠ - 2♥
2♠ - 3♦
3NT - ?

3) AQ9x Q x AJTxxxx (R/W second seat)
(1♥) - 2♣ - (2♠) - 3♣
(3♦) - 3♠* - (4♥) - X
(P ) - ?
do you agree with 3♠?
stay or go?

[cherdanno]

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?
2) 4♦. If partner bids 4N over that, he will hopefully make it.

[matmat]

cherdanno, on Aug 11 2009, 02:00 AM, said:

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?

b/c you hadn't discussed two tier splinters, and you're me, which is to say, you're not that good at this game.

[Elianna]

cherdanno, on Aug 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?

Because you splintered with 3♦ instead?

[shevek]

1) Is it possible to pass 3NT? That would be a deep gamble. Perhaps 3NT is some sort of waiting bid, hoping you can cue 4♣ so I'll do that.

2) Can't pass since it's easy to construct hands where 6♠ is cold.
4♠ might convey this, since GF hands with 3 spades would bid 4♠ or 4♣/♦ splinter last time.

3) Pass. 3♠ is fine as a game try with something in spades. I hope partner isn't the sort to say "I had to double 4♥ to stop you bidding 5♣."

[pooltuna]

matmat, on Aug 11 2009, 01:57 AM, said:

Playing with a v. good partner in a rather random and small matchpoint field.


1) AKxx Axxx x AK9x (R/W, 1st seat)

1♣ - 1♠
3♦ - 3NT
?

plan?

2) K9 AKT9x AKTxx x (all red, 3rd seat)
1♠ - 2♥
2♠ - 3♦
3NT - ?

3) AQ9x Q x AJTxxxx (R/W second seat)
(1♥) - 2♣ - (2♠) - 3♣
(3♦) - 3♠* - (4♥) - X
(P ) - ?
do you agree with 3♠?
stay or go?

1) no special agreements on 3NT to me means serious ♦ wastage so I will pass and let him try to make it

2) does 2♠ show a minimum? If it tends to show 6 I like 4♠ in this auction to show this amount of xtras

3)3♠ is no problem as I would rather play 3NT. Over 4♥ I bid 5♣ in tempo at these colors

[pooltuna]

cherdanno, on Aug 11 2009, 02:00 AM, said:

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?
2) 4♦. If partner bids 4N over that, he will hopefully make it.

1) You did splinter unless you are one of the players that uses 3♦ as a bigger reverse than 2♦

[matmat]

Quote

1) AKxx Axxx x AK9x (R/W, 1st seat)

1♣ - 1♠
3♦ - 3NT
?

plan?

I thought 3♦ was a splinter here, but am not entirely sure as to what strength it promises vs. 4♦
I ended up overbidding this one. P held something like QJxx Qxx AQxx xx and struggled in 6♠, off one. there is a line to make, but afaik, antipercentage.

Quote

2) K9 AKT9x AKTxx x (all red, 3rd seat)
1♠ - 2♥
2♠ - 3♦
3NT - ?

2♠ did not show a sixth card here, or at least not to my knowledge -- wasn't discussed.

I tanked and passed here. If this hand makes any slam tries, p will politely decline them and proceed to make 12 tricks. Mainly wondering which slam invite ppl would use, the only one i really considered here was 4N

Quote

3) AQ9x Q x AJTxxxx (R/W second seat)
(1♥) - 2♣ - (2♠) - 3♣
(3♦) - 3♠* - (4♥) - X
(P ) - ?
do you agree with 3♠?
stay or go?

again tanked for a bit and pulled to 5♣. I think I probably should sit with the ♥Q. otoh, it was a little lucky that the ♣A cashes on defence, given p has 4 clubs in support.

[Phil]

1. Strongly agree with Arend about 4♦. If I start with 3♦, and then cue bid, I imply a much stronger hand. Now I will bid 4♠. Partner heard my 3♦, so I am being warned about weak trump and serious diamond duplication. While I like my sharp cards for 4♠, I am really more worried about hearts in 3N. Woudn't he bid like this with: Jxxx, xx, KJTxx, Qx? Granted, no game is a bargain, but 3N looks hopeless. 4♠ at least has chances.

2. 4♠. 3♦ strongly implies a 5-5. Since I've already denied holding 3♠, 4♠ has to be forward going.

3. Pass and I'm holding my breath. 3♠ is just too subtle for me and I prefer 4♣. Partner is marked with secondary red cards, I think we'll nip this a trick, possibly two. I hope to cash the ♠A, a trump, a club, and a slow diamond, or maybe a 2nd club if declarer chooses to pitch on the 2nd (after we cash our spade).

This post has been edited by Phil: 2009-August-11, 10:09

[Jlall]

matmat, on hand 2 you should bid 4D. Your hand is very good, definitely worth a slam try, and the most natural one is 4D to show 5-5 and see what happens.

edit: IMO

[Fluffy]

1. IMO 4♦ was the right bid, I don't knwo what 3♦ was suposed to show, but given I tried it I might as well try to grab all thos ematchpoints by passing now.

4441 tends to make 1 trick less than 5431 at the 4-4 fit, maybe those 4th cards turn useful in NT.

2. This is really tough, if you have a fit or partner's spades are good you might have a cheesy easy slam.

However some ugly missfitting thing suck as Qxxxx xx J AKJxx will have to fight his way to 9 tricks.

I have no clue what its best, pass today, but tomorrow I might say the contrary.


3. Disagree with 3 spades, we ain't strong enough for that, 4 or 5 clubs better.

I am stuck to pass now hoping ♥Q is the key.

[aguahombre]

A different view on #1:

Some people believe that a direct splinter, like 3D here, should be limited to a hand which just evaluates to game --not showing extras (AJXX AXXX X AKXX).

With the actual hand, they would reverse to 2H, then jump in Spades --again showing the diamond shortness but stronger.

Adherents of the old Hardy style would not have 4D available. It would show a non-serious 4-6 (AJXX X XX AKQXXX or reverse reds, or instance). A Jump Rebid of 4C would then show a serious 4-6 (AQXX A XX AKQJXX).

These agreements obviously require prior discussion, but the concept of a splinter denying extras and bidding around the shortness showing more is a good default in my opinion.

[cherdanno]

Elianna, on Aug 11 2009, 02:23 AM, said:

cherdanno, on Aug 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?

Because you splintered with 3♦ instead?

Thanks that clears it up.

[matmat]

cherdanno, on Aug 11 2009, 12:13 PM, said:

Elianna, on Aug 11 2009, 02:23 AM, said:

cherdanno, on Aug 10 2009, 11:00 PM, said:

1) Abstain, why didnt i splinter with 4♦?

Because you splintered with 3♦ instead?

Thanks that clears it up.

that's almost as bad as reading my posts

[awm]

On the first hand, I agreed with cuebidding over 3NT. The 3♦ bid was not necessarily forcing to game, and partner indicated an accept of the game try (while also advertising some diamond wastage). I would not move past 4♠ on my own, but I believe cuebidding is right because you have more than you promised, your hand indicates that 4♠ is likely to be a better game than 3NT regardless (i.e. you have many controls and the trump honors partner is missing), and you can still stop in 4♠ quite easily if partner has some lousy hand like the one Phil posted (although honestly I would bid 3♠ on that hand, declining the game invite).

In fact I was at the table when this hand was played, and did not really agree with your partner's line. He had the ♦J as well by the way for ♠QJxx ♥Qxx ♦AQJx ♣Jx. You have 31 highs and a 4-4 fit, and every first round control and all the trump honors, so it is hardly embarrassing to land in slam. It seemed like your partner decided fairly early in the hand that hearts were 3-3 (they weren't) or something of that sort. The making line is not really double-dummy once you accept that you essentially need the diamond finesse to make the hand after trick one.

I think you owe partner one more try on hand two. I rather like 4♠, which should show honor doubleton (you could've raised spades earlier after all) and extra values. Partner could easily have six spades on this auction (although 2♠ certainly doesn't guarantee it). No real problem with 4♦ either (showing the 5-5).

On the third hand, pass seems like a standout choice.

[Elianna]

matmat, on Aug 11 2009, 07:57 AM, said:

Quote

1) AKxx Axxx x AK9x (R/W, 1st seat)

1♣ - 1♠
3♦ - 3NT
?

plan?

I thought 3♦ was a splinter here, but am not entirely sure as to what strength it promises vs. 4♦
I ended up overbidding this one. P held something like QJxx Qxx AQxx xx and struggled in 6♠, off one. there is a line to make, but afaik, antipercentage.

I thought that your partner was down 3.

[matmat]

Elianna, on Aug 11 2009, 01:40 PM, said:

matmat, on Aug 11 2009, 07:57 AM, said:

Quote

1) AKxx Axxx x AK9x (R/W, 1st seat)

1♣ - 1♠
3♦ - 3NT
?

plan?

I thought 3♦ was a splinter here, but am not entirely sure as to what strength it promises vs. 4♦
I ended up overbidding this one. P held something like QJxx Qxx AQxx xx and struggled in 6♠, off one. there is a line to make, but afaik, antipercentage.

I thought that your partner was down 3.

i meant he went down 1 in 4♠

[Jlall]

I do not think 4S shows slam interest after 3N, and would be a normal bid without a red king (on the second hand).

[nigel_k]

1. 4♣. Pass could well be best but is too much of a position at pairs. I would not have bid 3NT on partner's actual hand.

2. 4♣. Pass 4NT or 4♥ and raise 4♦ or 4♠. Could get us too high but nothing else really fits.

3. Pass. 3♠ is ok though really we're halfway between 4♣ and 5♣ and probably should have guessed one of those. Partner will be expecting a different hand from us when he doubled but we do have decent defence. Ready to apologise if 5♣ makes and the penalty is inadequate.

[JanM]

On hand 1, I would have bid 3♦ showing a splinter, 4 spades and a raise to 3 or 4 (for me, 4♦ would be a void). But after the 3♦ bid I'd be on sounder ground that you were, since partner's bids are defined: 3♠ says "if you have a raise to 3, I don't want to be in game;" 3NT says "I have a slam try opposite a raise to 4;" a cue bid says "I have a slam try opposite a raise to 3;" and 4♠ says "if you have a raise to 3, I accept but am not interested in slam." I think that with your partner's hand I'd bid 4♠, but I guess that depends on how sound the raise to 3 is - certainly the QJ of diamonds are wasted values, and the major suit quacks are soft, so if someone suggested I should bid only 3♠ I wouldn't argue. Obviously, your partner didn't intend to make a slam try, but was trying to play 3NT opposite the diamond splinter. It doesn't bother me (at all) not to be able to play 3NT when we have a 4-4 Major suit fit and one hand has a splinter, so that isn't a meaning I'd ascribe to 3NT (although when the opponents DBL the splinter, 3NT is to play, but in that situation you know where the honors in the splinter suit are). By the way, I'd have thought that most people would have agreements about this auction - it's a fairly common one and one where a lot of IMPs can be won and lost.

On hand 2, I started thinking I'd bid 4♠ which should show a doubleton spade honor, but Justin has convinced me that it doesn't show this good a hand, so I think I'd bid 4♦ and hope to be able to get to spades later if it's right. If partner bids 4♠ (which I think is a suggestion of a place to play), for instance, I can raise to 5 and have shown both my strength and shape.

Hand 3 feels too off-shape to sit and I'd bid 5♣, knowing that on some hands it will be wrong. But I'm a terrible matchpoint player