[the hog]

This interesting problem happened to a friend of mine on Wednesday. He got it right and went on to win the event:

W N E S
2D (X) P (P)
2H (3N) P (P)
X
all pass

2D is weak 2 in major or 20-22 balanced
P suggested some diamond length and values

You hold

106
J765
J9873
A9

You see in dummy:
---------
J92
A3
Q652
10732


You lead the 5H, AH, 9H, 2H
T2: 2C, 4C, KC, AC

What now?

[Free]

I don't get the problem, it's VERY confusing P opened 2♦ with weak in a Major, and also showed length in ♦ and values? I don't get it...

[the hog]

No Frederick - your pass showed D length and some values.

[Flame]

I would just believe my partner and continue with heart, even the J, why would partner bid 2d with Q10xxx and even if he did ' chances are he wouldnt later take out 2d D to 2h.
Declerer maybe didnt know what to bid and because of my pass on 2d thought his partner would have heart lengh and bid 3nt with a sgl.

[Flame]

OR maybe my partner has 6 card spade and his 2h was a psych

[Cascade]

Looks like a spade switch to me.

[Free]

2♥ looks like a clear psych imo. Switch to ♠10... I think p has something like ♠AKQxxx, so his 2♥ bid is wonderful, since he can always pull to ♠ without much damage.

[guggie]

what carding? if UDCA spade switch is obvious otherwise Mrs. Guggenheim would continue hearts

[the hog]

"I think p has something like ♠AKQxxx"

He does indeed Frederick!

[Poky]

After Dbl, don't leading a ♥ is obligatory, as I play. Partner who wants a ♥ lead wouldn't have doubled.

[inquiry]

Another example where you should give the condition of contest in the puzzle. Is this imps and we vul versus them not? Is this matchpoint, them vul and we not? Also partner played the ♥9 at trick one, udca or standards or o/e? Of course it maybe his only ♥ if he psyced so that is hardly an issue. Anyway, unless RHO is from another planet partner had to have psyced. Now time to guess what to lead. Not a ♦ as your pass showed ♦ and partener would have passed 2♦ out if he had psyced with ♦. Not ♣ cause if partner had ♣ and psyhed, declearer wouldn't be leading them and parnter would probalby have played one other than the 4. So the only suit left is ♠.

Note, you can only use this psyce one or two times before ethically you can't use it anymore.

Ben

[Free]

inquiry, on Jul 23 2004, 01:01 PM, said:

Note, you can only use this psyce one or two times before ethically you can't use it anymore.

Isn't this considered as a controlled psych?? He can always pull if his p goes nuts and bids on in ♥... What if we bid 4♥ based on a 10 card trump? I'm sure he won't pass, but bid 4♠.

[inquiry]

Free, on Jul 23 2004, 08:09 AM, said:

Isn't this considered as a controlled psych??  He can always pull if his p goes nuts and bids on in ♥...  What if we bid 4♥ based on a 10 card trump?  I'm sure he won't pass, but bid 4♠.

No, thiis is not what is meant by a "control psyche". I think what they mean is a "psyche control" as a conventional bid to basically ask your partner if he psyched.

A control psyhe would be something like this.. your partner overcalls 1NT and you have balanced 12 hcp and what looks like a game forcing hand. But you know your partner psyches 1NT overcall on weak hand with long suit, so you play a 2♣ bid you as a question, did you psyche. Partner passes or bids his long suit at the two level, which you pass to show psyche.

Kaplan Sheinwold also use jump shifts as a psyche control if I remember. These are illegal in WBF and ACBL play.

I think it also includes even things like the 1♠ overcall after 1♣ (foring) bid announcing 13 cards, even teh agreement that 1NT overcall is natural of weak with long suit, and the agreement that not vul, 3rd seat always opens, values or not.

Ben

[PriorKnowledge]

When the opps have the hand, psyching a safe, false pre-empt or psyching the opps major after a takeout dbl is so common, it should not prevent any expert or advanced player from finding their fit. It worked here, because they don't have the heart fit.

Since these situations occur on a variety of situations and are opportunistic, it can't be considered a controlled psych or an understanding.

Do some counting here... You have 4h, dummy has 2, declarer has at least 1 and bid NT, so declarer must have more. Either this deck has too many hearts, or partner psyched the 2H and has a spade suit.

Very successful psych.

[pclayton]

With solid spades, why is pard asking for a heart continuation? If the ♥ 9 is discouraging, then a spade shift is the only conclusion here; hopefully pard wouldn't open 2♦ on ♥ Q109xx and then double on a scattered 9 count.

[Cascade]

inquiry, on Jul 24 2004, 12:01 AM, said:

Note, you can only use this psyce one or two times before ethically you can't use it anymore.

This is common sense or general knowledge you ought to be able to do it as often as you like.

I would expect that if I sat down to play for the first time with any competent player that they would at least consider psyching in this situation. I would expect this whether the player was my partner or my opponent. Therefore I do not see how once a player has actually psyched that they would then be not allowed to repeat this psyche.

[Trpltrbl]

Nice 2♥ bid
My pd has ♠, hope it is not to late to switch to ♠.

Mike