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Nice hand… but where to go?

Just for once your partner seems to have a decent overcall…and your hand is not without merit. Yet, the two hands do not seem to gel very well. What to do next?

 

 

Much of the debate seems to revolve around what shape our partner has, bearing in mind they have both black suits. They have not used 2 Michaels (5 spades and 5+ minor) and are therefore not 5-5 in the black suits. We do have one abstention because East did not double, the bid he and others would make with only 4 clubs:

Stephen Blackstock “East’s auction doesn’t appear to make sense. With 5+-5+ in the blacks, as 3 suggests, why no two-suited overcall? With less shape, why no takeout double of 2? (Even with 5125 and honour x in diamonds, a second-round double is probably better than 3).

 

Unless I have misjudged the situation (perfectly possible of course) you are asking the Panel to guess what East is doing, unassisted by prior actions they can rely upon. I don’t think that is fair.”

 

Agreeing with Stephen about double is:

 

Pam Livingston “3NT: 3 is a free bid and shows a 5- card suit and likely extra values.  With 5224 partner would double rather than bid 3. My club holding is good and I have hearts stopped.”

 

Here’s one interpretation of East’s hand:

Michael Ware “3NT: Partner appears to be 6115 as he/she didn't Michael's or double 2 for take-out (maybe 5215 outside our agreed Michaels range?). We have too much to pass but 5 seems too much with only A and only 3 clubs to take care of all partner's spade losers.”

Yet, others see 3 as only a 4-card suit:

Andy Braithwaite “3NT: Partner’s failure to Michael’s initially suggests 64 or more likely a stronger 54 hand which makes 3NT a viable option- partner's free bid at the 3 level may indicate a partial diamond fit such as Kx. That would give 3NT a real shot so that is my bid.”

 

Nigel Kearney “3NT: Our 2 was constructive but need not be this strong. Partner has bid 3 voluntarily and appears to have only 5-4 shape as Michaels was not used so is likely to have significant extra values. A mediocre 5224 with 12 HCP is unlikely to have bothered introducing the club suit. Even so it's a close decision between pass and 3NT, but we're vul at IMPS and partner will fairly often have either Kx or heart help.”

I would have thought with a decent hand and Kx, our partner might have chosen a 3 ask rather than 3.

Is our heart hold good enough for 3NT? It’s a maybe. We are too strong now to pass. There is still an alternative, whatever it means…

Bruce Anderson “Double: 3NT is the alternative but 9 tricks may be problematic after a heart lead. It could well be partner’s hand was improved by my bidding 2 and we have a diamond fit; partner did not use Michaels, so his shape could be 5134.

 

On the other hand, the fact partner did not bid an immediate 3 but instead bid 3 suggests he/she does not have that hand. It is a close- run thing but I am doubling for penalties, notwithstanding the vulnerability.

The defence could go well if the K is in the South hand. Partner should be good for the 1 overcall and the 3  voluntary bid, meaning it is likely they hold the A. We may get a cross ruff going to declarer’s detriment.”

 

or:

Michael Cornell “Double: in theory for take-out when they have bid and supported their suit.

Would love to hear 3NT but this is unlikely but I will bid 3NT myself over 3 which can surely only be a single stop.

I do not think partner has five clubs (no Michaels?) unless he has six spades so if he is 6-5 he will bid 4 over 3NT and I do not think I have enough to raise.”

 

I like Michael’s “in theory” because I think it rather denies black suit support or long strong diamonds….and that therefore, it is leaning more towards penalising. Penalising 3 (and remember South’s heart support came only because of North’s 2 rebid) was the theoretically correct action though in practice 3NT looked a good shot on the day:

 

 

With no entry to the South hand, against 3x, West can score 2 trump tricks either by ruffing or naturally. Indeed, on J lead, the defence will score A, A, two spade ruffs and two top clubs for +300.

 

 

That’s a good score for East-West if North finds a spade lead to 3NT. That will allow the defence to score 6 tricks. However, if any other suit is led, there will be 10 relatively comfortable tricks for West.

So, how would you interpret 3 and a double of 3? Would you have been writing down +630. Let’s be optimistic!

 

Ukraine Update

On behalf of the Auckland Bridge Club, Anthony Hopkins would like to thank all those who took part in the club’s two fund-raisers about a month ago. The final figure raised for UNICEF was $7,700, a great effort.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

 

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