Hi Bobby,

Interesting hand but can I ask a question from a much less exalted level (i.e. last night’s club session)? At Game All (Pairs) you hold J10xx AQx Jxxx xx and here 1C on your left (natural, 4 card majors), 1S from partner, 3C inverted. Do you take the push to 3S? The partnership’s overcalling style is forward rather than lemming-like.

Regards,

Iain

Sorry, hear …..

Hi Iain,

Following up with quoting the old “saw”, “All generalizations are false, including this one”, bridge and its forward going history, particularly the practical development of constructive bidding has always preached, when having trump support for partner, please disclose it.

Therefore since my experience seems to strongly support that theory, the answer is definitely “yes”.

There may be three good reasons:

1. By doing so, it seems to make partner happy,

2. When our side has a fit, chances are that so do the opponents, (more room in their hands for longer trumps) allowing them to likely have a better chance to fulfill their future suit contracts.

3. By doing so, it seems to make partner happy.

Since, IMO, at least two out of three of the above reasons apply, yes, even though, “yes” a three level raise is “pushing it”. “bid ’em high and risk sleeping in the streets” is my definite answer.

Besides, if, at least, some of the above is correct, partner may be playing it, and whatever then happens, he will likely not complain.

If only all of bridge were so easy to judge, we would all live happily ever after, but perhaps, if playing for money, slightly poorer.

Hi again Iain,

Undoubtedly the right bid, straight from Stephen Potter (author of “Gamesmanship”, would be two spades only, and then when told “insufficient”, change it to three spades, with no penalty (at least strictly according to the bridge laws) in order to keep partner better informed.

“Only kidding” (required by the food, drug and bridge administration), in order to pass inspection for possible corruption.

Hi Bobby,

Thanks for that. 3S was bid at the table, and found AQ8xx xxx K9x Jx opposite. Both major suit Kings were wrong and it needed a defensive slip to escape for minus 200 – the oppo didn’t manage their potential diamond ruff. I just wondered whether this was bad luck or whether the Cxx should sound warning bells, but I felt 3S was an OK bid with a horrible result.

Regards,

Iain

Hi Iain,

You escaped the most likely terrible board, of down 1, but doubled for the same 200, but that would probably only come to haunt, while playing against top players who were just wed to proper match point tactics.

However, your 4th spade should doubt the above happening (together with likely not playing against such aggressors who have confidence in their defense). True, your holding in their suit Jx is much worse than either 3 or 1 of them.

However, to get a full measure of investigation, you would have to ascertain what defending 3 clubs would have gotten you.

All in all, not a pleasant experience, but when and if the opponents either now bid one too much or relax (which they did, by not doubling) but only defeat you one for your benefit.

Nothing certain, especially in competitive bridge auctions, and I, like you, would have suffered the same fate. One good thing, it toughens one’s resolve to be a competitive opponent, but not without sometimes paying too great a price.

Some would say, “like whistling when walking past a graveyard”

I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering
the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside
case you shield this increase.