South’s opening bid reminded me of a line in Victor Mollo’s _Bridge in the Menagerie_.
There, the author is explaining why the Hideous Hog opened the bidding with the minor suit in which he had no stopper. He said it was a preparatory bid for 3N, to avert a lead in that suit.
He went on to say this was quite usual among hand-hogs, saying something like:
“When Hog cuts Hog [in high stakes rubber bridge], one will snort to the other,’Weaker minor of course.’ “
bobbywolffJune 25th, 2020 at 3:11 pm
Hi Jim2,
Your story confirms how the great Victor Mollo maintained his remarkable consistency in describing his character’s bridge identify.
However, at least to me, it was not so much being a hand hog (although close), but rather an attempt from the very beginning of creating a culture of cunning rather than, at least to him (and I basically agree) which, in effect, had more of a winning style than the seemingly more partner sensible opening of one club.
In truth that creepy, crawly opening bidder traded a more likely wrong opening lead from partner (if such would become the case) for a more confusing assessment to those despicable oppponents , should that opener become the declarer.
And of course, it was then followed up with a bit of characteristic optimism (completing the ruse ) by the decision of rebidding 2NT rather than the expected sane sign-off of 3 diamonds.
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South’s opening bid reminded me of a line in Victor Mollo’s _Bridge in the Menagerie_.
There, the author is explaining why the Hideous Hog opened the bidding with the minor suit in which he had no stopper. He said it was a preparatory bid for 3N, to avert a lead in that suit.
He went on to say this was quite usual among hand-hogs, saying something like:
“When Hog cuts Hog [in high stakes rubber bridge], one will snort to the other,’Weaker minor of course.’ “
Hi Jim2,
Your story confirms how the great Victor Mollo maintained his remarkable consistency in describing his character’s bridge identify.
However, at least to me, it was not so much being a hand hog (although close), but rather an attempt from the very beginning of creating a culture of cunning rather than, at least to him (and I basically agree) which, in effect, had more of a winning style than the seemingly more partner sensible opening of one club.
In truth that creepy, crawly opening bidder traded a more likely wrong opening lead from partner (if such would become the case) for a more confusing assessment to those despicable oppponents , should that opener become the declarer.
And of course, it was then followed up with a bit of characteristic optimism (completing the ruse ) by the decision of rebidding 2NT rather than the expected sane sign-off of 3 diamonds.