After the last two worrisome days, I feel enthusiastic enough to start the bridge discussion, albeit with an enigma.
If, in fact, West chooses to bid 3 hearts immediately over the weak two spade bid, he will deprive North of communicating more information about his normally competitive, not invitational bid of only 3 spades, not 4, with double by North of 3 hearts then played by most as penalty (also preferred by me).
However, bridge being the game that it is, perhaps would still not keep South from eventually, if not sooner, take the push to a spade game, which, as we have seen and read, will either make or it won’t, depending on the defense.
All in a days Nirvana, while, of course, playing bridge.
Patrick CheuAugust 20th, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Hi Bobby, Is there a case for 3H with the West hand? Wonder how the bidding went at the other table..Four hearts is a make here for EW even on a singleton diamond lead. Yet 4S can go either way..depending on West’s play at trick 2..Regards Patrick
Bobby WolffAugust 20th, 2021 at 9:42 pm
Hi Patrick,
Yes both major suit games offer interesting discussions with 4 hearts, but not 4 spades cold.
However, and while at the table, it is better for NS to at least attempt 4 spades, since down one doubled is still far superior to -620.
No doubt, while during the bidding, it becomes next to impossible to forecast the result, but a general rule of thumb when faced with a choice, is to bid one more for the road, not only to achieve a par result, but, just as often, to give the opponents the right to make the final
mistake.
Of course, that thought isn’t always apparent, since possibly your partnership’s bid will become that victim.
Iain ClimieAugust 20th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
Hi Bobby,
Shouldn’t East hit 3H? Makes life easier if West has (say) H KJ10x(x) or similar and a tricky lead choice.
Regards
Iain
Patrick CheuAugust 20th, 2021 at 10:21 pm
Hi Iain,Think you are following a similar path to say if partner overcalls 2H and RHO bids 3H DBL by you shows one of the top 3 honours in hearts…Regards Patrick
Bobby WolffAugust 20th, 2021 at 11:52 pm
Hi Iain & Patrick,
Yes Iain, East should definitely double 3 hearts for, at least, lead purposes, but also, if discussed (should be with now, at least with the so-called high level game) but then it needs to be determined, whether that double is also a substitute for a 3 heart raise, which now, and of course, would be insufficient, but what to do with only Ax or Kx? I know, “a slow pass” might be enough, but give me a break.
On the surface, an advantage to have an extra spur in a bridge partnership’s quiver, but, by doing so, that pair needs to show an overall plus advantage, and, at this point in time, I seriously doubt that it has proven its positive worth, yes and/or, with little doubt. Good looking girl but…….
Patrick, you are referring strictly to lead directing, and, of course, that becomes the debate.
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Bridge-related
Hi Everyone,
After the last two worrisome days, I feel enthusiastic enough to start the bridge discussion, albeit with an enigma.
If, in fact, West chooses to bid 3 hearts immediately over the weak two spade bid, he will deprive North of communicating more information about his normally competitive, not invitational bid of only 3 spades, not 4, with double by North of 3 hearts then played by most as penalty (also preferred by me).
However, bridge being the game that it is, perhaps would still not keep South from eventually, if not sooner, take the push to a spade game, which, as we have seen and read, will either make or it won’t, depending on the defense.
All in a days Nirvana, while, of course, playing bridge.
Hi Bobby, Is there a case for 3H with the West hand? Wonder how the bidding went at the other table..Four hearts is a make here for EW even on a singleton diamond lead. Yet 4S can go either way..depending on West’s play at trick 2..Regards Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Yes both major suit games offer interesting discussions with 4 hearts, but not 4 spades cold.
However, and while at the table, it is better for NS to at least attempt 4 spades, since down one doubled is still far superior to -620.
No doubt, while during the bidding, it becomes next to impossible to forecast the result, but a general rule of thumb when faced with a choice, is to bid one more for the road, not only to achieve a par result, but, just as often, to give the opponents the right to make the final
mistake.
Of course, that thought isn’t always apparent, since possibly your partnership’s bid will become that victim.
Hi Bobby,
Shouldn’t East hit 3H? Makes life easier if West has (say) H KJ10x(x) or similar and a tricky lead choice.
Regards
Iain
Hi Iain,Think you are following a similar path to say if partner overcalls 2H and RHO bids 3H DBL by you shows one of the top 3 honours in hearts…Regards Patrick
Hi Iain & Patrick,
Yes Iain, East should definitely double 3 hearts for, at least, lead purposes, but also, if discussed (should be with now, at least with the so-called high level game) but then it needs to be determined, whether that double is also a substitute for a 3 heart raise, which now, and of course, would be insufficient, but what to do with only Ax or Kx? I know, “a slow pass” might be enough, but give me a break.
On the surface, an advantage to have an extra spur in a bridge partnership’s quiver, but, by doing so, that pair needs to show an overall plus advantage, and, at this point in time, I seriously doubt that it has proven its positive worth, yes and/or, with little doubt. Good looking girl but…….
Patrick, you are referring strictly to lead directing, and, of course, that becomes the debate.