Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 7th, 2022


2 Comments

Iain ClimieJune 21st, 2022 at 10:55 am

HI Bobby,

Presumably with 1 King or even none (e.g. Axxx x QJ AQJ10xx) South bids 6S with the agreement you describe. MInd you that very, very carefully chosen hand simply shows that you can’t bid all the good slams that are out there and is an example of Bob Hamman’s comment about partner not having the perfect cards you want.

Regards,

Iain

bobbywolffJune 21st, 2022 at 2:37 pm

Hi Iain,

Yes, and the overall arrangement is, as you suggested, subject to judgment as to specific fulfillment of king showing obligation with hands to which have been overbid to that point.

In other words, not scientifically perfect, but in essence many conventions and/or techniques in bridge bidding do, if not should, cater to the lack of attempted perfection in attempting to over describe specific features, due to lack of enough room.

Leading to what Bob’s definition of a good slam was always one that makes, rather than the percentage it was to so do, an emotion we were both privy to (and believed), during our 26 year partnership.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is headed to a lifetime of many disappointments and that overall thought carries over to other areas in bridge bidding not often enough discussed.

IOW, bashing to a slam or, at the very least, just bidding it, especially when the opponents may have what they regard, as a good sacrifice available, may, in fact, enlist their faulty judgment as a good enough reason for chancing it.