On BWTA I think I’d be happier bidding 3C if the singleton K were in H. Still, I’m assuming 2H is 2 over 1 and GF so it is still fair enough as long as partner doesn’t go too far overboard.
Regards,
Iain
A V Ramana RaoJuly 8th, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Hi Dear Mr Wolff
This hand offers many interesting possibilities. On any other lead except spades, declarer has a lock for nine tricks and on spade lead, column line is quite appealing as the spades certainly appear to be doubleton with west and probably he would have led a five card suit unless it is diamonds . Doubledummy, it becomes too simple. Just finesse heart ten at T2 when east returns a heart. But as played, even after club return from east, ten Jack and Q, dummy can cash spade A with south pitching heart. If west too carelessly discards heart, declarer prevails. He comes to hand with club K, cashes hearts discarding spades from dummy and throws west in with diamond and either dummy or declarer win raining tricks. To beat the contract, west must retain heart and discard a minor
But my fundamental doubt is , north heard south open bidding, rebid diamonds which assured atleast a six carded suit, he is seeing K of diamonds in his hand, his spades are missing spot cards: perhaps he must bid five diamonds which is cold even if west finds the doubledummy defense of leading spade and shifting to club after winning trump and continuing club cutting off declarer from dummy if he continues a club which east would ruff but declarer can finesse ten of hearts.
Your opinion please regarding bidding five diamonds vs three NT on this particular hand where there are serious transportation problems
Regards
bobbywolffJuly 8th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
Hi Iain,
As I have implied for years, methinks the difference in bridge effectiveness rests with the answer to your question, the rebid of 2 spades or rather three clubs, though beginning as a misfit, thus a potential overbid.
Perhaps the answer to that question (as is often the case) will depend on the habits (like or dislike) of that choice by your partner.
IOW, if he or she has expressed a view, having to do with either preferring value or rather distribution instead, then, if only for his sake and then valuation, will tend to head in the direction of a better chance for a more accurate final destination.
I, for one (as well as almost everyone), see the merits (and downside) of both actions and thus bid one or the other, but not with any real conviction, as to which is better,
but instead would be more likely to please partner.
Yes, claiming the above is also the best way to not be judged oneself, but much better off to be able to blame partner if results go awry.
Aren’t we devils?
bobbywolffJuly 8th, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Hi AVRR,
No doubt, I could take the long road to dissect the many different bidding sequences which might lead to the final contract, but in all fairness to logic I should be, at least, fair in what I think.
Which is, never in 25 or more tries, would I consider the final contract of 5 diamonds to be the winning destination. IMO, Four spades, 3NT, and even five clubs would be a more likely choice and justly so, since if declarer did not possess either the J, 10, or 9 of diamonds it could be embarrassing to go down 1 or more by losing at least 3, or even more trump tricks and, no tricks on the side.
Even 4 hearts as a final contract could be superior, but in all likelihood that suit might not even be bid, much less, be the declared, trump suit.
Finally, and with apologies to Carol Chaning, “Diamonds are not a guy’s best friend”, even though, as you rightly suggest, the result may not prove it.
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Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
On BWTA I think I’d be happier bidding 3C if the singleton K were in H. Still, I’m assuming 2H is 2 over 1 and GF so it is still fair enough as long as partner doesn’t go too far overboard.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Dear Mr Wolff
This hand offers many interesting possibilities. On any other lead except spades, declarer has a lock for nine tricks and on spade lead, column line is quite appealing as the spades certainly appear to be doubleton with west and probably he would have led a five card suit unless it is diamonds . Doubledummy, it becomes too simple. Just finesse heart ten at T2 when east returns a heart. But as played, even after club return from east, ten Jack and Q, dummy can cash spade A with south pitching heart. If west too carelessly discards heart, declarer prevails. He comes to hand with club K, cashes hearts discarding spades from dummy and throws west in with diamond and either dummy or declarer win raining tricks. To beat the contract, west must retain heart and discard a minor
But my fundamental doubt is , north heard south open bidding, rebid diamonds which assured atleast a six carded suit, he is seeing K of diamonds in his hand, his spades are missing spot cards: perhaps he must bid five diamonds which is cold even if west finds the doubledummy defense of leading spade and shifting to club after winning trump and continuing club cutting off declarer from dummy if he continues a club which east would ruff but declarer can finesse ten of hearts.
Your opinion please regarding bidding five diamonds vs three NT on this particular hand where there are serious transportation problems
Regards
Hi Iain,
As I have implied for years, methinks the difference in bridge effectiveness rests with the answer to your question, the rebid of 2 spades or rather three clubs, though beginning as a misfit, thus a potential overbid.
Perhaps the answer to that question (as is often the case) will depend on the habits (like or dislike) of that choice by your partner.
IOW, if he or she has expressed a view, having to do with either preferring value or rather distribution instead, then, if only for his sake and then valuation, will tend to head in the direction of a better chance for a more accurate final destination.
I, for one (as well as almost everyone), see the merits (and downside) of both actions and thus bid one or the other, but not with any real conviction, as to which is better,
but instead would be more likely to please partner.
Yes, claiming the above is also the best way to not be judged oneself, but much better off to be able to blame partner if results go awry.
Aren’t we devils?
Hi AVRR,
No doubt, I could take the long road to dissect the many different bidding sequences which might lead to the final contract, but in all fairness to logic I should be, at least, fair in what I think.
Which is, never in 25 or more tries, would I consider the final contract of 5 diamonds to be the winning destination. IMO, Four spades, 3NT, and even five clubs would be a more likely choice and justly so, since if declarer did not possess either the J, 10, or 9 of diamonds it could be embarrassing to go down 1 or more by losing at least 3, or even more trump tricks and, no tricks on the side.
Even 4 hearts as a final contract could be superior, but in all likelihood that suit might not even be bid, much less, be the declared, trump suit.
Finally, and with apologies to Carol Chaning, “Diamonds are not a guy’s best friend”, even though, as you rightly suggest, the result may not prove it.