On BWTA, any case for double, moving 4C to 4D and 5C to 5D? If partner passes with a trump trick, scattered values and his assets include DKxx(x) this might misfire of course but Ron Klinger’s advice here may help i.e. “Take Out Take Out doubles”.
If South passes 3N, what would East lead? a club works if West switches to a spade, a spade won’t happen but East may be tempted to try a heart through dummy’s 2nd suit. That could work but not today! Reminds me of a bidding / lead problem:
You hold Sxxxx HNone D10xxx CJxxxx as West at IMPs, favourable vulnerability. South opens 1D, North bids 1H, South rebids 1N raised to 3 which partner doubles unconditionally demanding a heart lead. South promptly redoubles and attempts to borrow a heart from another pack fail. Now what?
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJuly 21st, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Hi Iain,
Despite Ron Klinger’s preference for TO doubles, the 5-6 nature of the hand will always be doubted by partner if one (usually the longer one, but this likely being a valid exception) is not chosen.
At least to me, and with the column hand, East should have doubled 1 spade, since it could easily have been a psychic, once partner doubled the opening bid of one diamond. If he doesn’t and later bids spades, it will sound like a cue bid, rather than natural. I also think that East should lead a spade vs. any NT contract by North and to not is paying too much attention to one’s ears, rather than eyes.
Regarding your opening lead problem, if I was on lead with the hand you gave, my first choice would ask to be excused, but instead of heading for the bath room would instead seek the safety of the front door and keep on walking. If that would cause me to pay thousands of dollars instead, I would bite my teeth and lead my 4th best club, but first pretending that it was my partner’s lead and not making any lead instead of consenting to do so and calling myself a conscientious objector.
Instead of the above I would like to improve my mood to tell you that my dog of 22 years has just died (In truth, I, sadly do not own one, but if I did, even that news might rival the opening leader’s chagrin).
Live and learn, but in this case, try to live, but instead just DIE!
Iain ClimieJuly 21st, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Hi Bobby,
The path of least carnage on the lead problem was actually to bid 4H(!) as partner had HKQJ109x and an Ace, so you get out for a nice cheap 4 off doubled NV. I approve of your creative attempts to find other solutions though.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
HI Bobby,
On BWTA, any case for double, moving 4C to 4D and 5C to 5D? If partner passes with a trump trick, scattered values and his assets include DKxx(x) this might misfire of course but Ron Klinger’s advice here may help i.e. “Take Out Take Out doubles”.
If South passes 3N, what would East lead? a club works if West switches to a spade, a spade won’t happen but East may be tempted to try a heart through dummy’s 2nd suit. That could work but not today! Reminds me of a bidding / lead problem:
You hold Sxxxx HNone D10xxx CJxxxx as West at IMPs, favourable vulnerability. South opens 1D, North bids 1H, South rebids 1N raised to 3 which partner doubles unconditionally demanding a heart lead. South promptly redoubles and attempts to borrow a heart from another pack fail. Now what?
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Despite Ron Klinger’s preference for TO doubles, the 5-6 nature of the hand will always be doubted by partner if one (usually the longer one, but this likely being a valid exception) is not chosen.
At least to me, and with the column hand, East should have doubled 1 spade, since it could easily have been a psychic, once partner doubled the opening bid of one diamond. If he doesn’t and later bids spades, it will sound like a cue bid, rather than natural. I also think that East should lead a spade vs. any NT contract by North and to not is paying too much attention to one’s ears, rather than eyes.
Regarding your opening lead problem, if I was on lead with the hand you gave, my first choice would ask to be excused, but instead of heading for the bath room would instead seek the safety of the front door and keep on walking. If that would cause me to pay thousands of dollars instead, I would bite my teeth and lead my 4th best club, but first pretending that it was my partner’s lead and not making any lead instead of consenting to do so and calling myself a conscientious objector.
Instead of the above I would like to improve my mood to tell you that my dog of 22 years has just died (In truth, I, sadly do not own one, but if I did, even that news might rival the opening leader’s chagrin).
Live and learn, but in this case, try to live, but instead just DIE!
Hi Bobby,
The path of least carnage on the lead problem was actually to bid 4H(!) as partner had HKQJ109x and an Ace, so you get out for a nice cheap 4 off doubled NV. I approve of your creative attempts to find other solutions though.
Regards,
Iain