I am sure glad the hand got bid out the way it did as it allowed South to show great technique. 6H (from either side) is, of course, much easier and would not be worth a column; however, I wonder if there was a way to get there.
A couple of questions. If West does not interfere with the lead-directing 3D bid, would N-S most likely arrive in 6H after something 3C, 3S, 4H? Second, after West interferes a 2nd time indicating that he very likely has 12 minor suit cards and North makes that very welcome 4D bid, is there any reasonable way to get there via a 5D cue bid or even a 5H pick-a-slam bid? Or is 6S just too much a standout at that point?
Thanks!
Jeff
Iain ClimieJune 11th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Hi Jeff,
6H by North walks into a spade ruff at T1 though – unfair but perhaps not a total surprise.
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieJune 11th, 2024 at 8:38 am
On the other hand, 6N makes as long as you play for H3-1….
Iain
Jeff SerandosJune 11th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Hi Iain,
Oh, good point! So, it would have to be from the South side.
Jeff
Iain ClimieJune 11th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Hi Jeff,
Mind you, if West Lightner doubles 6H North may run to 6N. If West doesn’t double, East may not lead a spade as West “can’t” have a void. You may still be home and dry here in practice and I’d definitely want to be in 6H looking at the NS hands alone even if West dives in.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJune 11th, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Hi Jeff & Iain
Obviously we used this hand or should we say, this selection of 52 cards, to please all the bridge players who adore great adventure. At least to me, talk about reaching other contracts is valuable, but no one of us can even, while being either North or South, make any case for having any idea (during the bidding) of what may be in store with the play.
We all (at least in this case) know that 4-4 fits may be necessary to play as trump, when suits break evenly, allowing discards on the uneven (by the declaring side) but long enough side suits to bring home the bacon or at least produce the chance for the contract trick.
Therein, to go as far as being able to establish that need, or even providing for it being
visible (on this hand) during the bidding is, well nigh impossible, at least to be said, except
by bridge players who exhibit an overactive imagination.
Not that it shouldn’t be discussed, but I hope none of our kibitzers take us seriously about others who can actually beard that lion, on the way to never, never, land.
However, it does prove that our great game is quite varied in finding different and exciting other subjects rarely available to which, taken seriously, is why we play it to start with.
Jeff SerandosJune 11th, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Hi Bobby,
How about my first question. In the absence of interference from West, should N-S arrive at 6H on their own steam or are they bound for 6S in any case?
All said though, I am sure glad they DIDN’T get land there. I love hands like this with the 4-4 split running into 5-0 and somehow still landing the slam by forcing the enemy to helplessly underruff. I don’t want to lose sight of that in my meanderings about alternate contracts.
Jeff
bobbywolffJune 11th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Hi everyone,
A good bidding problem to which this hand is tied, might be a wish to one’s biggest enemy is to have North sitting with: s, Q1086432 h.KJ9753 d.void, c.void and have partner (South) bid 4NT over the opponents 1 spade opening and hearing West double.
Iain ClimieJune 12th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Hi Bobby,
The double on that nightmare hand gets you off the hook – partner bid it, he can pick (or you could redouble I suppose, showing equal length – or lack thereof, in the minors). Without the double, if NV, I might pass on the basis that 8 or 9 off will be relatively cheap. Opener hits it now of course, maybe partner redoubles now and I get the coin out – better to blame capricious fate (and go back to ancient Greek myths as my defence) than make a decision myself?
Did you have anyone in mind as such an enemy? Putin springs to mind at present (I’m in the UK though not Ukraine) but I’m sure there are certain public figures in the US who would get some votes.
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Hi Bobby,
I am sure glad the hand got bid out the way it did as it allowed South to show great technique. 6H (from either side) is, of course, much easier and would not be worth a column; however, I wonder if there was a way to get there.
A couple of questions. If West does not interfere with the lead-directing 3D bid, would N-S most likely arrive in 6H after something 3C, 3S, 4H? Second, after West interferes a 2nd time indicating that he very likely has 12 minor suit cards and North makes that very welcome 4D bid, is there any reasonable way to get there via a 5D cue bid or even a 5H pick-a-slam bid? Or is 6S just too much a standout at that point?
Thanks!
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
6H by North walks into a spade ruff at T1 though – unfair but perhaps not a total surprise.
Regards,
Iain
On the other hand, 6N makes as long as you play for H3-1….
Iain
Hi Iain,
Oh, good point! So, it would have to be from the South side.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Mind you, if West Lightner doubles 6H North may run to 6N. If West doesn’t double, East may not lead a spade as West “can’t” have a void. You may still be home and dry here in practice and I’d definitely want to be in 6H looking at the NS hands alone even if West dives in.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Jeff & Iain
Obviously we used this hand or should we say, this selection of 52 cards, to please all the bridge players who adore great adventure. At least to me, talk about reaching other contracts is valuable, but no one of us can even, while being either North or South, make any case for having any idea (during the bidding) of what may be in store with the play.
We all (at least in this case) know that 4-4 fits may be necessary to play as trump, when suits break evenly, allowing discards on the uneven (by the declaring side) but long enough side suits to bring home the bacon or at least produce the chance for the contract trick.
Therein, to go as far as being able to establish that need, or even providing for it being
visible (on this hand) during the bidding is, well nigh impossible, at least to be said, except
by bridge players who exhibit an overactive imagination.
Not that it shouldn’t be discussed, but I hope none of our kibitzers take us seriously about others who can actually beard that lion, on the way to never, never, land.
However, it does prove that our great game is quite varied in finding different and exciting other subjects rarely available to which, taken seriously, is why we play it to start with.
Hi Bobby,
How about my first question. In the absence of interference from West, should N-S arrive at 6H on their own steam or are they bound for 6S in any case?
All said though, I am sure glad they DIDN’T get land there. I love hands like this with the 4-4 split running into 5-0 and somehow still landing the slam by forcing the enemy to helplessly underruff. I don’t want to lose sight of that in my meanderings about alternate contracts.
Jeff
Hi everyone,
A good bidding problem to which this hand is tied, might be a wish to one’s biggest enemy is to have North sitting with: s, Q1086432 h.KJ9753 d.void, c.void and have partner (South) bid 4NT over the opponents 1 spade opening and hearing West double.
Hi Bobby,
The double on that nightmare hand gets you off the hook – partner bid it, he can pick (or you could redouble I suppose, showing equal length – or lack thereof, in the minors). Without the double, if NV, I might pass on the basis that 8 or 9 off will be relatively cheap. Opener hits it now of course, maybe partner redoubles now and I get the coin out – better to blame capricious fate (and go back to ancient Greek myths as my defence) than make a decision myself?
Did you have anyone in mind as such an enemy? Putin springs to mind at present (I’m in the UK though not Ukraine) but I’m sure there are certain public figures in the US who would get some votes.
Regards,
Iain