I normally play a 12-14 NT and I have to say the South hand with no intermediates and a doubleton CQ is such a pile of rubbish that I’d downgrade it. Give me the C10 and D9 or 10 and I might thing differently, but it is a truly vile 15 count.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffSeptember 30th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes and no doubt I agree with your analysis and mourn the lack of pushy medium cards (10s and or 9s as you suggest, which without holding, too often prevent a making contract to appear. No doubt right on target, except for one feature.
At the other table in a teams game, your seat is likely (due to want to be declarer or whatever other reason his choice dictated) to open the overbid (l NT). This, in return
may have a large effect at either arriving at the normal prosaic contract others will
reach and that is IMO, a No No, in your quest to win at bridge (rubber or team, although worse at team). One less than perfect holding should almost never cause a major
crises in deciding one’s opening gambit. One other smaller, but still important side advantage might be, that a fast sequence, with no suits mentioned, often has an unseen advantage with first, the opening lead by those concerning opponents.
Perhaps it is a battle between vile and guile.
Otherwise, Mrs. Lincoln, “How did you enjoy the play?”
At least, my opinion and yes, I am a hand hog, but, in this case, the above serves as
my excuse for overruling your wise advice. And now I’ll await a counter argument.
Iain ClimieSeptember 30th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Hi Bobby,
Many tanks for that and the lure of the vulnerable game is always there – gaining 10 IMPs vs losing 6, assuming 3N only goes 1 off. 7 IMPS if +90 and +290 though…
If needing a swing in a match where you’re behind it is maybe worth a shot while I would certainly be cautious at pairs. There again 3N is the contract most often let through and there is always the temptation against weaker opposition to push things a bit even at pairs. At BAM, though, I suspect pairs advice applies – bidding 40 to 45% games loses more often than it gains if the oppo are cautious.
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HI Bobby,
I normally play a 12-14 NT and I have to say the South hand with no intermediates and a doubleton CQ is such a pile of rubbish that I’d downgrade it. Give me the C10 and D9 or 10 and I might thing differently, but it is a truly vile 15 count.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Yes and no doubt I agree with your analysis and mourn the lack of pushy medium cards (10s and or 9s as you suggest, which without holding, too often prevent a making contract to appear. No doubt right on target, except for one feature.
At the other table in a teams game, your seat is likely (due to want to be declarer or whatever other reason his choice dictated) to open the overbid (l NT). This, in return
may have a large effect at either arriving at the normal prosaic contract others will
reach and that is IMO, a No No, in your quest to win at bridge (rubber or team, although worse at team). One less than perfect holding should almost never cause a major
crises in deciding one’s opening gambit. One other smaller, but still important side advantage might be, that a fast sequence, with no suits mentioned, often has an unseen advantage with first, the opening lead by those concerning opponents.
Perhaps it is a battle between vile and guile.
Otherwise, Mrs. Lincoln, “How did you enjoy the play?”
At least, my opinion and yes, I am a hand hog, but, in this case, the above serves as
my excuse for overruling your wise advice. And now I’ll await a counter argument.
Hi Bobby,
Many tanks for that and the lure of the vulnerable game is always there – gaining 10 IMPs vs losing 6, assuming 3N only goes 1 off. 7 IMPS if +90 and +290 though…
If needing a swing in a match where you’re behind it is maybe worth a shot while I would certainly be cautious at pairs. There again 3N is the contract most often let through and there is always the temptation against weaker opposition to push things a bit even at pairs. At BAM, though, I suspect pairs advice applies – bidding 40 to 45% games loses more often than it gains if the oppo are cautious.
regards,
Iain.