Another picky moment here. You say that nothing can be done to cope with East having SQxx or similar but imagine East held either of the following:
QJ QJ A10xxxx Qxx or Q10x QJ A10xxx Qxx
In the first case, for whatever reason, he decided to play the Q from QJ alone. I’m not sure I’d open these collections of dog-eared and stained tram tickets but I feel the hot breath of TOCM here – ducking the SQ is highly likely to be right with RHO holding SAQx but….
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieAugust 16th, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Hi again,
Just out of interest, would you open either of the hypothetical hands above? I know it is a bidder’s game but even so….
Iain
Jeff SerandosAugust 16th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
I’m very interested in the answer to that second question. That second hand I don’t think I could talk myself into opening facing a passed partner. The first one…what a headache. I can almost talk myself into downgrading to a 2H opening to get in the way, but I’m not sure I want to give away that much info. Pass and 1H are pretty unappealing too.
Which is why I really want to hear what Bobby has to say. He usually takes these scenarios that just make my head hurt and effortlessly cuts the Gordian knot.
Robert LiptonAugust 16th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
I’d open the third-seat hand 1 diamond, hoping partner doesn’t bid 2 clubs, intending to pass any other response.
Bob Lipton
bobbywolffAugust 16th, 2023 at 10:52 pm
Hi Iain & Jeff,
Iain, if we are friends, and methinks that is a given, I would (should immediately say, of course, and maybe even add, “who wouldn’t”,
but, in truth I would only open those two hands with some kind of preempt but it wouldn’t necessarily be me we are asking, so others might, but I
would not open a normal one bid. However, yes, like always the conditions
present while at the table and who that 3rd seat player is, will have a better
than usual influence on what I may do. Also I as declarer, can study, but 3rd
chair should not, before just playing the queen from Qxx.
bobbywolffAugust 16th, 2023 at 11:04 pm
Hi Bob,
Nothing really wrong about opening either hand, but why wouldn’t you pass 2 clubs? Even faster and happier than any other bid, partner may conjure up.
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Hi Bobby,
Another picky moment here. You say that nothing can be done to cope with East having SQxx or similar but imagine East held either of the following:
QJ QJ A10xxxx Qxx or Q10x QJ A10xxx Qxx
In the first case, for whatever reason, he decided to play the Q from QJ alone. I’m not sure I’d open these collections of dog-eared and stained tram tickets but I feel the hot breath of TOCM here – ducking the SQ is highly likely to be right with RHO holding SAQx but….
Regards,
Iain
Hi again,
Just out of interest, would you open either of the hypothetical hands above? I know it is a bidder’s game but even so….
Iain
I’m very interested in the answer to that second question. That second hand I don’t think I could talk myself into opening facing a passed partner. The first one…what a headache. I can almost talk myself into downgrading to a 2H opening to get in the way, but I’m not sure I want to give away that much info. Pass and 1H are pretty unappealing too.
Which is why I really want to hear what Bobby has to say. He usually takes these scenarios that just make my head hurt and effortlessly cuts the Gordian knot.
I’d open the third-seat hand 1 diamond, hoping partner doesn’t bid 2 clubs, intending to pass any other response.
Bob Lipton
Hi Iain & Jeff,
Iain, if we are friends, and methinks that is a given, I would (should immediately say, of course, and maybe even add, “who wouldn’t”,
but, in truth I would only open those two hands with some kind of preempt but it wouldn’t necessarily be me we are asking, so others might, but I
would not open a normal one bid. However, yes, like always the conditions
present while at the table and who that 3rd seat player is, will have a better
than usual influence on what I may do. Also I as declarer, can study, but 3rd
chair should not, before just playing the queen from Qxx.
Hi Bob,
Nothing really wrong about opening either hand, but why wouldn’t you pass 2 clubs? Even faster and happier than any other bid, partner may conjure up.