NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/games/bridge/7559

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-26 | 3.2 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!nic.umass.edu!m2c!jjmhome!smds!rh
From: [e-mail] (Richard Harter)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: bidding after a t/o double
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 26 Jan 93 05:37:42 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Richard Harter)
Organization: Software Maintenance & Development Systems, Inc.
Lines: 56

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Robert D. Silverman) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Richard Harter) writes:
>
>stuff deleted...
>
>>move.  Do you disagree that Qxxxx or better in partner's hand is an
>>odds on slam?  If you do agree, do you expect partner to bid over

>Yes I disagree. You have an absolute diamond loser and must still
>take finesses in TWO suits. You need TWO entries to your hand.
>The fact that the opponents did not rebid and that the 4th hand
>did not raise spades makes it likely that partner has spade length.
>It is also likely that he has wastage in diamonds, given that the
>opponents have not bid them despite having at least 9 diamonds
>between them. You have given partner a hand that makes slam AT BEST
>on a finesse. I don't want to be there.

It's not that simple -- if we assume that KC is on the right and that
you can bring in the clubs you don't need the spade finesse.  I count
5 clubs, 5 hearts, one spade, and one diamond ruff.  Alternately, if
hearts split 2-2, 4 clubs and two diamond ruffs.  The catch is that
if hearts split 3-1 partner only has one entry with C xxx.  [If the
hearts are 4-0, the hand presumably doesn't make and the chance of
this is not negligible.]  Now I would rate the finesse as about a
2-1 shot.  Offset against this is the possibility of entry problems.
Offset against that is the possibility that partner has six hearts,
not five [on the bidding 2H-2S-3H].

There is also the possibility that partner has the KC, although I
agree that partners honors, if he has any, are more likely to be in
diamonds.  In short, I assess this as being better than a 50-50 shot
at slam *if partner rebids hearts*.  Granting that it is, it doesn't
follow that one should bid it -- that depends on the scoring.  In a
pairs event I would think not; in rubber bridge it would.


>>2H-4H?  If not, do you feel that this is a slam "well worth missing"?

>Yes. Even if it makes, I feel this is a slam well worth missing.
>Consider that while you may miss a slam, you may also find that 4H
>is the limit of the hand should partner have, for example:

>xxxx
>Jxxx
>KQx
>xx

You misaprehend.  I was referring to hands where partner rebids hearts.
If one raises to 4H directly, you foreclose the possibility of partner
giving you that information.  On this type of hand, with a 2S bid, the
bidding goes 2H-2S-2NT-4H and that is the end of the matter.
--
Richard Harter: SMDS Inc.  Net address: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]
US Mail: SMDS Inc., PO Box 555, Concord MA 01742.    Fax: [phone]
In the fields of Hell where the grass grows high
Are the graves of dreams allowed to die.