The Cherry Hill Bridge Tournament Convention Card

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by oirg

I would bid 2H. If partner bids 2S, you can always correct to 3C. At matchpoints, it pays to find a reasonable major suit contract.

Partner SHOULD NOT correct to 2S with a misfit, even with 6 spades. He should expect his partner to have a minimum of 6 hearts for this call and no more than 1 spade. The 2H is a weak signoff bid, partner should pass before the opponents start doubling.

Obviously, I don't like the 2H bid. At matchpoints, there is a lot to be said for passing. Protect the plus! Is it worth looking for an unlikely game (when partner took the low road with his 17 count) to raise clubs to the three level in a possible 4-3 fit? Nonetheless, I would raise partner to 3C since game is possible. We may be missing a 5-3 heart fit but I don't think you can find it without causing all sorts of system problems.

[Steve White]

Originally Posted by Steve White

Here's one where I made the wrong choice. Wrong, at least, for results. What bid is best? Why? (My mind is made up, not necessarily the same way I made it up in the event.)

Partner deals, opps vul, opps silent so far.

You hold S-7 H-KQJ75 D-532 C-Q542

Partner opens 1S. You bid 1NT (forcing).
Partner bids 2C. Your call?

I chose pass, not a success when partner's shape was 5=3=2=3. Regardless of result, I think 2H is the better call:
1. It may be a longer fit that clubs.
2. Even if shorter, as a major suit it may score more. Opposite Ax or 10x it's a fine trump suit, and it might even do ok opposite xx or stiff A or stiff 10.
3. Passing closes out game chances. Bidding 2H is not encouraging, but allows partner to bid again with a very good hand.

I did have the ulterior motive, hoping (and expecting) support for 2H here, that it might lead some people to see the merits of 2S or 3S on problem C of the current MSC set. Maybe BTDT will consider our votes close enough to exercise his judgment (or if he exercised it with 2NT or 3D, that's good too).

[E. Blackadder]

Originally Posted by Steve White

I chose pass, not a success when partner's shape was 5=3=2=3. Regardless of result, I think 2H is the better call:
1. It may be a longer fit that clubs.
2. Even if shorter, as a major suit it may score more. Opposite Ax or 10x it's a fine trump suit, and it might even do ok opposite xx or stiff A or stiff 10.
3. Passing closes out game chances. Bidding 2H is not encouraging, but allows partner to bid again with a very good hand.

I did have the ulterior motive, hoping (and expecting) support for 2H here, that it might lead some people to see the merits of 2S or 3S on problem C of the current MSC set. Maybe BTDT will consider our votes close enough to exercise his judgment (or if he exercised it with 2NT or 3D, that's good too).

Steve, you made the correct bids, if not the winning ones.

[Klaymen]

I like 2H for the suit quality as well as the chance for 8 trump. If the hearts were KJ732 and clubs AJT3 I might tend to pass 2C instead. I'm concerned the opponents are going to cash their diamonds and aces and get some ruffing action in.

And I'm trying 6H over 4S. Not sure what a 5S bid would accomplish other than eliciting a pointless 6C bid from partner on the way to 6H.

Congratulations on at least not leaving home empty-handed although maybe you were hoping for better.

[Sweet Tooth]

I am a VERY sound 2C opener. This hand is way too huge for 1H, even catering to avoiding 2C with 2 suiters, which I usually do. My plan would be to bid hearts after 2C, then D and then 6D. let partner pick the red slam

Originally Posted by E. Blackadder

Luck was in short supply, if not amusement. Since Steve and I have enough blackmail on each other for the next 30 years, or at least Steve does on me, I won't name names too many times...

Here's the signature hand du jour. Later, the opponents grilled one of us mercilessly about our opening bid habits.
-
AKQ973
AKJ862
A

White on white: Check, check, to you. Presumably playing a standard system, your options are 1 or 2

If 1

what do you do after a single, double (limit), or triple (preemptive) raise? For God's sake, don't look at the problem that follows after you open 2 clubs.


If 2

What do you do after LHO bids 2 spades, partner passes, and RHO bids four spades? It is inappropriate to look at the problem after you open one heart.


(to be continued)

[Sweet Tooth]

Switch the club ace for spade ace, consider yourself VULNERABLE, now what's the score for 6 hearts doubled?

Originally Posted by Sweet Tooth

I am a VERY sound 2C opener. This hand is way too huge for 1H, even catering to avoiding 2C with 2 suiters, which I usually do. My plan would be to bid hearts after 2C, then D and then 6D. let partner pick the red slam

[E. Blackadder]

Originally Posted by Sweet Tooth;

Switch the club ace for spade ace, consider yourself VULNERABLE, now what's the score for 6 hearts doubled?

Rather less less than 2210, the score for getting to and making seven hearts, even undoubled. People who can't handle even infinitesimal risk look for the worst case scenario and panic themselves into thinking it'll happen.