What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for March 2007
John Nicholas made the best submission for the month of March..
Hand: East
was dealer and NS were vulnerable:
AQ7
A3
J63
KQ873 |
KJ108
92
4
AJ10542 |
Bidding:
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West
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North
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East |
South |
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2![hearts](../../images/h.gif) |
Pass
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3
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3NT |
4![hearts](../../images/h.gif) |
5
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//
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Comments: 2
was weak with 5
or more hearts and possibly a minor suit. How could we have bid the
slam?
Peter's Reply:
Hi John,
One way to look at situations like this is to look at the actions of
each player and see whether they might have done things differently at
each opportunity to act. If the examination suggests alternative actions,
would that have led to a different outcome.
Regarding North's actions: 3NT is hardly an underbid. It is closer
to an overbid as Pass or Double are possible alternatives. Neither would
have made reaching 6 any easier than 3NT did. The Pass
after 5 seems normal. Trumps are better and longer than expected and two
Aces go in the plus ledger, but, the diamond holding is bad and a likely
heart loser goes in the out column There are no obvious side source of
tricks for partner. So, North's actions look OK.
Regarding South's actions: Pass over 2 is certainly not silly. The
6-4 pattern suggests bidding; the lack of high card values suggests
passing. 3 is certainly possible. A double looks too risky. 5 as
opposed to Pass, looks an obvious bid after 4 but consideration of the
possible strength of the 3NT bid might suggest a more aggressive action.
3NT must be a pretty good hand on the auction.
To reach 6 , either South enters via 3 and North simply bids it at some stage.
This action would not be unreasonable but is, by no means, clear.
Alternatively, South bids 6 , instead of 5 , in the given auction. This
action also is not silly given the likely source of tricks, but once again
is, by no means, clear.
On balance, I don't think it unreasonable to reach only 5 ,
missing the slam. If anyone has underbid it is South, but hardly
significantly. .
Regards Peter Fordham
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