Oxford 11

This was almost a triumph! But was actually a disaster!

K86
Q95
AQ93
A52

You open 1D, 1H on your left, 2H (agreeing Diamonds) from partner, Pass, your go.

I decided to bid 2N as being the most descriptive. The bidding (all your way) proceeded: -

3D
3S (might as well show some interest with 2 first round and 1 second round controls)
4D
??

At this point you know partner hasn't showed any aces or features at the 3 level despite having the opportunity to do so (tho' may have the ace of spades). Chances are, therefore, that he has a minimum for his bid. If he hasn't, he's still at the table and, having shown an ace that you don't have (in spades) there is no reason to show another one. 5D is clearcut, therefore.

Sadly, I (over!)bid 5C and we proceeded to 6D.

Partner puts down: -

ATxx
K
KT874
KJ6

The defence starts with HA and a small H to the J and your Q. I drew trumps, took the club finesse and finished the clubs, then took the remainder of the trumps to arrive at this position:

ATx
-
-
-

Kx
9

I knew West held the HT, so if he also held QJ of Spades, I'd have squeezed him in H and S - Triumph snatched from the jaws of Disaster! Fantastic - I'd dine off this for weeks (well, maybe about 5 minutes!).

Sadly, justice was done and East was able to hold the Spades. Lesson? I guess its that if partner makes a bid that is unlimited at the time but subsequently limits it by not making further forward moves on the next round, trust him that he is limiting the previous bid!

Oxford 08

Well, I'd like to report a load of successes from this match. However........maybe some learning points instead!


Love all, Dealer W

North

A
KQT762
53
JT85

West

T52
AJ5
KT
KQ976

East

J9
843
AQJ96
KQ976

South

KQ87643
9
8742
A

1NT from W, 2H from N, 3D from E (or 2N showing a wish to compete in a minor). What should you do as South?

The sound choice is to pass, since the defence can always hold you to 8 tricks (and you can always hold E-W to 8. However, neither is easy! In practice, the unsound action of bidding 3S seems to have been the winning option.

What's the lesson?? Possibly its to bid boldly, especially with a 7 card suit AND if the opposition is unlikely to be able to recognise that's what you're doing.

Board 16 - Corwen Session 4

More of an observation than a discussion perhaps. You hold at Green: -

xx
-
AJxxx
AQJxxx

2 passes to 1H on your right. How are you going to bid this? You say 2NT - unusual (would you ever bid 3NT to show this type of hand?), LHO says 3H and RHO says 4H. Your go!

Bear in mind that you're at Green, so could have a lot less for this bid so partner needs to be put in the picture. I think 4NT and 5C are options, but unilateral and, therefore, poor ones. An "action" double tells partner that you either want to bid on - possibly as a sacrifice - or defend. The key point is that you involve partner in the decision.

You can beat 4H by 2 if you guess to lead a spade (I didn't) and you can make five of either minor. Sadly, I failed to bid over 4H so we got 50 and a poor score. I think the lesson from this hand, though, is to make an action double if you feel you've underdescribed your hand but aren't sure what you want to do - partner is still at the table and is best placed to make the right decision.

Notts Match

Notts have posted an account of this match on their website. It's only a couple of boards but they do mention Board 19.

Hand from Silver Plate

how should this hand be bid after LHO opens 1D?
You
S. KJ1098x
H. AKQx
D. x
C. Ax

Partner
S. xxx
H. xxx
D. K10xx
C. Jxx

If you double and partner bids 1H, what next?
If you make a simple overcall of 1S & the hand is passed out, are you comfortable with that?

If you can find 4Spades then would you be up to playing the king from dummy, pinning the Queen?

Ian

notts006

I'm not often completely unsure what to bid (I usually have a choice of losing options) but was non-plussed by this one. Partner opens 1D. You hold

xxx
Qx
AKQx
Axxx

I tried 2C, hoping for partner to bid some number of NTs (It must be better played from his side). But no, he came back with 2D!

Now what? 3NT can't be right, can it? I have 2 unguarded suits and I am arranging to play the contract from the wrong side. 4D might be past the best contract, 3C and 3D aren't forcing (are they?). So should I try 2H or 2S? If so which? I tried 2S, partner raised to 3S and I could think of nothing better than 5D, which made but is worse than 3NT. In retrospect I think 2H may be better, if partner raises to 3H I can try 3S (Fourth suit) which I couldn't do in my own sequence.

Any views?

Notts009

Well, I guess we'd better try it now!

Kxx
AQT98
KQ9x
x
Red

Partner
1C - 1H - ?

This compares with Notts019 where you held: -

Kx
QT987
KT2
Jxx

In this case partner opened with 1D. Initially I was a passer on both hands but I'm now (easily!) persuaded to bid 1NT on 19. The difference (I think!)? On the second hand you have a partial fit with partner. So, on 009: -

If you pass do you expect partner to always re-open?
Do you expect a large enough penalty if (s)he reopens with a double?
If you don't pass, what should you bid?

Hello!

I've been playing around with Blogs (someone else may well be better than me, so pls feel free to take over!) and Stewart suggested doing one for County matches. So, here it is - I hope you'll join.

I suggest we use a thread per hand and label them xxxx01 - xxxx32 where xxxx is the county.