still can’t figure it out

Judi and I bid another 50 or so hands yesterday morning, our last practice before we play the women’s events in Detroit. One hand is still bugging me, perhaps you’ll have some new thoughts about it.

I held:

:S: -
:H: AKx
:D: AKQ
:C: AQJT98x

I opened 2 :C: and partner bid 2 :S: showing 5 or more spades headed by 2 of the top three honors (Ace, King, Queen). I bid 3 :C: and partner showed long spades when she bid 3 :S: … I really wanted 4 :C: to be Keycard when I bid it, though everyone assures me it can’t be.

Here’s my problem. Judi held this hand:

:S: AQxxxxx
:H: JTx
:D: x
:C: Kx

She assures me that, playing control-showing methods over strong 2 :C: openers, this auction might have gone 2 :C: - 2 NT (showing 3 controls not in the same suit) - 7 NT. I’m sure her methods are better and I’ve promised to learn them after the nationals, but until then this hand is bugging me. What If I open 4NT? That’s ludicrous, but it’d work on this particular deal. 4NT - 5 :D: ; 5NT - 6 :C: ; 7NT. Anyway, what do you think?

Published by stacy on March 4th, 2008 tagged Bridge


4 Responses to “still can’t figure it out”

  1. Bob Katz Says:
    March 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am

    I think this is one tough hand. With Judi’s methods (which I don’t generally play) life is very simple.
    Without them, extremely tough. To play a small slam partner must hold one of two very specific cards.
    So what do you do? Maybe 4C over 2S sets the trump suit. Then Judi can bid 4S and you can bid 4N saying tell me more and she can bid 6c showing the K of clubs.
    But that auction sure requires a lot of confidence that partner has bid exactly the ace of spades and K of clubs.

  2. Peg Says:
    March 4th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    I’m a simple soul.

    I might have just jumped to 6C over 3S, Red. And - Judy might have then taken a chance on 7C, holding both the club king AND the spade ace.

  3. Bob Katz Says:
    March 4th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    It is indeed simple to jump to 6C over 3S but when partner puts down AKxxxx xxx, xxx, x u have absolutely no play to make it. I know there are situations where you have no choice but to guess or be aggressive but this should not be one of them.

  4. Peg Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Sure I do. Stiff king of clubs in either hand.

    That being said, I’m sure it’s a toughie for anyone not playing a big club. (Not certain 100% of them would get it right, either.)

    Some argument to raise 3C to 4C immediately, too - despite the long spades.

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