[helene_t]

So we lost by 92 IMPs. Although that sounds like we must have played like vegetables, I actually don't think there were so many outright blunders but rather a large number of interesting/difficult/close decision, where the slightly suboptimal (or maybe unlucky?) decision cost a lot of IMPs.

Board 2:

---

You receive a helpful ♣A as lead, followed by a switch to ♥7. What's your plan?

Board 6:

---

It's a reasonable slam. It seems that both partners have a bit of extras. Who, if anyone, should have moved? Or was there a misunderstanding about 3NT?

Board 9:

---

I lead a small diamond to partner's ace (declarer the 9), ♦6 comes back via the queen. What now?

Board 10:

---

At the other table, JEC cashed ♠A. Maybe the different auction (E didn't preempt, W made a simple 1♥ overcall which E raised) gave a clue but I don't really think so.

Board 12: AKQxx-Tx-AKxx-xx. You open 1♠ in second seat unfavorable. LHO 2♥, partner 2♠. What now?

Board 14:

---

What do you lead?

Board 16: KQT9xx-JTxx-xx-x. RHO deals and opens 1♥. You are favorable. What's your bid?

Board 21:

---

To double or not to double?

Board 24: x-K9x-AJ9-QJT9xx. All white, p deals and opens 1♠. RHO 2♥, you 3♣, p 3♠. What now?

Board 27: JTx-xx-xxx-AKJTx. All white. LHO deals and opens 2♥ to you. What's your call?

[gordontd]

Board 2: 6D looks too much to me, with your unhelpful spade void.

[jeffford76]

On Board 6, 3NT was non-serious. Not a garbage opener, but not enough to cue.

Isn't slam just above 50-50 here on the clubs coming in, assuming that you have to pick a side to play for Hx, not that you're going to magically get it right no matter who has them? It would be nice to be there, but only because of the C10, and it's basically a coin flip even with that. There were some hands helene_t left out that I thought we made far worse mistakes on.

On board 27, it does say LHO, but just to be clear, the question is whether to act in balancing seat after two passes.

[jeffford76]

Um, nevermind. Forgot 3-3 hearts also works. Clearly want to be there.

[hihihiji]

Board 2:
The only clear line to me is ♦22 break with ♠43 break.
So the play for me would be
♥A ♣K ♠ ruff ♦A ♠ruff ♣ruff ♠ruff
Then hopefully the ♠ can discard 3 small hearts

Board 6:
For my partner and me, the 3NT is serious for us and we will probably stop at 6♠ for that hand.

Board 9:
Clueless from me, so I would play the 3rd ♦

Board 12:
3♠ (simple invite)

Board 14:
♠2

Board 16:
3♠

Board 21:
Yes

Board 24: (is it RHO overcalled 2♥
3NT for me though I think pass could be a wise option.

Board 27:
Pass

[helene_t]

Sorry. 24 was indeed rho as all of you noticed. I have corrected it.

Board 2 was a bad start. Hijijiji got it right. But I agree with Gordon that my 6d bid was too much. I thought that extra spade length was helpful as Ole will have ruffing value elsewhere.

On 21 I did double. It was unlucky that they had 12 tricks in notrumps but I am not sure if it's worth the risk at imps.

On 12 I bid 3sp which would have worked great if I had had seven of them.




I think that we all became a bit desperate as the negative imps build up and made some overly aggressive moves.

[GreenMan]

 helene_t, on 2014-November-11, 02:22, said:

On 21 I did double. It was unlucky that they had 12 tricks in notrumps but I am not sure if it's worth the risk at imps.

Kib chat was somewhat sympathetic given the state of the match. And who'd think they would have 12 tricks in NT without being able to run the heart suit? IMHO it's a reasonable double that got extremely unlucky.

[keylime]

B2: Not a great slam at IMPs. Off a cashing Ace, KH, and the trump queen which looks like it's 3-1. 5D is the much safer contract.
B6: Maybe a method question, if the direct raise to 3C shows extras. Let's say that it does; 2S makes sense, but now I bid 3H followed by some mild slam try for pard. Tough hand I think.
B9: Ask why they are not in 4S, and the defense I think comes to you here.
B10: AS if it does not fell the KS is ok. There should be a squeeze here somewhere.
B12: It's teams. You're red. Bid game. They likely will at other table.
B14: A trump.
B16: 1S, knowing that you should not go overboard here.
B21: NO. They are likely able to run to 6NT making. Just a gut feeling here.
B24: 3NT, it's an option.
B27: Pass if in direct seat. In passout seat, I hate myself and would not know what to do.

[nige1]

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

So we lost by 92 IMPs. Although that sounds like we must have played like vegetables, I actually don't think there were so many outright blunders but rather a large number of interesting/difficult/close decision, where the slightly suboptimal (or maybe unlucky?) decision cost a lot of IMPs.
Board 2: You receive a helpful ♣A as lead, followed by a switch to ♥7. What's your plan?
North ♠- ♥ A 5 3 2 ♦ J T 8 5 4 2 ♣ J 8 5
South ♠ A Q 8 7 6 3 ♥ Q J ♦ A K 9 ♣ K 6

Thank you Helene_t.. IMO. Slam is brave. Guess to run ♥ (Less than 50% but ruffing out ♠ needs a defender to hold tripleton ♠Kxx).

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 6: It's a reasonable slam. It seems that both partners have a bit of extras. Who, if anyone, should have moved? Or was there a misunderstanding about 3NT?
East ♠ A Q J 6 4 ♥ A K 6 ♦ J 7 ♣ T 7 4: 1♠ 2♠ 3N AP
West ♠ K 9 3 ♥ Q 9 7 3 ♦ A ♣ A J 8 6 2: 2♣ 3♠ 4♠

IMO 4♠ is a sensible contract. 6♠ is reasonable but no great bargain, requiring luck in a round suit.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 9: [West declares 3N after South opened 2♦, 3rd in hand]. I lead a small diamond to partner's ace (declarer the 9), ♦6 comes back via the queen. What now?
North ♠ T 6 4 3 ♥ J 7 3 ♦ K 8 5 ♣ A 9 2
East ♠Q 7 2 ♥ K 5 4 ♦ 4 2 ♣ Q 8 6 5 4

IMO ♦8 = 9, ♥J = 5 hearing 3 coughs

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 10: [Declaring 6♠. at the other table], JEC cashed ♠A [Dropping West's singlton ♠K]. Maybe the different auction (E didn't preempt, W made a simple 1♥ overcall which E raised) gave a clue but I don't really think so.
North ♠ J 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ - ♦ A K 8 ♣ K 8 3 2
South ♠ A Q 5 4 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ 5 2 ♣ A J 9 5

IMO, Just bad luck. Hold your hand up

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 12: You open 1♠ in second seat unfavorable. LHO 2♥, partner 2♠. What now?
♠ A K Q x x ♥ T x ♦ A K x x ♣ x x.

IMO 3♦ = 10, 3♥ = 9, Pass = 6.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 14: What do you lead?
East ♠ 8 2 ♥ A 7 6 ♦ A T 8 7 6 5 ♣ K 5
-- -- 1♦ _P
1♥ 1♠ _X 2♦
4♥ _P _P 3♠

IMO Double is brave. No idea what to lead,. Perhaps ♥A = 10, ♦A = 9, ♣K =8, ♠ = 7.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 16: RHO deals and opens 1♥. You are favorable. What's your bid?
♠ K Q T 9 x x ♥ J T x x ♦ x x ♣ x.

3♠ = 9, 2♠ = 8, 1♠ = 7, Pass = 3.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 21: To double or not to double?
[North ♠ 6 5 4 2 ♥ J T 9 8 6 ♦ J 4 ♣ 8 5
_P 1♦ 1♠ 2♥
3♠ 4♥ _P 4N
_P 5♥ _P 6♥
_P [_P] ??

IMO Pass = 10, Double = 5. Double may help declarer make the contract. Or drive opponents into an easier slam.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 24: All white, p deals and opens 1♠. RHO 2♥, you 3♣, p 3♠. What now?
♠ x ♥ K 9 x ♦ A J 9 ♣ Q J T 9 x x.

IMO, Another hard guess: Pass = 10, 3N = 9, 4♣ = 8, 4♠ = 6.

 helene_t, on 2014-November-09, 04:58, said:

Board 27: All white. LHO deals and opens 2♥ to you. What's your call?
♠ J T x ♥ x x ♦ x x x ♣ A K J T x .

IMO Pass = 10, Double = 9, Stop 3♣ = 4

[mike777]

Hard to atb on 6 if we don't know what the bids mean.

For me both hands have extras, if 3s is a slam try not sure why east does not cue 4h, I have extras, I have a double fit.

If both hands are minimums and they could not have less in their style then still not sure why they miss slam.

----

bd 2 south has a tough rebid, I think I prefer 3nt rather than 3d. this looks like a balanced hand rather than 2 suited.
agree 6d waS TOO much over 4s.

[gnasher]

 hihihiji, on 2014-November-11, 00:12, said:

Board 2:
The only clear line to me is ♦22 break with ♠43 break.
So the play for me would be
♥A ♣K ♠ ruff ♦A ♠ruff ♣ruff ♠ruff
Then hopefully the ♠ can discard 3 small hearts

That needlessly risks an overruff when LHO has a doubleton club and ♦Qx, or a club ruff when LHO is 4=6=2=1. It's better to use ♦AK as the first two entries.

You'd also make when someone has a singleton queen of diamonds and ♠K comes down in three rounds, as long as you remember to ruff only one spade.