[Siegmund]

We see a lot of magic-fit "bid this grand" threads, and a lot of "diagnose this misfit as fast as possible" threads. Here's a "hey, look, we've got a fit... how crazy should we let ourselves go?" one.

Scoring: MP

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My table, amazingly, actually reached the double-dummy par contract, but via a hideously nonstandard route.

What's your pleasure?

[gwnn]

1♣-3♥-3♠-4♥
p-p-5♣-pass

maybe East bids 6♣ which is 1 off. that's life

[karlson]

Really, 5♣? 4♠ seems pretty normal to me.

[jdonn]

Yes I think east should rebid 4♠ especially at mps. So you reached 6♥X down 2?

Oh pardon me I suppose par is 5♥X down 1 since the ruff beats 5♠.

[Fluffy]

ain't the par contract 5♥ X, I seem to be missing something, 4♠ is already too high unless played from the right side.

[gwnn]

I now think east should either bid 4S or 6C. 5C looks like the worst from both worlds. I don't think 6C is obviously too much.

[Fluffy]

1♣-4♥-4♠-5♥
X

looks a bit odd to bid 4♥ but hey, they neve rlet you play it so its ok

[gnasher]

Would East really settle for only 4♠? He needs very little for slam.

Also, what's this 3♥ overcall? With me in all four seats, it would go:

1♣ 4♥ 4NT(1) pass
5♦ pass 5♠(2) pass
pass dbl(3)

(1) Initially minors
(2) Now a slam try in spades with heart control (I knew that agreement would come in handy)
(3) Lightner

So I would gain 300 against myself, assuming that I found the right lead.

[jdonn]

gnasher, on Jan 18 2010, 06:34 PM, said:

Would East really settle for only 4♠?  He needs very little for slam.

You didn't even make 4♠ against yourself. In fact it was your trying for slam that caused you to go down, 2, doubled. I do admire the honesty though.

Btw I agree with 3♥ at neither vul. In fact if I was 2641 instead of 2650 I would bid 2♥.

[Siegmund]

At my table the auction was

1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 3♣*
3♠? - 4♥ - pass? - pass
4♠? - 5♥? - pass? - pass
double

* 3♣ = 8-10 raise of hearts, with better clubs than spades

East did indeed have a pulse, as he managed to get in his car and drive home after the game, but it's hard to tell.

The popular approach at the club was 1♣ - 2NT - 4♠ - 5♦ and then off to the races. Nobody was allowed to go down in 6♠; all those tables sacrificed in 7♦X.

I like both gwnn's 3♥ and my partner's 1♥ intending to rebid diamonds better than I like 2NT but I am not surprised that many chose 2N.

[mr1303]

Where are Robson & Segal these days?

1C (3H) 3S (4D)*
P (5D) ???

Surely 4D is automatic as a FNJ with those red suit holdings, which will give partner the incentive to raise, and put huge pressure on EW not to get too high.

[gwnn]

(specifically R/S discussion here:) I don't think 4♦ is automatic since S will be on lead against spades and being MP it's not clear they'd ever end up in clubs (especially from S POV). So 4♦ shows a real fit and a real suit, not just AKJx. It lets opps double 4♦ with little extras and no clear direction.

[Siegmund]

Interestingly, as South I had 3♦ or 4♦ available as a fit-jump after 1♣-1♥-1♠ at the table. Our agreement is that this shows at least five to the KQ+, but if I remember the 3♣ raise leaving a somewhat bad taste in my mouth, and 3♦ might have been the more descriptive bid.

Of course on this deal, 3♦ from me would probably cause partner to bid 6 of a red suit expecting to make it.