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No way! We are talking about bridge hands!

“Bread and Butter.”

Not all deals can feature high level decisions in bidding or play. Pairs events are often won and lost in the world of the part-score and although today’s deal occurred in a Teams match, it features at least one interesting bidding decision.

Teams. Nil Vul.

 

 

What’s your bid if any with this East hand?

That was the problem we left you with yesterday. We asked the Panel just a little more in that we asked them to comment on what was a poor result for East-West when they never found a bid, conceded to a making part-score and lost imps when the opponents with the East-West cards found a making part-score of their own, the dreaded “double part-score swing”.

These were the East-West cards and the bidding:

 

We also asked the Panel if they would have bid had South

We also asked the Panel if they would have bid had South’s second bid been in the other red suit, 2. 

Our Panel are in two camps as to whether the East hand is worth a take-out double of 1.

Nigel Kearney “East should double 1. It's an excellent hand in support of any of the other three suits and that's what a take-out double is for. Getting in early is usually best as otherwise the opponents could bounce to a high level quickly or exchange enough information to know when you have made a mistake by coming in.

As the auction went, East or West would have to be very brave to take any action later after the hand starts to look like a misfit and opener could be quite strong and have an easy penalty double. If South had bid 2 instead of 2, East can reopen with a double after two passes.”

Andy Braithwaite “Shortage bids so East should have made a take-out double after the 1 opening with such classic shape even if a couple of points short of a traditional bid.

Had South rebid 2, a 3 bid by East is possible but highly risky- best to have bid earlier rather than having the last guess (never the preferred option).”

Let's hope partner does not worry about the missing hcps when they see their dummy in 2NT. 

 

Agreeing with the initial double but not after a 2 second bid from South is:

Michael Cornell “Not vul I think East can afford to double immediately – cannot have a better shape. Double would be automatic with 10-11 points with a singleton diamond (4-4-1-4) but offensively this is better.

I cannot see anything wrong with West’s inaction holding QJxx.

If South bids 2, double in last seat by East is clear-cut.”

 

and more black marks for East:

Bruce Anderson “I would have doubled the opening bid and then forever held my peace; so long as partner fits one of my suits, we will not come to harm at a low level. And if partner has an opening hand and a fit, perhaps we can make game notwithstanding my lack of high cards because of compensating distribution. Having failed to double, East should balance with 3, particularly if we are playing match- points; selling out readily is not winning match point bridge.

So, the black marks go to East. If South had given preference by bidding 2 and North passed, I would still balance, unless I was playing Teams against a strong pair, who are more likely to double when it is right to do so, rather than ‘take the push’.

However, there is another point-of-view. Are you surprised!

 

Stephen Blackstock “No-one is to blame. Neither East nor West had a safe way into the auction. East might have thought of doubling at his first turn (and probably did), but that would have been ultra- aggressive with a nine count, and liable to get his side too high. In the likely event West had length in diamonds and chose to bid no trumps, he would not have been impressed by the frail suits and lack of high cards in the dummy. For either to overcall in clubs with a weak hand and a poor suit would of course be crazy.

If South rebid 2, nothing changes for E/W. Neither has clubs strong enough to balance unilaterally at the three level, and a 4^th seat double by East would be very dangerous. Even if recognised as take-out and not penalties, West will often have nowhere to go – and if the final contract is 2x, East’s balance will help declarer considerably in the play.”

 

Peter Newell “I feel all actions were reasonable. West’s passes were 100% reasonable – totally unreasonable to bid.  I think East’s second and third pass were 100% reasonable too. The only bid that wasn’t 100% reasonable was East’s first pass.

 I think there are sound arguments for passing. While we have great distribution, partner will expect more high card strength and partner doesn’t fit a major and has 10+ hcp we are likely to get too high in no-trumps.

However, the distribution and trick taking potential opposite a fit suggest bidding.  All bids have their flaws. Clearly Double looks reasonable but it is on the light side – quite a few players will double on this hand and it is clearly the most appealing action.  Although very much an “oddball” choice, I don’t mind bidding 1 on this hand.

 Of course, the hand has many flaws, playable in 3 suits, bad and short spades etc but at least this gets us into the bidding and doesn’t overstate hcp or spade length for those who overcall on 4 cards suits….I am a fence sitter and would double or bid 1 sometimes and pass other times.

 

If South rebids 2 that doesn’t change West’s action at all, but does make doubling back in as East a possibility. There is of course only 1 suit the opponents haven’t bid, and partner doesn’t always have clubs on this auction. Both North or East could hold 4 clubs….so double is better as that does leave the majors as possible options. Over 2, I would be inclined to pass still as East.”

 

 

So, it is 4-1 in favour of an initial take-out double by East with one “fence-sitter”! Once East does not double, the Panel seemed happy that East-West should remain silent. The actual deal below shows that 2 would be a much more normal bid by South than the actual 2 bid and then the Panel are split as to whether East can balance.

It might be useful to reflect on what might have happened had East doubled initially.

 

 

Whatever West does, almost, East-West are booked for a poor result. If they pass or double 3, they are likely to go minus unless East leads J and North finesses. If that happens, the defence can take two tricks in spades and one in the other three suits. However, the second spade loser can disappear on K especially on Q initial lead.

Meanwhile, 2NT by West will not be a success if the defence attack diamonds. Clubs? They never got a mention!

At the table, 2 made and that bid took away East-West’s last chance of finding a club fit.

How weak can your take-out doubles be?

 

Tomorrow, we will catch up on the final stages of the 2021 National Rubber competition.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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