[jim420]

Both sides were casual partners and played a few sensible deals. Then this hand pops out. Just pure madness...

Scoring: IMP

W N E S
1♥ p 2♦ 2♠
3♦ p 4♥ 4♠
X XX p p
p

lead ♦K
4♠XXS+1
+15.8 IMP to NS

---

The play:
♦K ♦2 ♦A ♦Q
♦J ♠2 ♦7 ♦6
♠3 ♠Q ♠K ♠6
♠8 ♠7 ♠J ♠4
♠5 ♥3 ♠T ♦3
♣J ♥2 ♣2 ♣K
♣8 ♣4 ♦4 ♣T
♣A ♦8 ♣5 ♥4
♣Q ♦T ♣6 ♦5
♣3 ♥7 ♣9 ♦9
♣7 ♥9 ♥J ♥8
South claims 11 tricks

-----------------------------------

1) Do you agree with 2♠? and what about 4♠?
2) Do you think this "madness" is anyone's fault? In particular, what do you think about those X and XX?
3) How can the defense do better?

[jtfanclub]

Interesting.

I'd never find the club ruffs at the table. South could have said 3♦ to show the hand better, but that leads to 5♣-1.

Seems reasonable enough to me!

[inquiry]

1 --- 2♠ is ok... 4♠ is a bid.
2 --- East is at fault, he has a known double fit and should be thinking slam, I assume pass of 4♠ was forcing, and as such was a mistake only when he later passed the redouble. Responder should have bid 5♣ over the redouble. This show very strong slam interest (he could have bid 5♣ over 4♠ which is less strong interest, and would have been my choice.. bear in mind, he jumped to 4♥ presumably in a forcing auction, which to me is weaker than having bid 3♥ on the round earlier.
3 --- EAST should never, ever overtake the diamond KING.. partner raised diamonds and presumably has at least three. And EAST despirately wants partner to lead a club. Play iether the 2 or J of diamnods, which ever one ask for DONT LEAD THEM Again. It is unlikely that partner is asking to stop diamonds because he he wants a heart, so the club swithc will come, ruff, heart 2 back, confirming another trump, and another ruff. If you play neutral diamond as continue here, then High could ask for heart, and low could ask for a club. You can play that way when responder has promised a long suit (such as with a 2♦ bid).

[Gerben42]

1♥: Top notch

2♦: Who heard of support with support? Terrible bid. Gotta support partner!

2♠: Not my choice but can understand his problem. 2NT here would show the remaining suits and would be just fine I guess.

3♦: Looks like West is a sensible player (supporting partner )

4♥: Don't like this either. Why sign off when you know of the double fit?

4♠: Discussed South's problem before. Opps are strong and you too! 4♠ completely reasonable

Dbl: West must have felt Pass was forcing (correct) and admit it, this hand is NOT great for 5♥. Sensible player, this West guy. I hope this was the opening poster

Rdbl: I wouldn't do that because opps would surely run. Maybe he knew something I don't.

Pass: Worst call of the auction. After not bidding slam, oh well...

Pass: Wait and see

Pass: I've said it all - partner sat for it. Let's defend well!

*************

FINAL SCORE: 100% East's fault.

[jim420]

First, thanks for your replies.

Quote

Dbl: West must have felt Pass was forcing (correct) and admit it, this hand is NOT great for 5♥. Sensible player, this West guy. I hope this was the opening poster

Sorry to disappoint you , but I was South, the declarer.

As soon as p XXed my 4♠ bid I was thinking I had overbid my hand terribly to give him this confidence. Hence the 1st Question.

I didn't know what was happening until I reviewed the play later.

I saw that 4♠ could be set too, and knew I was only escaping luckily.I wanted to know how EW could have done better.

Strangely, what was W thinking when he returned the ♣8? He was not expecting a ruff after his p showed out in trumps when I returned to dummy at trick 5. His only hope lies in ♥, but he did not return it.

The opening lead ♦K was also peculiar to me. If W had not supported ♦ I would think this could be a singleton, would you?

One last point was on 2 tables EW managed to make 6♥ on this hand. The auction went 1♥ p 6♥ p p p. North would tend to lead ♣ rather than ♠, and that gives EW all 13 tricks!

Quite interesting hand...