[daveharty]

Three hands from the club game Thursday evening. Matchpoints, Random Club Opponents, new and unknown partner...
1.

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Anyone tempted?

2.

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T1: ♠3, 8, 4, 10.
T2: ♣K, 4, 2, 8
T3: ♣Q, ♥7, ♣3, A
T4: ♥K, ?
How many tricks are you playing for? If asked about their signals and discards, the opponents will say "standard".

3.

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You are playing with this partner as a last minute fill-in, so you have had almost zero discussion, but you know from a previous hand that partner uses 2NT as the "default" rebid after a 2/1 response, so it doesn't show any extras. Are you worth a move beyond game?

[BunnyGo]

1. Not really, but I might be w/r if I'm feeling frisky.

2. I'll win the A, play spade to the K and diamond back to the K. I'm playing for 10 tricks (I'll lose the Q of H, the A of D and A of C). This is worse than cashing out 9 tricks only if the A of D is in the East and Q of hearts in the West.

3. Probably not at your club at matchpoints. If he can make 12 tricks, then it's probably a top anyways. That said, I don't hate a 4NT bid, but I don't like stretching so much at matchpoints. With 14 flat points and 5 hearts 12 tricks is probably hard to come by. If he has Kx, KQxxx, Kxx, Kxx and hearts 3-3 then 12 is on one of a couple finesses or squeezes, but I'd rather just be in 3NT and outplay the other tables.

[daveharty]

BunnyGo, on 2011-July-30, 11:12, said:

1. Not really, but I might be w/r if I'm feeling frisky.

2. I'll win the A, play spade to the K and diamond back to the K. I'm playing for 10 tricks (I'll lose the Q of H, the A of D and A of C). This is worse than cashing out 9 tricks only if the A of D is in the East and Q of hearts in the West.

3. Probably not at your club at matchpoints. If he can make 12 tricks, then it's probably a top anyways. That said, I don't hate a 4NT bid, but I don't like stretching so much at matchpoints. With 14 flat points and 5 hearts 12 tricks is probably hard to come by. If he has Kx, KQxxx, Kxx, Kxx and hearts 3-3 then 12 is on one of a couple finesses or squeezes, but I'd rather just be in 3NT and outplay the other tables.

1. You ARE w/r.

3. Don't know if this factors into your decision, but your partner is probably not going to be outplaying the other tables. So, if 12 tricks are available by an obvious route, you might need to be there.

[Phil]

1. Looks like a normal w/r Michaels call to me, but I doubt I'd do it on a hand much weaker.

2. Win the ♠J, not the 10. I'd rather give them the impression I had AJ doubleton. It should not work but it might. The ♥K is a strange play. If RHO held KT8xx or something like that, he should shift to a low heart. Therefore, I'm inclined to put RHO on ♥Q, regardless of the ♥7 pitch. I can't take more than 10 tricks in any event, so I'll duck this. If they continue hearts, I'll either get 9 or 10. Yes, I might be Grosvenored here, but whatever.

3. 3N, just as if the person across the table is paying you

[ArtK78]

Phil, on 2011-July-30, 12:28, said:

1. Looks like a normal w/r Michaels call to me, but I doubt I'd do it on a hand much weaker.

The opening bid was 1♣, so I believe you are talking about an unusual notrump here to show the red suits.

[mck4711]

1. any convention you use for showing 2 red or other minor + 1 major
2. there might be a snag: if you duck, you E follows with a small H to W's Q and another round of H. entry problems, and you dont get 9th trick (ace of spades), you have only 5 clubs, 1 heart and 2 spades (unless you drop doubleton Q). therefore i would take the ace of H, run the clubs, king of spades, diamond. in case E has KQ of H, no trouble (also when you duck of course, regardless who has the ace of D): 10 tricks, but in case that W has the Q of heart you have the chance that W has also ace of diamond

please dont pay attention to above mentioned point 2. i overlooked 2nd remaining club in hand, no entry-problems at all

2. duck and play E for KQ for 10 tricks

[Phil]

mck4711, on 2011-July-30, 14:34, said:

2. there might be a snag: if you duck, you E follows with a small H to W's Q and another round of H. entry problems, and you dont get 9th trick (ace of spades), you have only 5 clubs, 1 heart and 2 spades (unless you drop doubleton Q). therefore i would take the ace of H, run the clubs, king of spades, diamond. in case E has KQ of H, no trouble (also when you duck of course, regardless who has the ace of D): 10 tricks, but in case that W has the Q of heart you have the chance that W has also ace of diamond

?

[mck4711]

Phil, on 2011-July-30, 14:41, said:

?

sry, always safe... there are still 2 clubs in hand, after 3rd heart spades to king, club, ace of spades and run clubs for 9 tricks.
in this case: duck and play E for KQ for 10 tricks

[Phil]

ArtK78, on 2011-July-30, 13:00, said:

The opening bid was 1♣, so I believe you are talking about an unusual notrump here to show the red suits.

Oh come one, can't I psyche Michaels holding just one major every now and then?

(OK, I'll wait until I have spades).