Friday, November 20, 2020

Hand Analysis - Vic Johnson - November 23, 2020 - Possible Cue Bid

Problem:  Interesting hand.  This hand made 6 clubs but only 3 clubs were bid.

Vic:

An interesting hand to be sure. Distribution makes both the East & South hands much stronger than point count would indicate. The East hand is especially strong with a Quick Trick count of 3.5 (standard is 2.0) & a Loser Count of 3 (standard is 7). I can picture the following auction: 

Pass - 1C (possibly only three clubs & 13-21 points) - 1S (5+ spades & 8+ points - tentative plan to bid diamonds next) - Pass (could raise clubs but that would imply a five card suit - cannot bid NT which would promise a spade stopper - pass for now might be best choice) - 2S (a simple raise) - 3C (six or more clubs & strong enough to bid again even though partner has promised nothing)  

At this point NS should probably stop bidding. They are vulnerable. Looks to me like they deserve to lose 4 tricks in a diamond contract & 5 tricks in a spade contract (if West finds a diamond Ace lead). Penalty ladder for going down Vulnerable & Doubled: 200 (1st trick) - 500 - 800 - 1100. Down two would give EW more points than if EW were to bid & make game. 

West, upset at not being able to tell partner with their first call that they had some points, should now raise to 5C. I see no way to get to slam in clubs from here except via a Ho Chunk "I feel lucky." bid. 

An experienced pair might find the slam if on their second bid East opts to cue bid 3S. The cue bid might lead to a sequence where East finds out about partner's diamond Ace.


 

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