No
the correct bid is 2 NT. We do NOT overbid at matchpoints and partner has
a chance to raise to 3 NT so it is a partnership agreement which makes for good
results
If I were East with West my human partner, I would view the first DBL as Takeout, promising "tolerance" in the two unbid suits. The definition of "tolerance" has loosened considerably these days. Ideally, West holds at least 4 cards in both hearts & diamonds, especially hearts. Given that Opener is being forced to the three level, I would expect West to hold at least 10 points.
A standard rule of defensive bidding is to try to avoid letting the opponents play at the two level in a suit where they have found a fit. I would consequently also view the second "balancing seat" DBL by West as Takeout, saying "partner, bid something". Holding six clubs, East does well to rebid their clubs, giving NS the choice of raising to the three level in spades OR letting EW play the hand in 3C.
What is the meaning of the two DBLs by Robot West? I have no idea.
I believe the Robots are programmed in a system called GIB. I checked out GIB just long enough to discover it was different, sometimes bizarrely so, from the two bidding systems with which I am familiar (Standard American - Two Over One). I have no desire whatsoever to try to learn GIB. Looks like this might be a time when GIB means the same.
[Editors Note. BBO explains GIB:
" The robots used on BBO are called GIB (Ginsberg's Intelligent Bridgeplayer.) GIB is widely considered to be one of the best computer bridge programs ever created. It is occasionally capable of brilliance. It is also occasionally capable of some really poor bids and plays (just like all human players). "]
The good news is that in the online games I play it is possible to hover over any bid made by a Robot for an explanation of what that bid promises. Equally important, it is also possible to hover over any bid I am about to make for an explanation of what that bid will mean to the Robot (often very different than what I was intending it to mean).
The bad news is I have discovered the Robots lie, sometimes flagrantly. I have hovered over Robot bids promising a particular Ace that they prove not to have. Sometime I can actually see that Ace in my own hand. I have been frustrated so often by lying Robots that I have recently vowed to never again participate in any online games that include Robot players.
Of course, as all bridge players are well aware, the word "never" means almost never. And the word "always" means almost always.
Ain't bridge a great game?
Mark:
I mean this very seriously.
There's an old saying that I think is valid. If you don't double some contracts that turn out to be cold, you are not doubling enough.
Many terrible results are due to a failure to double when there is no certainty of setting the contract. In a duplicate game, the auction makes it sound like the same contract will be reached everywhere and the East hand will often double. If everyone in 4S goes down, which is more likely than not, then everyone who fails to double will get a bad score, assuming the same tricks are won and lost at most tables. Even in a team game I would double with the East hand. As long as there are no overtricks, the IMP loss for doubling a cold game is surprisingly small, typically 5 IMPs. You gain a lot if you set the contract 2 or 3 tricks. Moreover, you have an intangible gain as your opponents avoid bold bidding against you in the future. Only at rubber bridge would I not double 4 spades on the bidding shown. That's because of the chance that the double could help declarer find an unlikely line of play to make a game that would be defeated without the warning.
Knowing that the opponents are facing a 5-0 trump break, a fact they couldn't have known when they bid game, makes it likely that they will take a couple fewer tricks than they expected.
This hand was unlucky for East. South bid very aggressively with 3 Spades. I'm surprised that North, with significantly more than he might have had to bid 4 didn't make a slight move toward a possible slam by cue- bidding 4 hearts. South would have declined, of course, having less, rather than more, than a minimum for the 3 S bid, but E could be dissuaded from doubling, knowing that N had some thoughts of slam.
In a game with human opponents at an actual table, I'd think about whether there had been unintended but inappropriate information that kept N from bidding more actively. For instance, suppose South fingered the 2 spade bid before pulling out the 3S card, I would call the director.
If I
were the director with those hypothetical facts established, I'd award an
adjusted score of 4 spades un- doubled. I think 4 spades will make most of the
time, even without the warning double. If there's a likely play that would lead
to going down absent the double, I'd award an un- doubled set to the defenders,
provided they didn't defend carelessly.
We
can’t reverse in an opponent’s suit. When we bid the opponent’s suit, we are
cue bidding and are asking for a stopper or showing a good hand. Looking at the
hand, I would have bid 1NT. Nothing is perfect, but I have 2 stoppers and a
source of tricks, plus I’m still at the one-level so I have better than a good
chance to make 1 or 2 NT.
Hope
this helps,
Glenna
The longer you play bridge, the more ways you will learn to evaluate the strength of your hands. In my two part Beginning Bridge course I teach three basic methods.
Point Count: A common partnership agreement is that an opening bid of 1NT should promise 15-17 HCPS. The above opening hand is at the top of that range. Given that point count is considered the primary hand evaluation criterion, going to game based on point count alone would be automatic for many players.
Quick Tricks: Common agreement is that a standard opening hand should include at least 2.0 Quick Tricks. The above opening hand has 3.5 Quick Tricks, significantly stronger than standard. The Quick Trick count screams "go to game".
Losers: Common agreement is that a standard opening hand should have no more than 7 losers. The above opening hand does have exactly 7 Losers. No reason to worry here.
Taken as a group, the three evaluations above clearly identify a hand that is strong enough to accept an invitation to game.
Note: If you are a player who is not already routinely evaluating your hands for Quick Tricks & Losers, I would encourage you to start doing so. Don't know how? Sign up for the Beginning Bridge course I expect to be teaching live at the Bridge Club in January//February 2023.
Ain't bridge a great game.
Mark:
Another interesting competitive bidding hand. West's negative double is near the low end of the range for a negative double, but I agree with it and would have done the same. You promise at least 4 cards in each of the remaining 2 suits and enough strength to suggest competing.
Since E-W are not vulnerable, you could afford to go down 1 or even 2 (if un- doubled) and show a profit compared to minus 110 or 130. You could have a stronger (even opening bid strength) hand with 4+ distribution in the unbid suits.
If West has the stronger hand, the next bid must be invitational,
forcing or game, as appropriate. If W has a very weak hand, much weaker than
this one, that should be Alerted, assuming that E knows that to be a real
possibility. Otherwise, N-S could claim to be injured if they are talked out of
competing further. Such a weak double wouldn't be "illegal" but
outside of the usual expectations that opponents would typically rely on; hence
the Alert.2 NT could be set 100 on the likely club lead, which might be an OK
score compared to most N-S pairs bidding and making several clubs.
If E bids 2 hearts after the negative double it
usually shows a 6 card suit. However, this 5 card suit is so strong, a lot of
players, me included, would bid 2 hearts. It's hard to be sure how the play
would go on the actual hand. It might be no better than NT. If S is an
enterprising bidder, she will bid 3 clubs because of the lovely suit. If she is
conservative, she will pass because of the limited points. If 2 hearts is
passed by S and comes back to north, a double by N in the pass-out seat is
"reopening" or "D.S.I" (Do something intelligent). In this
case, whether South re- bids clubs or passes the double, it looks intelligent(
for bidding) or brilliant (for passing.) I would bid. It looks too risky to pass.
Most roads lead to a N-S plus score, so holding it to 100 or less should be OK
for E-W.
North's 1st bid should be 3 ♠️ showing 11 or 12 points. If you play that a jump is weak,
then North must cue bid ♦️ to show a limit raise or
better. South was very, very brave to bid 4 ♠️ when his partner only showed 6-10. Hope this helps.
Glenna
The no-brainer, knee jerk advice is that South should Pass.
Holding three hearts instead of two hearts, the no brainer, knee jerk advice would be that South should raise to 3H.
HOWEVER, the two hearts South is holding are both honors. ALSO, East would appear to be the opponent holding most of the missing high cards which means the spade & diamond honors South is holding are likely to take tricks. AND FINALLY, NS are not vulnerable. Given those three considerations, I see the raise by South to 3H as a good aggressive defensive bid that partner would support.
North, by the way, made an improper preemptive bid. A preemptive bid of 2H should promise EXACTLY a 6-card suit. North has a 7-card suit. Their bid should be 3H which South should definitely Pass.
It is important to trust your partner. It is also important to be a partner they can trust in return. By bidding 2H with a 7-card suit, North was being an untrustworthy partner.
Ain't bridge a great
game?
Interesting hand! I'm just guessing at the auction. I'm pretty sure E passed as dealer and S opened 1 spade. W, with the strongest (by point count) hand at the table, probably got into the auction, possibly with an "Unusual" 2NT showing the minors.
North could pass happily or double. The standard meaning of double in this auction is "I can double and expect to penalize at least 1 of the 2 suits shown, please double if they bid a suit you can penalize."
Although E-W have equal numbers of both minors, it seems likely they will get to a decent 3 clubs. If South now freely bids 3 hearts, W might try 4 clubs and N has a choice of winning actions. Even a pass might net 300 points. 4 hearts becomes attractive if S bid 3 hearts freely (not forced by partner's double of 2 NT). South is also on the cusp of choosing between bidding 4 H or 3 H. On the one hand, there are only 11 high card points. On the other, that hand could be re- evaluated to about 17 points.
West's action warns N-S of possible bad breaks in the Majors, which might lessen their enthusiasm for bidding game on a combined 18 HCP. There's an old saying in bridge: "Six- Five Come Alive!" That means the S hand should be extra enthusiastic and bid more than what is intuitive or suggested by HCP.
In the long run, bold bidders come out ahead. In this case, the friendly position of the defensive queens makes it likely that 5 hearts or 5 spades will make, possibly doubled by W at the 4 level if that player overestimates the value of HCP in a hand with lots of distribution.
Anyway, I don't fault N-S for
stopping in 3 spades, though I would have bid 4H at my 2nd turn to bid if
I were South. On a different layout that could be down 800, but having once
gone minus 5800 (Don't ask), it still beats my worst result by 5000 points. My
gut says to bid up this hand.
Glenna:
This is a hand that everyone would benefit from talking about the bidding so thank you for the question.
S should open 1 ♠️ and N should respond 1NT—showing 6-10 points and denying 3 ♠️. South should bid 2 ♥️ and N should correct to 2 ♠️. The 5-2 fit plays better than most other combinations. South should bid 3 ♥️ showing a 5-5 hand and N should bid 4 ♥️.
It is so important to
show your shape as well as your points. Try always to find a way to do that.
Hope
this helps,
Glenna
This hand came straight from the land of mis-fit toys and is
put forth as something to be discussed. W has opened 1D and E responds with a
Spade bid. W bids a H and E rebids S to indicate length. Even though W is
missing a stopper in C, makes a bid of 2 NT. Should E have bid 3S ? Based on
the bids, E has perceived stoppers in all 4 suits and passes 2 NT. The hand
goes down 1 in NT. Any suggestions?
Vic:
No, in my opinion East should not have bid 3S. They are too weak to push the auction to the three level.
It is also my opinion that West should not have bid 2NT.
Common advice when you discover a misfit is to stop bidding at the lowest level it is rationale to do so. Over 2S, West should Pass.
Playing in 2NT, I believe EW deserved to be down more than one trick. Looks to me, however, like 2S deserves to make.
Ain't bridge a great
game?
E has too many HCP to open a pre-empt and W is void in D and
has stoppers in the other 3 suits. Played in 4H the hand is down 2 for E/W.
Would it make 3 NT?
Vic:
I can understand why both East & West really like their hands. But there are also the realities of point count & fit with partner to consider.
EW have 21 HCPs between the two of them. More often than not that is too few points to make game in anything.
By the time East bids 3D, it should also be clear to both partners that they have a misfit. Once either partner realizes there is a misfit, the winning strategy is to end the auction without going up another level. Probably they are going down. Going up a level promises to only make things worse.
Their void in partners suit (diamonds) makes the West hand weaker. West has also oversold the strength of their hand by "Reversing" to spades. Given that they have done so, I believe the 3rd bid by West should be 3H (promising six) which East should Pass. West could also simply Pass 3D.
Playing in 3NT would be total
carnage, if defended properly.
E opens 1D and W responds 1H with 7HCP and 6H. E bids 2S
over N’s 2C overcall. The question now becomes a bid from W – in this case the
bid was 3D which went down 3. Should W have revalued her hand based on shape?
Would this hand have made 3H?
Mark:
The East hand is not quite strong enough to bid 2 spades in this auction. Even if, as some intermediate players do, they do not use Reverses as most advanced players do, (i.e. guarantees 16+ solid points and is highly invitational to game) you are forcing to the 3 level opposite a partner who could have 6 points and only 4 hearts.
This hand illustrates the value of playing Support Doubles. That shows 3 card support for partner's 1 H or 1S initial response. It has the added benefit of clarifying whether you have 3 or 4 card support.
Before the introduction of Support Doubles, or
for players who haven't yet adopted that convention, this is a classic raise to
2 hearts after the 2 club overcall. That wouldn't guarantee 4 card support, so
it's a bit ambiguous, but the best option. It has the added benefit of placing
the contract in the West, where the hand isn't at risk from an immediate club
lead. 2 hearts doesn't promise extra strength and allows the hand to be played
at the 2 level. At worst, it's a 7 card fit, but in this case it's 9. N-S can
make 3 clubs as the cards lie so even if 3 hearts goes down 1 (un- doubled)
it's better than minus 110. What's more, if S raises clubs after E bids 2 H. N
might lead the Ace of clubs and then 3 hearts makes. If S doesn't raise, W
might buy it for 2 H. Passive defense will hold 2 H to 8 tricks as the cards
lie.
This hand was interesting to bid because W opened with a
very “flat” hand and E had an unbalanced hand with S length (and 1 round
strength). The hand did make 4 S.
Glenna:
The bidding was fine, but 4 shouldn’t make with perfect defense. North
would take the top 3 ♥️ and lead the ♥️ 7 and if E ruffs low or lets it go the ♥️ J in dummy, South will ruff with the ♠️ 10! Defense is magical!
S has made a short club opening bid and partner has
responded with a 4-card major. E has 15 HCP with a flat hand and contemplated
bidding 1NT but is uncomfortable with the lack of a S stopper and passes,
Should E have bid something, if so, what? Also with E
passing, should S have bid 2H instead of 1S?
Mark:
First, on the subject of overcalling 1 NT with the East
hand. Generally, I wouldn't recommend it. Both opponents have bid, so at
best your side has half the points in the deck and the opponents have the other
half. In that best- case scenario, it's a tossup whether you do better by
passing or bidding. What if it isn't the best case? Neither opponent has
indicated a minimum, so the 15 points in your (East) hand could be pretty much
all for your side. That could well mean the opponents will know they have enough
points to double and beat you at least 300 while unable to bid and make a game.
Not only that, but if the opponents bid at the 2 level, as well they might
here, you might supply the information to help them play the hand to their best
advantage. Having said that, if you are feeling adventurous, this is the
vulnerability where you might land on your feet. going minus 50 or minus 100
when the opponents could make 110 is very good at duplicate. if the opponents
have the missing 25 points, other N-S pairs might bid and make 3NT for 600
points. If they double you and take the same 9 tricks, that's only 500 points.
It's living dangerously, but good things tend to happen for the enterprising,
but not for the reckless. This case is squarely on the border between
enterprising and reckless if you bid 1NT. I tend to be enterprising, but this
one I would pass. As it happens, N-S have made an error, playing in a 3-3
"fit" It's hard to know how the play will go, but careful defense
will defeat 1 spade no matter the opening lead. That's worth at least 100
points, which is better than the best- case 90 you might make at 1NT.
Now for the N-S bidding: Many players will open the
South hand 1 NT and that will surely be the final contract. Careful defense
usually defeats 1NT for a good E-W score. South got on the path to the best
realistic contract, 2 hearts. 2 hearts can be defeated with perfect defense in
this case, but more often it will make. South promises 4 spades by bidding 1
spade. Even the beautiful AK and Q don't make up for the lack of a 4th spade.
Moreover, even if you had a 4th spade with the AKQ, the bid of 1 spade denies 4
hearts in this auction. You need to let partner know about the 8 card
major suit fit. If there's any further bidding and you later raise hearts,
partner should assume you have only 3 of them.
There's one feature of this hand that is a very
advanced concept, far beyond the scope of this discussion, but some readers
might enjoy it. It's rare for any player to find this defensive coup in actual
play at the table, but it makes for good newspaper articles. It's called a
"surrounding play." If east attacks diamonds by leading the jack, the
Q and 10 can both be trapped and E-W score 3 tricks. For this play to work, the
diamonds can only be initiated by East and it must start with the J. Take my
word for it, or lay out the suit on a table and try to defend the suit some
other way. Of course, not playing the suit at all or leading it just once would
work in this case, because N-S have mirror distribution and will eventually
have to break diamonds.
