Slam bidding is not easy. Grand slam bidding is probably easier, maybe because we bid them less aggressively than slams. 5NT GSF(Grand Slam Force) convention was explained to me by SP on the first day of the tournament. The same evening a hand came up where we used it.
A
AKQT
AKJx
Jxxx
(S.P)
xx
xx
QTxx
AKQxxx
(Guthi)
I opened a light 1C and in the second seat.
Here is how the complicated bidding sequence was.
1C - 1H
2C - 5NT
7C - End Yes! We bid a grand slam in just 3 rounds. Now that's something!
Here is how the 5NT convention works. The suit that was bid and supported or the suit that was last bid is fixed as the trumps suit. A jump to 5NT asks partner to bid 7 holding two of the the top three honors, 6 with just two of them. With the partnership can reach quick slams or grand slams and keep the defenders in dark. Though in this case the defender lead a trump.
This was in the pairs tournament, sadly the result was not very influential in pushing our scores up.
*************************************************************************************
This time is the play offs, results didn't matter much but we did play with all seriousness.
AKJx
KQxxx
A
Axx
(Guthi)
QTxxx
A
Qxxx
Kxx
(s.p)
I was dealer and started the uncontested auction with 1H.
1H - 1S
3C*(1) - 3D*(2)
3S*(3) - 4S*(4)
4NT - 5C*(5)
5D - 6C*(6)
7S*(7) - End
(1) - Terrible rebid problem, the hand is a quarter point short of a 2C opening and the only gave forcing bid available at that point was 3C, I chose this though it dosent reveal the support for spades.
(2) - SP meant it as a waiting bid, I took it as 'showing diamonds' Bid 3NT from your side.
(3) Time to show support.
(4) I think I know what is going on.
(5) One key card.
(6) King of clubs and Queens of spade.
(7) Good Luck Partner. ;-)
The lead was trump. S.P's hands were shivering, but the play was smooth. Ruff a diamond and pull trumps; then claim all. All.
*************************************************************************************
Cheers
Guthi.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
TNSC deals.
You hold
K
KQ9xxx
Q9xx
Axx
RHO is the dealer:
P-1H-1S-2D;
p-?
I called 2S. There has been no prior understandings on these situations but I choose to bid 2S anyways. This generally means one of the two - Good raise in Diamonds; or asking for spade stopper. It will be better if we have agreement on if it show extras or not. Here on opponents kept passing, not even making lead directing doubles or asking what the bids meant. Here is what happened.
K
K Q 9 x x x
Q 9 x x
A x x
Q x x
A
A K 10 x x x
x x x
P - 1H - 1S - 2D;
p - 2S - p - 3S;
p - 4C - p - 4D;
p - 5D - End.
As you can see, slam in diamonds is a down unless there is a heart void with East.
In which case 6NT is safer. And it is a better bid at MPs.
Prajwal meant the 3S as showing half stopper in spades, or so he wanted to. (Qxx is a full stopper) I bid 4C showing my Ace of clubs. The 4D was confusing. We generally do not cue bid in the trump suit. Probably he was afraid to show singleton Ace of hearts. I have read somewhere that if the single ton is hearts do not show it, bid 4NT - this I do not understand. I took the 4D as showing poor values, and made a sign off looking bid of 5D. I never showed my extra heart, so I could have bid 4H over his 4D, if it understood as showing King of hearts or extra length, it should be good news. I wish we can bid these hands without trouble in the upcoming J.Nationals.
********************************************************************************
You hold
Q x
Q T x x
A x
A K Q 9 8
The auction is uncontested. Partner begins with 1D. You are playing 2/1, so you bid 2C, making life simple for partner. If 1H is bid, then over either a 1S or a 1NT rebid, there is a slight problem in showing your club suit. The requirement on suit quality should be agreed on.
Partner rebids his diamond suit cheaply. In 2/1 this bid is mandatory if the opener has 5 or more diamonds. You bid as planned, 2H. The entire auction is as follows.
1D - 2C
2D - 2H
2NT - 3C
3D - 4NT
5S - 6D
6NT - End
I held. Lead was spade Jack.
Q x
Q T x x
A x
A K Q 9 8
K x
A x
K Q x x x x
T x x
Let us count our tricks. 1+1+3+3=8; if diamonds break we get 3 more tricks. Still one trick short. Will we need the clubs to break as well? If they were 4-1, then 6D will make but not 6NT.
At IMPs, I would have left it there, but playing MPs I gambled for the NT contract.
I played low from dummy and RHO played low too, me winning with King. I quickly played low diamond to Ace, and a diamond back to hand. All followed. :-) quickly played off my diamonds discarding hearts and spades from dummy. There is one 4-1 break in clubs I can handle, if the 4 carder is with my LHO. So I preserve my heart ace and test the clubs, Alas, RHO has Jxxx in clubs! I cashed all the top clubs and played the lone heart queen from dummy and went up with my Ace and RHO drops the King! My last two cards were a small heart and a small spade. I did not watch the discards carefully. Playing a spade is a losing play, so I played the heart 6. Bingo, it won, we were lucky!
Any comments on the bidding? - till 6D :D
********************************************************************************
A
AJTxx
AQJTx
Kx
RHO opens 2S (weak), what is your call? 3S? What your agreements on these bids?
LHO raises it to 4S, partner passes. what now?
I bid 5D, which was doubled and went down 2. Looked like 4S was going down on any lead. One trick in each suit. I bid my way to a bottom. Anyways, partner had
Q x x
9 x x x
9 8 x
Q J x
A
AJTxx
AQJTx
Kx
I lost one club, one trump and two hearts. The hearts were 3-1, with LHO (one who raised spades) KQx. If the hearts were 2-2, it would have been better. Coming back to bidding, In Prajwal's position, would correct 5D to 5H - fair?
********************************************************************************
x
8 7 3
K 8 4 3
A K Q x x
(Prajwal-dummy)
A x x x x
Q J T x x
Q T 9
-void- :)
(Guthi)
Bidding went -
1C - 1S;
2C - 2H;
2NT - 3H;
4H -end.
It is always a problem with such hands when opener rebids his minor. What is would it mean if I bid 3H instead of 2H? A 5-5 with non GF values? It did not come to my mind at the table.
Play: Lead was a small diamond, taken by RHO with Ace, and returneda low diamond. I did not pay much attention to the spots played by LHO, so won with Queen in hand, cashed spade ace, ruffed on, played on top clubs discarding spades from hand. At this position, I led low heart from dummy to my Queen, taken by LHO with King. He thinks for a while and plays Ace of hearts and exits in a CLUB! Cupper, I claimed all. RHO began shouting, for his partner did not return a diamond for a ruff. I did follow the spots, he had echoed, playing high-low, asking for a ruff.
*******************************************************************************
J 9 x
A T x x
A Q J 8
A x
(Guthi)
A K 6 x x
x
T 9 x
K J x x
(Prajwal)
Bidding went -
1S - 2D; 3C - 3S; 4H - 4NT; 5H - 6S.
Lead Heart King. Prajwal thinks for a short while and plays Heart Ace, followed by two quick rounds of top spades. The Queen did not drop. Playing for the Diamond finesse is the only hope, which worked. Twelve tricks and slam made. :)
********************************************************************************
A J x x
-void-
A K Q x x x
A x
K x x x
?
?
?
-under development-
********************************************************************************
Q 9 x x
A
A K Q x x
K x x
J T x
K J x x
T 8 x x x
x
-under development-
********************************************************************************
Cheers
Zzzz...
Guthi
K
KQ9xxx
Q9xx
Axx
RHO is the dealer:
P-1H-1S-2D;
p-?
I called 2S. There has been no prior understandings on these situations but I choose to bid 2S anyways. This generally means one of the two - Good raise in Diamonds; or asking for spade stopper. It will be better if we have agreement on if it show extras or not. Here on opponents kept passing, not even making lead directing doubles or asking what the bids meant. Here is what happened.
K
K Q 9 x x x
Q 9 x x
A x x
Q x x
A
A K 10 x x x
x x x
P - 1H - 1S - 2D;
p - 2S - p - 3S;
p - 4C - p - 4D;
p - 5D - End.
As you can see, slam in diamonds is a down unless there is a heart void with East.
In which case 6NT is safer. And it is a better bid at MPs.
Prajwal meant the 3S as showing half stopper in spades, or so he wanted to. (Qxx is a full stopper) I bid 4C showing my Ace of clubs. The 4D was confusing. We generally do not cue bid in the trump suit. Probably he was afraid to show singleton Ace of hearts. I have read somewhere that if the single ton is hearts do not show it, bid 4NT - this I do not understand. I took the 4D as showing poor values, and made a sign off looking bid of 5D. I never showed my extra heart, so I could have bid 4H over his 4D, if it understood as showing King of hearts or extra length, it should be good news. I wish we can bid these hands without trouble in the upcoming J.Nationals.
********************************************************************************
You hold
Q x
Q T x x
A x
A K Q 9 8
The auction is uncontested. Partner begins with 1D. You are playing 2/1, so you bid 2C, making life simple for partner. If 1H is bid, then over either a 1S or a 1NT rebid, there is a slight problem in showing your club suit. The requirement on suit quality should be agreed on.
Partner rebids his diamond suit cheaply. In 2/1 this bid is mandatory if the opener has 5 or more diamonds. You bid as planned, 2H. The entire auction is as follows.
1D - 2C
2D - 2H
2NT - 3C
3D - 4NT
5S - 6D
6NT - End
I held. Lead was spade Jack.
Q x
Q T x x
A x
A K Q 9 8
K x
A x
K Q x x x x
T x x
Let us count our tricks. 1+1+3+3=8; if diamonds break we get 3 more tricks. Still one trick short. Will we need the clubs to break as well? If they were 4-1, then 6D will make but not 6NT.
At IMPs, I would have left it there, but playing MPs I gambled for the NT contract.
I played low from dummy and RHO played low too, me winning with King. I quickly played low diamond to Ace, and a diamond back to hand. All followed. :-) quickly played off my diamonds discarding hearts and spades from dummy. There is one 4-1 break in clubs I can handle, if the 4 carder is with my LHO. So I preserve my heart ace and test the clubs, Alas, RHO has Jxxx in clubs! I cashed all the top clubs and played the lone heart queen from dummy and went up with my Ace and RHO drops the King! My last two cards were a small heart and a small spade. I did not watch the discards carefully. Playing a spade is a losing play, so I played the heart 6. Bingo, it won, we were lucky!
Any comments on the bidding? - till 6D :D
********************************************************************************
A
AJTxx
AQJTx
Kx
RHO opens 2S (weak), what is your call? 3S? What your agreements on these bids?
LHO raises it to 4S, partner passes. what now?
I bid 5D, which was doubled and went down 2. Looked like 4S was going down on any lead. One trick in each suit. I bid my way to a bottom. Anyways, partner had
Q x x
9 x x x
9 8 x
Q J x
A
AJTxx
AQJTx
Kx
I lost one club, one trump and two hearts. The hearts were 3-1, with LHO (one who raised spades) KQx. If the hearts were 2-2, it would have been better. Coming back to bidding, In Prajwal's position, would correct 5D to 5H - fair?
********************************************************************************
x
8 7 3
K 8 4 3
A K Q x x
(Prajwal-dummy)
A x x x x
Q J T x x
Q T 9
-void- :)
(Guthi)
Bidding went -
1C - 1S;
2C - 2H;
2NT - 3H;
4H -end.
It is always a problem with such hands when opener rebids his minor. What is would it mean if I bid 3H instead of 2H? A 5-5 with non GF values? It did not come to my mind at the table.
Play: Lead was a small diamond, taken by RHO with Ace, and returneda low diamond. I did not pay much attention to the spots played by LHO, so won with Queen in hand, cashed spade ace, ruffed on, played on top clubs discarding spades from hand. At this position, I led low heart from dummy to my Queen, taken by LHO with King. He thinks for a while and plays Ace of hearts and exits in a CLUB! Cupper, I claimed all. RHO began shouting, for his partner did not return a diamond for a ruff. I did follow the spots, he had echoed, playing high-low, asking for a ruff.
*******************************************************************************
J 9 x
A T x x
A Q J 8
A x
(Guthi)
A K 6 x x
x
T 9 x
K J x x
(Prajwal)
Bidding went -
1S - 2D; 3C - 3S; 4H - 4NT; 5H - 6S.
Lead Heart King. Prajwal thinks for a short while and plays Heart Ace, followed by two quick rounds of top spades. The Queen did not drop. Playing for the Diamond finesse is the only hope, which worked. Twelve tricks and slam made. :)
********************************************************************************
A J x x
-void-
A K Q x x x
A x
K x x x
?
?
?
-under development-
********************************************************************************
Q 9 x x
A
A K Q x x
K x x
J T x
K J x x
T 8 x x x
x
-under development-
********************************************************************************
Cheers
Zzzz...
Guthi
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Bidding doubts and Problems
Problem 1:
You hold
T9xx
AKJxx
x
Kxx
I hope all will agree that this hand is worth opening in any seat, any vul.
As dealer you open 1H and partner responds 2D. What is your rebid?
Playing SAYC, there is no option but to repeat your major. Playing 2/1, we have to bid
2S. ( -a- Isn't that compulsory? What do we do one small club is replaced by a small Heart)
-b- What if the the responders bid had been 2C? Should we bid our weak spade suit instead of showing support?
Problem 2:
You hold
xx
x
AKQJx
Qxxxx
In first seat partner opens the auction with 1H.
-c- What is your bid? What do you plan to rebid over 2H,2S, 2NT, 3C and3D. [You are playing 2/1. ]
Answers:
-a- It is compulsory to bid 2S and clarify the distribution. We all know that.
With a 6-4: I remember reading in A.R columns, he suggested that we bid the cheapest of the two bids. By that, its 2H here. It does not promise a 6 carder, right?
-b- It is still better to show the spade suit and clarify the distribution I think, I need some guidance here.
-c- Over rebids of 2H, 2S and 2NT, the call will be 3C.
Over a rebid of 3D, 4C ( showing 5-5 ?) If the majors were 1-2 instead of 2-1, is 3S a cue agreeing on Diamonds?
Over a rebid of 3C, 4C again?
Waiting from gyaan from the pundits of bidding.
Cheers,
Guthi
You hold
T9xx
AKJxx
x
Kxx
I hope all will agree that this hand is worth opening in any seat, any vul.
As dealer you open 1H and partner responds 2D. What is your rebid?
Playing SAYC, there is no option but to repeat your major. Playing 2/1, we have to bid
2S. ( -a- Isn't that compulsory? What do we do one small club is replaced by a small Heart)
-b- What if the the responders bid had been 2C? Should we bid our weak spade suit instead of showing support?
Problem 2:
You hold
xx
x
AKQJx
Qxxxx
In first seat partner opens the auction with 1H.
-c- What is your bid? What do you plan to rebid over 2H,2S, 2NT, 3C and3D. [You are playing 2/1. ]
Answers:
-a- It is compulsory to bid 2S and clarify the distribution. We all know that.
With a 6-4: I remember reading in A.R columns, he suggested that we bid the cheapest of the two bids. By that, its 2H here. It does not promise a 6 carder, right?
-b- It is still better to show the spade suit and clarify the distribution I think, I need some guidance here.
-c- Over rebids of 2H, 2S and 2NT, the call will be 3C.
Over a rebid of 3D, 4C ( showing 5-5 ?) If the majors were 1-2 instead of 2-1, is 3S a cue agreeing on Diamonds?
Over a rebid of 3C, 4C again?
Waiting from gyaan from the pundits of bidding.
Cheers,
Guthi
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Random Slam hand from 2007
You are in a 6D contact after your partner(dealer) opened 1NT and your LHO bid lots in Hearts. The bidding was
1NT-P-2S!-4H
Dbl - p - 5D -p
6D - End
(2S is minor suit stayman)
The lead is heart Q and the dummy tables
Qxx
AK98
Axx
K32
(Dummy)
Kx
x
KQJxxx
A985
(You)
There is no option but to go up with the Ace of hearts on the lead, RHO follows suit ( most likely a single ton) Looking at a potential club and spade loser, declarer has to be careful.
Declarer did this: Played a low spade right way, at trick two. West with some hesitation played low and the Queen of spades won the trick. Trumps were drawn in three rounds ending in dummy. Then played the Heart King, drop the Spade King, East too discarded a spade and West obviously followed suit. This marks East with exactly 7 hearts and one diamond, 1+ spades and ? clubs. All that is left to do is to play the club suit for not more than one loser. There is no end play situation possible, there was a chance if the trumps broke evenly.
K32 opposite A984
With six cards missing, if the suit breaks 3-3 all is well. If it is 4-2 with three of the club suit honours (Q,J,T) with the double ton, there is only one club loser. That was the case. LHO held QT of clubs. Declarer played Ace and King of clubs and exited in a club. West had Axx;QJTxxxx;x;QT Voila! The contact is home.
What would have happened if West wins Ace of spade at trick two and switches to heart/spade/diamond? Then the declarer can discard one club on spade queen and another on heart King. Same result. I do not know if there is a safer way to play this hand. Or if there is better defence.
Actually, This is what should have happened. When this hand actually came up, South played in 4NT. :D
I do not think there is a scientific way to bid it after such an intervention. Wonder how the auction would have been playing a strong club system. Also, I think North can chance a bid of 6NT (Especially at pairs?) As there is a high chance of heart ruff at trick one. With hearts doubly stopped, it shouldn't be a problem. What say?
Happy New Year!
Cheers
Guthi
1NT-P-2S!-4H
Dbl - p - 5D -p
6D - End
(2S is minor suit stayman)
The lead is heart Q and the dummy tables
Qxx
AK98
Axx
K32
(Dummy)
Kx
x
KQJxxx
A985
(You)
There is no option but to go up with the Ace of hearts on the lead, RHO follows suit ( most likely a single ton) Looking at a potential club and spade loser, declarer has to be careful.
Declarer did this: Played a low spade right way, at trick two. West with some hesitation played low and the Queen of spades won the trick. Trumps were drawn in three rounds ending in dummy. Then played the Heart King, drop the Spade King, East too discarded a spade and West obviously followed suit. This marks East with exactly 7 hearts and one diamond, 1+ spades and ? clubs. All that is left to do is to play the club suit for not more than one loser. There is no end play situation possible, there was a chance if the trumps broke evenly.
K32 opposite A984
With six cards missing, if the suit breaks 3-3 all is well. If it is 4-2 with three of the club suit honours (Q,J,T) with the double ton, there is only one club loser. That was the case. LHO held QT of clubs. Declarer played Ace and King of clubs and exited in a club. West had Axx;QJTxxxx;x;QT Voila! The contact is home.
What would have happened if West wins Ace of spade at trick two and switches to heart/spade/diamond? Then the declarer can discard one club on spade queen and another on heart King. Same result. I do not know if there is a safer way to play this hand. Or if there is better defence.
Actually, This is what should have happened. When this hand actually came up, South played in 4NT. :D
I do not think there is a scientific way to bid it after such an intervention. Wonder how the auction would have been playing a strong club system. Also, I think North can chance a bid of 6NT (Especially at pairs?) As there is a high chance of heart ruff at trick one. With hearts doubly stopped, it shouldn't be a problem. What say?
Happy New Year!
Cheers
Guthi
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