bob@rlgvax.UUCP (Mr. Fun) (09/15/83)
I enjoyed the Bidding Contest and would like to see more of them.
I might mention that this type of contest is a regular feature in the
bridge magazine "The Bridge World". This style of contest has been
copied many times, by many groups, including the local Northern
Virginia Bridge Association in their Newsletter.
I do want to make one comment about Problem #7 in the B1 contest.
I'll repeat the problem here for reference:
Hand 7:
South S W N E matchpoints
S:AQJ74 -- P P P Vul vs Vul
H:AJ86 1S P 4S P
D:A ?
C:AJ8
The scoring given indicated that the correct actions were either
4NT or a direct 6S. The comment with the problem stated that
"partner should have 5 spades, singleton or better distribution,
and a minimum amount of points(6-9). Is this enough for slam?
Probably." I agree with the observation that slam is likely
if partner holds that type of hand. I would not be pleased however
if partner made that bid with that hand. I admit that the hand
with good trump support, a singleton, and 7-9 HCPs is hard to bid
in most systems (you need a mini-splinter type bid), but that's
no excuse for making a bid that shows a MUCH weaker hand. In fact,
the hand that supposedly came down, (6 spades to the ten, a singleton
and two queens), is about what I would expect. I admit that the
singleton DIAMOND is a surprise, but it just shows why that is a
good bid. If opener had a normal, weaker opening hand, the 4S call
helps shut out the opponent's superior contract. Note that
although declarer was unlucky to have two of three finesses lose,
needing two of three finesses win isn't all that great odds, AND
declarer was lucky that none of dummy's points were in diamonds,
where they rated to be, giving declarer NO chance at making slam.
Obviously, what this all boils down to is a defense of the all
too often neglected call "PASS"! If you expect partner to have
a poor hand for this bid, then there is NO excuse for turning a
likely plus into a minus score.
--
Bob Fabrizio
..!{seismo,mcnc,we13,allegra}!rlgvax!bob