Wednesday, 11 April 2012

At the last minute

Fifth round of the BBO InterCity League and Phil M and I were called up to play an hour before the match when one of the team fell ill. We've played a few times before and sketched out the rest of the system in the thirty minutes we had and this proved sufficient for the match.

With Mike and Miro at the other table we had a comfortable 51-16 imps win, converting to 23-7 VPs. We retain the final qualifying position in the group but play the team below us next week in what, in all probability, will decide who makes the knock-out stages.

Things started well when our opponents had a bidding misunderstanding and stopped in a partscore after a game-forcing response. I was slightly worried that 3NT appeared to have little play and they'd get lucky: indeed Mike and Miro bid a poor slam on the cards, but their defender tried to take the contract two down and inadvertently let it make for 13 imps to the good/lucky guys.

Phil and I pulled in twelve imps when the opponents got too high and we were able to double when trumps were 5-0. Then a decision in the auction for me:


Your call?

In the remaining boards Phil and I missed a twenty-one point game that probably needed two of three finesses and a 3-2 break, but all finesses worked and breaks were friendly: but got the points back when our opponents missed an easier game.

All to play for next week.

4 comments:

  1. Double if it's 'cards' I guess. Hope I can do it in tempo! Does depend a bit on the vul, and our agreement about soundness of 2 level overcalls of course.

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  2. Is double here a DSI (do something intelligent) call? Seems like it should be -- can hardly be strictly penalty with opponents showing such a strong fit, and that would be my choice. Hoping that partner bids a game in one of three suits next.

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  3. johnm1:45 pm

    Pass would be my choice. Partner still has another chance.

    Your comments indicate that opponents were also an irregular
    partnership. So relying on responder to have 5 card support hence making double more attractive
    seems dodgy to me whatever the vulnerability.

    If partner is 3163 what is he
    supposed to do if you double?

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  4. X is my 1st choice and pass my second, anything else would just be insane(I saw your action at the table and thought you just flew the cuckoo's nest...even if it worked out spectacularly well).

    I think you have to do something with such good cards and a doubelton H. I prefer X because partner might have the cards for game/convert and not know it, but also do you really want to play 4S with a poxy 5-3 fit? Happy if partner bids 5D with 3163.

    Cliff

    BTW: I have never heard of X here being 'penalties', 'do something sensible' or 'cards'.

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