East West have missed 6♦
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Place the blame
#4
Posted 2020-March-10, 17:47
As a general rule, when partner has freely bid a suit at the one-level in which I have AQ93, and I have a chance to raise it to the 2-level, I take all my courage and force myself to do so.
The easiest way to count losers is to line up the people who talk about loser count, and count them. -Kieran Dyke
#5
Posted 2020-March-10, 19:07
cherdano, on 2020-March-10, 17:47, said:
As a general rule, when partner has freely bid a suit at the one-level in which I have AQ93, and I have a chance to raise it to the 2-level, I take all my courage and force myself to do so.
You are a fearless player. You could get doubled and go for 800 on a terrible day. Fortune favors the bold

#6
Posted 2020-March-10, 19:50
No reason for W not to raise diamonds immediately. Sure, he has a weak NT and quite often people pass with that on the second round; but even in such a style, this is no ordinary weak NT, with three aces, a ruffing value and great four-card support.
After 2D, E bids 2H, then after (3C) W doubles (game try/thrump) and E bids 5D, or at least 4D which gets raised.
Might be more interesting playing Walsh after 1C-1H start. Then I think W probably should pass on the second round. E balances with... 3D, I suppose (if 2D is non-forcing) and W can easily raise that to 5.
ahydra
After 2D, E bids 2H, then after (3C) W doubles (game try/thrump) and E bids 5D, or at least 4D which gets raised.
Might be more interesting playing Walsh after 1C-1H start. Then I think W probably should pass on the second round. E balances with... 3D, I suppose (if 2D is non-forcing) and W can easily raise that to 5.
ahydra
#7
Posted 2020-March-11, 00:42
Most systems are opening that hand 1♦ to begin with, and they'd have a much better time trying to find 5♦. 
Usually, with two-suited hands, I'd bypass the diamonds on hands that aren't worth two bids, and bid the diamonds on hands worth two bids. This assumes that I don't hold a 5 card major. So, 1♦ is just generally good news when I look at this hand in West. The opponent freely bidding clubs over a 1♣ opener is basically telegraphing that we have no wastage in clubs, and partner really figures for a singleton and a hand worth two bids. West's hand has grown up so much after South bids 2♣ that passing is criminal.
After South bids 2♣, as West I'd be doing almost everything I can to play 5♦. Of course, you're going to need a constructive auction to get there, it's not guaranteed just yet.

Usually, with two-suited hands, I'd bypass the diamonds on hands that aren't worth two bids, and bid the diamonds on hands worth two bids. This assumes that I don't hold a 5 card major. So, 1♦ is just generally good news when I look at this hand in West. The opponent freely bidding clubs over a 1♣ opener is basically telegraphing that we have no wastage in clubs, and partner really figures for a singleton and a hand worth two bids. West's hand has grown up so much after South bids 2♣ that passing is criminal.
After South bids 2♣, as West I'd be doing almost everything I can to play 5♦. Of course, you're going to need a constructive auction to get there, it's not guaranteed just yet.
#9
Posted 2020-March-11, 02:54
No further comment on the strange bidding (as everyone else has commented.) I wouldn't want either East or West as teammates on my team if they were this timid. 'Little old lady bridge' comes to mind, and whilst I am perhaps seen as a little old lady myself these days, I don't underbid this badly.
#10
Posted 2020-March-11, 03:33
Am I the only person who thinks this is 15 not 14 ? good intermediates, 3 bullets, 1N opener for me.
K&R gives 14.95.
We would open 1♦ with this shape anyway if we decided this was too good for a weak NT, but not bidding 2♦ having opened 1♣ is horrible
K&R gives 14.95.
We would open 1♦ with this shape anyway if we decided this was too good for a weak NT, but not bidding 2♦ having opened 1♣ is horrible
#11
Posted 2020-March-11, 06:51
Cyberyeti, on 2020-March-11, 03:33, said:
Am I the only person who thinks this is 15 not 14 ? good intermediates, 3 bullets, 1N opener for me.
I wouldn't upgrade but I very much respect the decision to do so.
The easiest way to count losers is to line up the people who talk about loser count, and count them. -Kieran Dyke
#12
Posted 2020-March-11, 09:50
Cyberyeti, on 2020-March-11, 03:33, said:
Am I the only person who thinks this is 15 not 14 ? good intermediates, 3 bullets, 1N opener for me.
K&R gives 14.95.
We would open 1♦ with this shape anyway if we decided this was too good for a weak NT, but not bidding 2♦ having opened 1♣ is horrible
K&R gives 14.95.
We would open 1♦ with this shape anyway if we decided this was too good for a weak NT, but not bidding 2♦ having opened 1♣ is horrible
Like it or not we are playing a system where a 1♦ opener guarantees 5 cards in an unbalanced hand.
Exception 4441 hands also open 1♦
All weak NT hands are opened 1♣
I agree that this makes an upgrade to 1N even more desirable
#13
Posted 2020-March-11, 19:00
I don't know whether I'm upgrading. But after I open 1C and hear 1D, I should be extremely happy that I have done - we've found a fit that's usually difficult to find! Time to raise. E could bid more, but with shortage in partner's suit and a useless jack, I don't think I would bother.
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