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One down for a bottom after a diamond lead ruffed followed by ♠A. 6NT is cold. Is there a way of countering the Lightner double to bid the NT slam the right way round depending on who has a stop? Those who played in 5♥ made 12 tricks as they didn't get the diamond lead, a couple were defending a high spade contract getting +500 or +800.
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countermeasures to lightner double
#1
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Posted 2021-April-11, 12:22
This hand came up years ago in a county mixed pairs qualifying event. I was East.
One down for a bottom after a diamond lead ruffed followed by ♠A. 6NT is cold. Is there a way of countering the Lightner double to bid the NT slam the right way round depending on who has a stop? Those who played in 5♥ made 12 tricks as they didn't get the diamond lead, a couple were defending a high spade contract getting +500 or +800.
One down for a bottom after a diamond lead ruffed followed by ♠A. 6NT is cold. Is there a way of countering the Lightner double to bid the NT slam the right way round depending on who has a stop? Those who played in 5♥ made 12 tricks as they didn't get the diamond lead, a couple were defending a high spade contract getting +500 or +800.
#2
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Posted 2021-April-11, 12:36
6NT? you could be off 2 aces. so 6♥ would fail also. if you really feel that 6Nt is a better contract then west needs to trust partner and bid it after the lightner double with ♠Kx
#3
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Posted 2021-April-11, 12:47
You probably could spend half an hour thinking about it and devise a system.
The problem is twofold:
1) Any system for running commits you to being in 6N from one side or the other. However, a lot of the time, your best choice at that point will be to sit in 6♥X and go down 1 (rather than being in 6NX and down a lot or 7♥X down 2).
2) You're going to use this once every 5 years. Are you going to remember?
I think West should just bid 6N here.
The problem is twofold:
1) Any system for running commits you to being in 6N from one side or the other. However, a lot of the time, your best choice at that point will be to sit in 6♥X and go down 1 (rather than being in 6NX and down a lot or 7♥X down 2).
2) You're going to use this once every 5 years. Are you going to remember?
I think West should just bid 6N here.
#4
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Posted 2021-April-12, 15:48
You don't need a convention. Whoever has a spade stopper bids 6NT. If neither of you has it, there's nowhere to run, so you pass, go down 1, and congratulate the opponents.
#5
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Posted 2021-April-13, 05:53
barmar, on 2021-April-12, 15:48, said:
You don't need a convention. Whoever has a spade stopper bids 6NT. If neither of you has it, there's nowhere to run, so you pass, go down 1, and congratulate the opponents.
Yes it probably is that simple in the end. I'm not worried about it, it is not going to happen again for years if ever, I was merely curious if any agreements existed in this situation.
#6
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Posted 2021-April-15, 15:03
It's definitely not worth having a convention. You're unlikely to get even 1 Lightner double in a year, and hardly every more than 1 with the same partner (unless you have very few partners). And if it does come up again with a partner that you've discussed it with, what's the chance that both of you will remember what you decided.
Spend your time firming up your agreements on common situations, don't worry about twice-in-a-lifetime bids.
Spend your time firming up your agreements on common situations, don't worry about twice-in-a-lifetime bids.
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