[Cyberyeti]

We lost 12 IMPs on this board, there were plenty of chances to do better at both tables.

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I believe the auction is correct, it's possible W passed rather than bidding 3♥, anyway 4♣ made 10 for -130, at the other table, 5♦ was doubled (I don't know the auction), 2♣ was led, the spade ruffs were missed and that was -550.

[kenrexford]

5♦ by East can be set three tricks. Allowing it to make is bizarre but has nothing to do with the bidding.

North-South seem cold for 11 tricks in clubs, and 5♣ seems like an easy contract to get to. You kept them out somehow and then limited them to 10 tricks by magic.

Sounds like a play problem more than a bidding problem.

[Fluffy]

what looks bizarre is to play 5♦ when west is dealer.

West has a hand good enough for a 4♠ drive if 2♠ is a semi constructive raise (6-10 if balanced)

[Cyberyeti]

 kenrexford, on 2013-November-07, 07:35, said:

5♦ by East can be set three tricks. Allowing it to make is bizarre but has nothing to do with the bidding.

North-South seem cold for 11 tricks in clubs, and 5♣ seems like an easy contract to get to. You kept them out somehow and then limited them to 10 tricks by magic.

Sounds like a play problem more than a bidding problem.

Can be set by 2, not 3, but as soon as you lead a small club the maximum set is 1. I think K♣ should be led and that will ensure the set. I'm not disappointed so much by letting them play 4♣, I'm disappointed in not getting the diamonds into the auction at all.

[kenrexford]

 Cyberyeti, on 2013-November-07, 07:43, said:

Can be set by 2, not 3, but as soon as you lead a small club the maximum set is 1. I think K♣ should be led and that will ensure the set. I'm not disappointed so much by letting them play 4♣, I'm disappointed in not getting the diamonds into the auction at all.

I always have an extra trump up my sleeve.

[ggwhiz]

The south hand is much too good to pass 4♣ unless north has a history of making a bid like that on air. The Q♦ even looks like a positive value when the suit hasn't been bid and north is marked with a spade void.

I can only guess spades were not supported at the other table which makes the K♣ an attractive lead but it's not criminal to miss it when you are looking at the A♥ to get in and lead whatever through. After a low club the sight of dummies spade tricks has to send north into emergency mode for a heart switch but I don't know anyone who hasn't missed one of those on occasion.

[Cyberyeti]

 ggwhiz, on 2013-November-07, 09:40, said:

The south hand is much too good to pass 4♣ unless north has a history of making a bid like that on air. The Q♦ even looks like a positive value when the suit hasn't been bid and north is marked with a spade void.

I can only guess spades were not supported at the other table which makes the K♣ an attractive lead but it's not criminal to miss it when you are looking at the A♥ to get in and lead whatever through. After a low club the sight of dummies spade tricks has to send north into emergency mode for a heart switch but I don't know anyone who hasn't missed one of those on occasion.

Even if N finds the heart switch, if spades weren't supported it's not impossible S returned a heart playing N for KJx.

[ggwhiz]

 Cyberyeti, on 2013-November-07, 10:23, said:

Even if N finds the heart switch, if spades weren't supported it's not impossible S returned a heart playing N for KJx.

Shouldn't happen with the 8♥ shift instead of the 3 but there are a lot of landmines to be stepped on.

[Cyberyeti]

 ggwhiz, on 2013-November-07, 10:35, said:

Shouldn't happen with the 8♥ shift instead of the 3 but there are a lot of landmines to be stepped on.

Isn't that what happens with KJ8, declarer surely plays the 9 from 93.

[ggwhiz]

 Cyberyeti, on 2013-November-07, 10:54, said:

Isn't that what happens with KJ8, declarer surely plays the 9 from 93.

Landmine alert! Tip of the cap to declarer and onwards but perhaps the J♥ would be the right shift? Maybe if west got to bid hearts and they were not supported (spades either) so it's auction dependent.

[mcphee]

When i looked at this hand I found it difficult to understand why S was such a baby in the bidding. The South hand fails to reach a game after a 2 level o/c from partner, and basically did nothing to assist in the bidding of game. A simple raise with this hand is just not practical. The odds are huge partner is void of S, they hold a ruffing value in D, 2 trump honors and an Ace. This player might have been thinking they were being jockeyed out of a slam!!

[Zelandakh]

Quite aside from the possibility of making 5♣, it would be interesting to see if West could find the diamond lead when South bids a simple 3NT over 2♠. Bringing back 4♣= on this board was something of a minor miracle. To ATB we need to see the other table - clearly 100% should be assigned there.