13 September 2011

Of course I bid 1NT

If you didn't see my last post here's the hand:

K 2
K 5 3
K T 8 2
A J 8 7

The question was what to rebid on the following auction:
1 - (pass) - 1 - (1) ?

1NT is the obvious choice (instead of 2) but I didn't feel good about it when this happened:

SouthWestNorthEast
1 pass 1 1
1NT pass pass 2
?

Now I feel like I've kept a secret from partner and because of that he won't know whether to compete or not. I've got a max for my earlier bidding and that's a justification right?

SouthWestNorthEast
1 pass 1 1
1NT pass pass 2
3 3 4 4
?

Eek! What have I done? I can't possibly bid again. Pass smoothly and hope.

SouthWestNorthEast
1 pass 1 1
1NT pass pass 2
3 3 4 4
pass pass 5 pass
pass pass

And why did nobody double? This is definitely the weirdest auction I've seen in a while. Let me count the ways:

  1. West forgot about his spade fit the first time.
  2. We signed off in 1NT then bid 5 minor
  3. We agreed one minor then played in the other
  4. EW might have left 1NT but now think we can make 11 tricks

It is a pity they didn't double.

-
J T 6 2
A J 9 4
Q 9 6 4 3
J T 9 8 7
9 7 4
7 3
T 5 2
A Q 6 5 4 3
A Q 8
Q 6 5
K
K 2
K 5 3
K T 8 2
A J 8 7

The play wasn't too taxing. You must lead a small club off the dummy rather than the Queen so you don't lose a club trick. After that it's just a case of dithering around until you get the count and hook East for the Q.

Eleven tricks, a little sad that we couldn't bid it unaided but I guess that's the problem with playing a 1 opening that doesn't really show anything.

2 comments:

  1. I have had some disputes with partners about this very type of sequence. I personally am more and more convinced that raising minors immediately wins in the long run. Obviously, you give partner good news on all of the hands where it matters. But, more importantly, the real reason to rush to 1NT is the matchpoints gainer. But, 1NT does not buy the contract as much as it did in the past, anyway. Placing general shape and strength on the tabloe is good, but "general shape and strength" also is placed on the table when you make a single raise. It is just what feature you choose to describe first.

    In a similar vein, I find that 1C-P-1NT-P-2C is OFTEN the best sequence, in the end.

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  2. I was hoping you were listening Ken!

    The whole post was gently directed towards showing minors rather than just bidding the no trumps. I've seen a few hands recently where owning up to the minor fit has been critical to winning the part score battle.

    Your comment on 1NT not winning auctions like it used to is interesting. The weak NT used to be a powerful weapon for stealing contracts.

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