Regional

[garzahd]

This weekend is the Pittsburgh Regional. Yesterday, mpa and I finished our third and fourth of six planned sessions. We had a solid afternoon, just under 60%, and enough serendipitous gifts in the evening to bring us to 2nd in A for 11.81 gold. Quite the lump sum.

Here's a bidding problem we had:

x KQJx

Comments

[skydiamonde]

!! As West I would've bid 4D Law of total tricks says to be here if p has 3 (you're supposed to pretend he has 4 though I think), it shows a weaker hand than 3D (well there aren't many HCP though it's strong offensively and 3D would be a free bid) and it gives enough space for p to correct to 4H or 4S with the big hand with a suit. (Over 4S I'm likely to bid diamonds again though I think... not sure. Over 4H I might bid 5H or something).

With p's 4D bid as east.... Ugh I have no clue actually.

Let's say West does bid 3D. Being a free bid and not a jump, it should show some points. I'd cuebid with East hand at this point by bidding 4C. Definitely strong enough for it. West at this point would probably bid 4H to show something extra and that may be enough for East to just go to 6.

=) Grats though! 11.81 gold is more than the total number of points I have for the year. =p

[agh]

Yes, I think you're right. 5d is pretty wussy. I suspect
1c X 3c 3d
P 4c P 5d
P 6d

would be the most common way to get there. W showed some life with 5d (I think that's stronger than 4d in this auction, not completely sure), which is enough to convince E.

4c should agree diamonds since it's past 3NT. if kickback were available, W could bid 4H, but with 4NT W has no way of getting out in 5d when you have only two aces.

[nobleshore]

How did I miss this blog??? =) Anyway I think you both underbid -- note that if the 21 count was instead Axxx AQx AQxx Ax grand would be cold. I like 5d by West over 3c, 6c by East, 6d West, and a reluctant pass by East