[MrAce]

Auction at table 1

---

Auction at table 2

---

Do you blame North for passing ?

[gnasher]

Quote

Do you blame North for passing ?

Yes. When someone bids a major opposite a preempt, and you have loads of points with length in the major, it's very likely to be a psyche, so you should assume that.

Your methods should assume that too, so double should either show spades, or be a takeout double of diamonds (I prefer the latter). On this hand, the hand fits either description, and you'd probably get away with not having discussed it.

Getting to the grand slam would be tricky, however.

[gwnn]

gnasher, on 2011-September-09, 03:54, said:

Yes. When someone bids a major opposite a preempt, and you have loads of points with length in the major, it's very likely to be a psyche, so you should assume that.

Your methods should assume that too, so double should either show spades, or be a takeout double of diamonds (I prefer the latter). On this hand, the hand fits either description, and you'd probably get away with not having discussed it.

Getting to the grand slam would be tricky, however.

I agree with all this, but I'm afraid it would go

3♦-p-4♠-x
p-p-6♦-???

I don't see how south can pull on the 6 level.

Of course, N/S would be in even bigger problem if it had gone 3♦-p-6♦. And anyway, I am probably influenced by seeing east's very good 7 card suit, something which is usually a rarity in most partnerships.

[gordontd]

I blame East at table 2 for bidding 7♦.

[ArtK78]

Wow. Do I blame North for passing? ABSOLUTELY! He knows with a certainty (something in excess of 99.99%) that 4♠ is a psyche.

The 4♠ psyche was certainly well timed and is going to be difficult to overcome. But North's pass of 4♠ is beyond belief.

[Hanoi5]

North for passing and East for bidding 7♦.

[Phil]

gordontd, on 2011-September-09, 05:06, said:

I blame East at table 2 for bidding 7♦.

Then you 'only' lose 13.

4♠ is a beautiful psyche.

[neilkaz]

4♠ is a nice psych, but north simply has to double with his monster and if S bids or jumps to slam in ♥ or better yet ♣ he cartainly has support.

[Yu18772]

Wests psych just told N that NS have a fit in ♠ and probable slam. So X, 5♦ or 5♠ all come to mind, pass does not. X seems the most flexible......

[aguahombre]

Didn't someone do this on vugraph about 6 months ago on a different layout at all white with a push for matching -450's?

[pooltuna]

At table 1 the question was do I blame N for passing...answer HELL YES!!!!

[fuburules3]

According to the BBO front page, Fantunes play that a double of 4♠ shows hearts and clubs. Given this, what should North's plan be? Double and pass partner's bid?

[MrAce]

This was a ahnd from last nigt BBO vugraph between the teams Netherland - Ita/England

At table one Muller opened 3♦, South F.Fantoni passed. West De Wijs bid 4♠, and C.Nunes passed ending defending 4♠, it was -10 but he i think erred due to frustration and settled -9.

This was the most costly psyche hand i had seen at top level.

[xxhong]

North can double 4S first then pass 6D as a forcing pass. It would be an easy call for south to bid 6S. 7S is quite difficult to bid IMO.
The best bid is still 6D by west, north need to be very brave to make an overcall at 6 level with only 5 cards.
This hand shows that psyche shouldn't work out well if opps are prepared for it.

gwnn, on 2011-September-09, 03:58, said:

I agree with all this, but I'm afraid it would go

3♦-p-4♠-x
p-p-6♦-???

I don't see how south can pull on the 6 level.

Of course, N/S would be in even bigger problem if it had gone 3♦-p-6♦. And anyway, I am probably influenced by seeing east's very good 7 card suit, something which is usually a rarity in most partnerships.

[Phil]

Simon is my hero.

[FrancesHinden]

I was told the other day that the Italians also play double as take-out in auctions such as 1H x 1S x.
Remember to psyche against them.

[gwnn]

xxhong, on 2011-September-09, 14:18, said:

North can double 4S first then pass 6D as a forcing pass. It would be an easy call for south to bid 6S. 7S is quite difficult to bid IMO.
The best bid is still 6D by west, north need to be very brave to make an overcall at 6 level with only 5 cards.
This hand shows that psyche shouldn't work out well if opps are prepared for it.

South only has an easy 6♠ bid if North doubles promising 5 spades (penalty double). I was replying to gnasher assuming we play his (and my) preference of X=takeout of diamonds. If we play that, south doesn't have an easy pull at all. For all he knows, the majors from North might be reversed. Pulling to 7♣ looks crazy to me.

I agreed with you about 3d-p-6d as you probably noticed.

[whereagles]

Phil, on 2011-September-09, 09:35, said:

4♠ is a beautiful psyche.

It's beautiful if you don't play the right methods. An experienced player can easily psyche here. Penalty dbl over responder's suit is thus a necessity.

[whereagles]

FrancesHinden, on 2011-September-09, 16:04, said:

I was told the other day that the Italians also play double as take-out in auctions such as 1H x 1S x.
Remember to psyche against them.

You're not going anywhere because if advancer has spades, he just bids a natural 2S. The difference between this auction and the previous is that before you are at the 3 or 4 or 5 level and have no clue as to pard's spade length.

[JLOGIC]

So, my dad loves this psyche, and I've seen it work against very good players. Once, Bob Hamman said that if your opp does this, you should simply bid 6S with a hand like norths. The theory being they are 4Ming on their short major to try and screw you since X is takeout, which means you have a fit. You should also assume you have a slam because A) you probably do and B) they will just save w/r a ton of the time when you just jump to 6S, not knowing you are adjusting to their psyche, that is part of the beauty of just jumping to 6S (and you will always be r/w pretty much, since vul opps don't try this psyche).

Of course if they knew all of this, they could jump to 4S with like semi-long spades, psyching the psyche, then not save or w/e but thats pretty contrived.