[pilowsky]

fascinating hand and discussion thank you

[thepossum]

Intermediate possum bids 4S

1. Loser count doesnt indicate slam but good chance of game
2. Law indicates 10 tricks
3. Possum Sim (Intermediate Version 0.1.35) indicates more than 10 tricks is unlikely
4. Pre-empt and don't give opps a chance
5. Majority responses to poll suggest 4S

There is always the chance I guess that a pass is ok and LHO holds all spades and decent controls and passes for penalty. Even a reoduble but I wouldn't risk leaving that to go round - it would be good though I suppose there is always the chance of rejoining later, competing and getting doubled for pen. These rather depend on scoring method being used and Possum Sim doesnt yet take account of vulnerability and scoring 2S+2 redoubled would be good but would they let me make it Changing my vote to pass and rejoin and compete - hoping for a penalty double but.....an immediate 4S removes much of the risk or missing out

[miamijd]

A few more observations:

1. There's generally little point asking bidding questions regarding an auction where one player made a ridiculous call that no one else in their right mind would make. Given the actual auction, it doesn't matter what South does, West is going to bid 6H, and then if N/S bid 6S, probably 7C (uh oh).

2. You should have methods over a X of a weak 2 bid. Simple McCabe is halfway decent (then 3C shows spade support and asks for a club lead), but some form of Transfer McCabe is much better.

There are two widely played methods of Transfer McCabe. The first one is the better known. Over 2S (hearts is similar) X:

With a penalty-oriented hand, you pass first, then XXX is a transfer to C and shows either a long club suit OR spade support wanting a club lead
2NT is Ogust or feature or whatever you play -- invite or better
3C is like XX only for D
3D is like XX only for H
3H is a spade raise asking for a spade lead (has A or Ks)
3S is a spade raise without the A or Ks (but no other great lead)

There is also a variant generally credited to Jeff Meckstroth, which is also known as "suit lead":

XX generally indicates a good hand with a void in partner's major (so that partner can leave it with a good six-bagger and run with a five-card opener or a bad six-carder)
2NT is a long club suit OR spade support wanting a club lead
3C is like 2NT but for D
3H is a game try in spades
3S is a simple raise

Either one of these is a big improvement over standard methods.

3. I would encourage you to scrap your agreement that you never open 2S with a four-card H suit. Every expert in the world is going to open 2S with something like:

KQJTxx Jxxx xx x

Passing this hand is just silly. Now if you have:

KJ9xxx KQxx xx x

then yes, I would pass.

Cheers,
Mike

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2019-October-25, 16:22, said:

Fielding a psyche?

His partner clearly wasn't counting on much more. But as a TD I wouldn't consider it a psyche - he does have hearts, a shortage in spades and plausible constructive intent. I would want to see how doubling style is described on their systems card, though.

[pescetom]

Thanks Mike.
1. not sure I agree, I think South's call is a function of her hand and the auction and should be evaluated as such, as we did here - that debate does not lose meaning because we disapprove of EW decisions.
2. nice toy, will adopt in main partnership (not this one).
3. I take your point, but I find rigidity about majors useful for stability when playing with multiple partners of wildly varying levels. If I was playing with you and you only I would happily trust your judgement on this.

[msjennifer]

Sirs, pardon me for my comment .My bid is 4 Spade .what else?.Afterwards I scrolled down and saw EAST hand.He probably put the DBL card on the table by utter mistake or else he was playing with marbles and not money.

[pescetom]

msjennifer, on 2019-October-26, 10:16, said:

Sirs, pardon me for my comment .My bid is 4 Spade .what else?

What else indeed, but there are some intermediates who would not bid it and others who might be unsure. This forum is to help them.

msjennifer, on 2019-October-26, 10:16, said:

Afterwards I scrolled down and saw EAST hand.He probably put the DBL card on the table by utter mistake or else he was playing with marbles and not money.

East didn't risk much money by playing a simultaneous pairs tournament, but he didn't win it back either. I took a look now and they clearly were playing unusually, out of 22 boards played they scored <20% in 8 and >70% in 6.