Opening Dilemma

15th September – Board 11: Love All. Dealer South.
There were many varied results on the hand shown below and what happened at the table was to a large extent determined by what South chose to open. My own personal choice would be to go all the way and kick things off with 5C, which I guess East would double. That would beat par in that 5C is only two down while 5D is a make, but a slower approach by South might reap dividends (although in fact it wouldn’t.)


West
North
East
South
1C
1H
No
4H
5C
No
No
Dbl
End
South is likely to ‘save’ over 4H by bidding 5C but just suppose he didn’t. It would be superhuman of North not to lead his singleton club and then a successful trump finesse allows West to make an easy twelve tricks. But just imagine North leads a diamond instead. Now the defence can take the first four tricks, which goes to show I suppose just how difficult the game can be.
Posted by

4 comments:

  1. Robin18 September 2011 at 22:55

    I opened 1C, West overcalled 1H and East went to 4H. I passed that rather than saving. Partner led the singleton club, which I win with the jack (East 'ducked' the first club - I suppose East had no reason to think South had very long clubs.) I led back a low club for North to ruff, who led a diamond back. Another club (over)ruff to the King and two side tricks meant 4H was down 3. 12 imps to the good, but where does it get you? 4th. I demand a recount of the 6 missing points.
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dave18 September 2011 at 23:19

    You sound a very bitter man. Just think where you might have ended up if West had not ducked the first club. I wonder why they did that anyway? It surely can never gain and might lose - as you saw. I always think it is important to have a reason for any action taken at the table.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous19 September 2011 at 17:45

    I thought the hand was too good to open 5C first in hand. But perhaps it does need too much from partner to think there's a chance of a slam. Certainly i would have bid that 3rd in hand. Oponents ended up in 4D which i thought might go down so i didn't bid on. Partner led a club which declarer won, then led a top heart, and had soon made 12 tricks. Hey ho

    After 1C 1H wouldn't North bid 1S? He has a 6-card suit and the HK looks good

    jill

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dave19 September 2011 at 18:37

    Yes of course North would have bid 1S. It was just an oversight on my part.

    ReplyDelete

If using the 'Anonymous' option for adding a comment please write your name in the comment box so we all know who has commented. You will also need to copy the word shown before you can publish your comment (to reduce spam.) Thanks, Dave.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)