[phil_20686]

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I was sitting east. Was it wrong to bid 4S? Wrong to bid 5S? Wrong to bid 4C?

[paulg]

Hands like this are far easier afterwards than at the table, but I'm not convinced by the 4♠ bid when partner has not introduced the suit. I think this call is encouraging partner to sacrifice if they bid 5♥ and I don't think you want to do this at equal vulnerability. I know it is strange to criticise the most successful call in the auction, but I think you are aiming for a small target with it.

[Cyberyeti]

No real blame, some very slight adjustments to the other hands and 5♥ makes on the likely A♣ lead.

[whereagles]

Seems normal. -200 vs what could be -650 is normal insurance. Too bad 5H is +100.

[MrAce]

whereagles, on 2014-August-08, 07:45, said:

Seems normal. -200 vs what could be -650 is normal insurance. Too bad 5H is +100.

I understand the urge to reply to each and every single topic posted. After all what makes us a good contributer is the number of our total posts! However it's even better to look at the auction and vulnerability and the play/defense before coming to a conclusion about the scores. Disregard if you guys have different awards for doubled undertricks in the zone you are playing.

[PhantomSac]

I'm sure I'd bid how both east and west bid. Being 1-1 is often bad, from wests point of view if east is 4216 5S could easily be making. It's a pretty big burn to go down 2 and it's also a burn that you have a diamond trick between you. I think it's just unlucky.

[ahydra]

I like 4S - allows partner to judge what to do over 5H, as was the case here. And I agree with those who say this is unlucky, because West has no reason to guess his ♦Jxx is worth a full trick. He has a massive double-fit, so has every right to assume the opps do as well. (Partner might have a singleton Q in diamonds, yes, but then again spades might also break 3-1)

As for MrAce's comment - while he has a point, I wonder whether constructive criticism might be a better approach. My reading of whereagles' post is "5SX looks to only be down 200 from West's point of view, with 5H extremely likely to make; pity it's actually one off" (and surely nobody's doubling 5H) - essentially another way of wording what everyone else is saying.

ahydra

[whereagles]

Well, I dunno... maybe it's just time for me to move into a more civilized environment.

[gszes]

keep up the good work and don't let a small slip (pounced on by our local cougar) get you down. Plenty of
civilized chat here just try to ignore the rare negative outburst. I agree with the thought that -500 in 5s
should be a reasonable form of insurance. Listening to the bidding your hand rates to have very little to
no defense and it seems unlikely p can produce 3 tricks to set 5h.

[MrAce]

whereagles, on 2014-August-09, 08:31, said:

Well, I dunno... maybe it's just time for me to move into a more civilized environment.

Promises promises :-P (joke)

[Fluffy]

its a large double fit hand, 5 level is where it should be.