Match 2 - Board 31

Board 31
Our side vulnerable

♠ J ♥ K 10 3 2 ♦ A K 8 7 4 3 ♣ 9 3

I open one diamond, LHO overcalls one spade, partner bids two clubs, and RHO cue-bids two diamonds, showing a constructive raise.

What should opener's rebids mean on this auction? Passing should show better defense than offense, in other words, either a balanced hand or an unbalanced misfit (such as a 3-4-5-1 pattern). Doubling should show a better hand of the same type and should establish a force. Jack thinks I should pass with this hand because I have a minimum, but that's nonsense. You can't pass with an offensively oriented hand, since this may be your last chance to describe your hand at a relatively low level. The idea that a free bid in a competitive auction shows extra values was debunked back in the 60s. It's hard to imagine passing with any hand that includes six diamonds. I bid two hearts.

If RHO had passed, I would have rebid two diamonds. Two hearts, as a reverse, would establish a game force opposite partner's two-over-one. In this auction, two hearts does not create a game force, because it is cheaper than rebidding diamonds. Accordingly, minimum rebids by responder (two notrump, three clubs, or three diamonds) are all passable. If responder wants to set up a game force, he has a cue-bid available.

I should point out that not everyone would agree with what I've said here. Some, like Jack, would pass over two diamonds, thinking any action should show a better hand. Others would go ahead and bid two hearts but would consider it a tactical overbid and would still play responder's rebids as forcing. Neither approach makes sense to me.

Over two hearts, LHO bids two spades, and partner bids three spades. Obviously partner agrees with me that two hearts does not establish a game force. Otherwise he would just pass rather than consume a full round of bidding without saying anything useful.

RHO passes. Interesting. If RHO isn't doubling the cue-bid, I wonder if my singleton jack of spades is enough for me to bid three notrump. Maybe. But I'm too chicken to try it. I bid four diamonds, and partner raises to five. LHO leads the ace of spades.

	NORTH ♠ K 6 4 3 ♥ 5 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ K Q J 4 2
	SOUTH ♠ J ♥ K 10 3 2 ♦ A K 8 7 4 3 ♣ 9 3

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
1 ♠	2 ♣	2 ♦1	2 ♥
2 ♠	3 ♠	Pass	4 ♦
Pass	5 ♦	(All pass)
1Constructive raise

I don't understand the cue-bid. If partner thinks two hearts establishes a game force, then a forcing two notrump bid seems like the right call. And if he thinks two hearts does not establish a game force, then a non-forcing two notrump seems like the right call. What's the point of three spades? To my mind, the auction should have proceeded two notrump--three diamonds--pass.

Of course, the cue-bid might have worked out if I had had the courage to bid three notrump. If LHO has ace-queen of spades and leads a low one, I would make it. At the very least, I have a better chance of making three notrump from my side than I have of making this.

RHO plays the five of spades, and LHO shifts to the six of hearts. RHO plays the ace, and I drop the deuce. RHO continues with the queen of hearts. Really? Why are the opponents so sure I don't have a singleton club? Shouldn't they be cashing the club ace?

Is there any way I can possibly take advantage of the opponents' carelessness? Not that I see. The best I can do is to make the opponents feel stupid by creating the illusion that I have a singleton club.

I ruff the heart in dummy, cash the spade king, pitch a club, and snicker. (An advantage of playing against the computer. I couldn't snicker against humans. That would be coffeehousing.) East ought to be feeling a surge of panic right now. Is he panicked enough to make another mistake if he has the club ace? I lead the club king--seven--nine--ace. Down one.

	NORTH ♠ K 6 4 3 ♥ 5 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ K Q J 4 2
WEST ♠ A 10 9 8 7 ♥ 9 7 6 ♦ 10 9 6 ♣ A 8		EAST ♠ Q 5 2 ♥ A Q J 8 4 ♦ 2 ♣ 10 7 6 5
	SOUTH ♠ J ♥ K 10 3 2 ♦ A K 8 7 4 3 ♣ 9 3

I see I wouldn't have made three notrump. The one pair who played three notump did make it, but I suppose they played it from the North side and either West never bid spades or his partner chose to lead his own suit anyway. One pair actually passed the board out. The rest were down one in five diamonds. Since one of those pairs was doubled, we get five matchpoints.

I think partner bid too much. He, of course, thinks I bid too much. Would we have stayed out of game if I had passed at my second turn as partner wanted me to? I rebid the hand with Jack to find out. If I pass, LHO bids two spades, and partner bids three diamonds. After my pass on the previous round, I can hardly pass that. With six diamonds and a singleton spade, I have a much better hand for play in diamonds than partner expects me to. I bid four diamonds. Partner might suspect we're off three key cards and pass.  But he doesn't. He continues on to five diamonds. I guess once I open, we are destined to get to game. Hats off to the pair who passed this board out!

Score on Board 31: -100 (5 MP)
Total: 250 MP (67.2%)

Current rank: 1st