From: bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert D. Silverman)
Subject: Re: Assess the blame
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 20:35:12 GMT

In article <lltqq6INN6bp@cypress.cs.utexas.edu> varvel@cs.utexas.edu (Donald A. Varvel) writes:
:In article <C17KB0.BuJ@cs.uiuc.edu> bharat@cs.uiuc.edu (R. Bharat Rao) writes:
:>In article <C16n12.LE8@ais.org>, hampton@ais.org (Kevin Podsiadlik) writes:
:>|>           West               East
:>|>           AQ94               3
:>|>           AQT9               62
:>|>           K                  QT9865
:>|>           A642               9853
:  
:>|>                    (P)       P
:>|>  (1H)     X        (2H)      3D
:>|>           3NT                4D
:>|>           4S                 5C
:>|>           P        (X)*
:  
:>|> *Who wouldn't!
:
:>Ummmm.... where to begin... the double is tough -- I play NT overcalls
:>upto 18HCP and have no problems with NT with a stiff K == but on this
 
stuff deleted...

:I beg to differ.  I'm not enamored of the usual 15-18 HCP range for
:a 1NT overcall, preferring 16-19, and so have no problem with a 1NT
:overcall here.  The stiff K doesn't pull full weight, so I would
:overcall 1NT even having agreed 15-18.  I realize it is possible to
:miss game.  It's also possible to go for 800 if you double.  Clearly.
:What do you plan to rebid?  Is this really a 19-20 HCP balanced hand,
:as it should be if you rebid 2NT?  I think it's better to pass than
:to double on this hand.
:
:>3D is flat out wrong -- with AQxxxx of diamonds maybe or QJTxxx and
:>an outside K yes -- but on the actual hand it is ridiculous..
:
:Again, I disagree.  I think 3D was perhaps ill considered, but hardly
:ridiculous.  Give opener Axxx x KJxx QJxx, a nice minimum double, and 
 
Finally we begin to see some sense.

(1) If you don't bid 3D on this type of hand the opponents are going to
    steal the hand from you far too often.
(2) If you still don't agree, consider the law of total tricks.
(3) 3D may be necessary for you to find a good sack against 4H if
    they bid it. Anyone who wants to pass now, then bid 5D later should
    give up the game. For all you know, partner has the cards to BEAT 4H.

I think 3D is a FINE bid. In fact, I would be astonished if any of my
regular partners did not bid it. But then again, we play DISCIPLINED
takeout doubles. The double here was clearly wrong.

There is plenty of blame on both sides, but a few things stand out:

(1) The double is crazy. You have nowhere to go if partner responds in
    diamonds. I would overcall 1S, but have no problem with 1NT.
(2) 3NT is totally crazy. Where does West envision getting 9 tricks?
Even if partner has excellent diamonds [AQxxxx], the suit BLOCKS.
West simply ran here because he did not have diamonds. But running from a
suit into NT because you lack support is one of the worst things you can
do.
(3) Bidding 4D over 3NT shows a complete lack of trust in partner. Can't
partner have: Axxx Axx AKx Axx, making 3NT virtually cold? This is the
sort of hand partner SHOULD have for 3NT. Even if partner has Axx AKx Axx Axxx,
then 3NT still has good play!
(4) Why is it necessary to bid 4D, rather than 4C over 3NT? What has this
    hand got against showing his second suit opposite a TAKEOUT DOUBLE?
(5) 4S is perhaps the worst bid of all. Partner should have a long, weak
    diamond suit and out for the 4D call. There is no reason at all to
    expect any spade support. 4S shows a lack of trust in partner.

What we have here is two partners who clearly don't trust one another
taking each other out of their bids.
 
:So 3D won't buy the contract and serves no constructive purpose.  Since 
 
3D certainly can buy the contract if partner has a little extra. Even
if it doesn't, it may enable partner to find 4D over 3H when it is right,
or even make it difficult for them to find their game if opener has a
game TRY and they don't play maximal overcall doubles.

3D has many ways to win. It can only lose if partner does not trust you.
--
Bob Silverman
These are my opinions and not MITRE's.
Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA 01730
"You can lead a horse's ass to knowledge, but you can't make him think"
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge