From: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu (R. Bharat Rao)
Subject: Re: Comments Please (without tabs)
Reply-To: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 19:37:11 GMT

thijs@ei0.ei.ele.tue.nl (Thijs Veugen) writes:

>We play Dutch ACOL, i.e. 5card spades, 4card hearts, strong NT, 2/1 not
>GF.
>I would like some comments on the following hands (IMP's):

>1. South      North
>   A8xxx      QJx
>   JTxx       Axx
>   AKxx       Qxx
>   -          xxxx

>  White vs. red:
>   1s         1NT
>   2h         3s
>   4s         all pass

> Result: -2

> What about the 1NT bid and the final contract?

I have no idea whether the 1NT bid was a forcing NT -- if it was, this
would show a 3 card limit raise -- a gross overbid by North.  North
should just make a simple raise to 2S.

While most of the blame for this disaster rests on North, South is not
blameless either.  I know it is very much accepted IMP strategy to
shoot out games on a prayer (usually when vul), but I think this is
not optimal.  Those part score swings begin to add up, and IMO game
should be reasonable in order to bid it.  Even if North has a good
limit raise, for all South knows some/much of those values are in
clubs.  True opposite KQx,Qx,QJxx,xxxx game is however reasonable.
Therefore, while I think it is understandable for South to bid 4S for
game, I would have passed.  This is perhaps my matchpoint-oriented
frame of mind showing through, but I have seen too many matches lost
after the conversation "we are -140" "we are -100" "lose 6, next"...

>2. South      North
>   T          AKQJxx
>   -          xxx
>   AJTxxxx    KQx
>   Axxxx      x
>  All white:
>  W     N     E     S
>  1c    2s    3h    4d
>  4h    4s    all pass
>  Result: +3
>  2s shows openingstrength and a good 6card. 
>  7d and 7s allways makes. 

I would have had a big problem with the N hand as I play weak jump
overcalls.  The intermediate jump is a little heavy but handles the
problem nicely.  The problem is the 4S bid.  N has a MOUNTAIN after 4D
and at the least should venture 5C.  I think you will get to 6D at
least after that.  About getting to 7?  Maybe there is a good auction
to get there, but I wouldn;t worry about it too much.  Heck, life is
hard sometime -- thats why opponents preempt.

>3. South      North
>   Kxx        Qxx
>   KQ9xx      x
>   Qxxx       Ax
>   x          AKxxxxx
>  Red vs. white:
>   -          1c
>   1h         2c
>   2d         3c
>   pass

>  Result: +1
>  2d is roundforcing.
>  3NT is the better contract provided they don't lead dK.

I think this is a bit of result-merchanting.  I know some pairs will
get there because "we are red, and we must bid game with 23 points and
a prayer" and will win big this time.  I would be extremely happy to
get a plus score on this misfit hand, in a part score.  How often have
you had a misfitting auction and painfully limped into 3NT and gone
down -- its happened to me all too often.  A general rule is "if you
have a misfit, get out as early as possible".

First of all, regardless of whether 3N makes, it is a very poor
contract.  3C may not make but has better chances.  I would have
preferred getting out at the 2 level, but as said above

> Thanks. Thijs Veugen.

>P.S. I know now I shouldn't use tabs in postings. :-)

Bharat
--
R. Bharat Rao                          E-mail: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu 
AI Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
405 N. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801  (217)337-6498(H)
Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana
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