From: mss@netcom.com (Mark Singer)
Subject: Re: interesting hand
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 01:48:40 GMT

In article <1gllafINNfn8@agate.berkeley.edu> asya@ux5.lbl.gov writes:
>In article <1992Dec15.020504.18493@netcom.com> mss@netcom.com (Mark Singer) writes:
>>In article <Bz7xAJ.CBw@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> bharat@cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>>>rudy@netcom.com (Rudy) writes:
>
>>>>--
>>>>AJTx
>>>>AKxx
>>>>AKQxx
>
>>>>2S  X  4S  5H
>>>>P   ?
>>>>    5N P   7H
>>>>7S  X ----
>
>
>I agree. The Queen of clubs is a thoughtless play designed to lay
>the blame on partner (well, I thought you wanted a ruff or you
>wouldn't have played the Jack).

nice.
>
>If partner has just 2 clubs, why is it so clear that the right thing
>to do is to cash your 3C, 2H and 2D?  Maybe partner is 7-2-2-2 and the
>way to 1700 is 1C, 2D, diamond ruff, club over, club and diamond for
>a promotion?

maybe.  but this 7222 construction requires a *number* of particular
circumstances that *may* not be indicated (see below).

>
>Why is that "going berserk"?  In fact it would be more berserk if
>RHO didn't have a side 4 bagger.  What do you expect he bid 7S on,
>6-2-2-3?

now here is an interesting question.  Let's see, my "seemingly expert"
opponents have used GSF to bid a non-vul grand at matchpoints.  I
need to save in order to scarf a matchpoint or two.  

Scenario A:	I'm 6-2-2-3 with nothing outside my suit.  If partner
also contributes nothing - as in not even a ruff - I will lose 7
tricks for -1700, much more than the value of their grandie.  However,
if he's got one winner - even a slow one, such as a third round club
ruff - bidding is a good move.

Scenario B:	I'm 6-0-3-4 with nothing outside my suit.  Well, the
fourth club practically guarantees a seventh winner, since partner
can ruff it or perhaps we are 4-4.  Risk is low, as long as they make.
Naturally, these palookas would never bid such a grand when a 3-0
or 4-0 trump break is too hard to handle.

Rudy says it would be more beserk to reason with Scenario A.  My 47
years of experience says that the whole concept of this sacrifice is
so beserk, that I'd bet on B.


>
>>what you need to do is let partner *tell* you whether or not there
>>is a promotion coming.  The idea is to put *partner* on play to 
>
>However, Mark, since it seems that you held the other hand, you
>might be fixing on the fact that your heart count is not known to
>partner, and that sie might not know that hearts is safe to play
>at all.  Would you not bid the same way with Kx KQxxxxx 9x Jx?

See?  Note that this construction requires a specific spade holding
as well as heart holding.  Besides, you sound like one of my partners
who always anticipates "the nuts" in my hand.  C'mon, i'm not a
"sie" (whatever the f*** that is).  I'm a testosterone carrier and
I *love* to bid at the 5-level with a decent suit of minimum length
and nothing outside.  Get real.
>
>Of course my point is that king of diamonds at trick 2 cannot cost.
>Partner will play the 9.  Now you have to decide what to do.

Of course, my point is that king of diamonds at trick 2 is not likely
to cost, especially when partner plays the 9.  How about when he
plays the 3 and the 2 is missing?  How about when he plays the 2 and
you find declarer was 6-1-5-1 *after* you shift?

>
>Of course what does 3rd best mean?  AJTx  -- as opposed to what holding?
>Forgetting for the moment that it may not be safe to lead a heart at
>this point (why is RHO saving if not a heart void?) the only question is
>what heart holding can partner expect?  Lenthwise, you could have 4 or 5.
>On the auction, 6 seems unlikely and 3 is just barely remotely possible.

>I thinking you are fixating on what you know to be the case -- that is
>the number of hearts that partner holds.  Maybe this was Rudy's problem
>to work out after all.

How did sie do?
>
>>BTW, which heart should you lead?

Upon further review, the J.  Regardless of carding agreements.  Partner
cannot possibly consider this anything more than an even number.
>
>The King of Diamonds, I presume.  The question that I have is this:
>if your partner is "Mr. Count" then which club/diamond will he play
>from 4?  Second highest?  How about from JTxx?  Can't you *find out*
>the count in the minors by playing two rounds of diamonds?  Well, no
>you'll find out the count in diamonds, how will you find out the club
>count?

sigh.  you find out the count in diamonds by letting partner lead them.
and you find out the count in clubs by when declarer ruffs in.  Hopefully,
after you've taken all the tricks you have coming.  Mr. Count is such
a smartass.

I'm sure glad I only have to write this flame war, not read it.
>
>


-- 
Mark Singer    
mss@netcom.com