07/05/2022 Tuesday Game Post-mortem Video

No I wouldn't balance with that hand. Too many losers. Partner didn't double 1NT so we know the opponents likely have the balance of the points. It might be right because the chances are partner has an opening hand and didn't come in, so the chances are partner has at least 2 spades. I am not sure whether its percentage to bid or not.

Board 8 I would bid 1♠-2♦-2♠-4♠ with the EW cards. Board 12 1♥-2♣-2♦ is how it starts if you are using my master series 2/1 structure. East has a really tough decision from there for how to continue. The conservative route would be to jump to 3NT to show 16/17 points (remember there is no such thing as fast arrival in NT). This would be the easy way to stop in 3NT as west would pass. East's other option is to bid 2NT. 2NT will uncover a potential 10th red card (6-4 will bid 3♥, 5-5 will bid 3♦). I would just raise 2NT to 3NT with the west cards and now east will be left feeling like they. need to look for slam. I think the best approach with east is to just bid 4NT quantitative. Partner will know to go to slam if they have 4 useful cards. Here they don't so they would just pass. It's important not to end up getting stuck in diamonds when playing matchpoints. That is why I narrow my choices with the east hand to 2NT followed by 4NT or 3NT. I think the second auction is the one I would take (I would treat this 17 count like an 18 count). If you aren't playing my master series structure then the auction should start 1♥-2♦-3♦. If anyone reading this responded 1♠ with the east cards you would have the auction 1♥-1♠-2♦-3♣-3N-4N. I am not a fan of responding 1♠. If anyone reading this comment is interested I spent a good chunk of time in 2/1 system structure class talking about why we don't respond 1♠ on a hand like this. https://wolpertbridge.com/lessons?keyword=2%2F1&sort=date-desc 12 is a ridiculously difficult hand to bid.

May I further ask why it is usually not recommended to bypass four-card major and respond 2♣ to 1♦ unless holding five clubs? It appears to me that 4-4 major fit can also be discovered over 1♦-2♣. For example, I could imagine that Board 9 goes 1♦-2♣-2♠-3♠-4♣-4♠ (perhaps a better example would be when the responder has two clubs).

1♦-2♣ auctions are not good auctions. 1m-1M auctions are much cleaner and simpler. There is no reason to involve the club suit unless it has 5 cards.

Thanks, Gavin. I previously learned 2/1 from Larry Cohen's Kindle book, but I guess I probably need some catch-up on advanced 2/1!

Hi Gavin, is there any reason not to show the diamond fit on the way to 3N? From easts perspective, we could have a slam, and there's a good chance a diamond slam is better than a NT slam. Why not something like 1H - 2C - 2D - 3D - 3N - 4N ///

3♦ followed by 4NT on your next turn would be an ok approach if you are 100% clear with partner that isn't Blackwood. That is easy with my blanket rule that "4NT is never keycard for a minor" but newer players would just assume its Blackwood. The problem with 3♦ is it initially creates a "we have a problem for 3NT" mentality and partner will only bid 3NT with a stopper in spades. The important thing is we do not end up playing 5♦ on this hand, even more important than finding slam. Another approach is to bid 2NT and then over 3NT bid 4♦. That will show slam interest, a balanced hand and a diamond fit. This is a very difficult hand that could go a bunch of different ways depending on your system.

I would wait to see if they bid spades. This hand is very borderline for a 2 level overcall. I usually like to have a 6 card suit to overcall 2 of a minor. Its very close whether north should double or bid 2♦ over a 2♣ overcall. I could see either one being the right bid. I guess I would just bid 2♦ because I really need partner to have a good hand for us to make a game in spades and they will bid again if they have it.

The auction might affect my lead. I am guessing it went 2H double pass 3C. I'm guessing I would lead a trump with the south hand. I don't see any urgency to cash the ace of hearts, nor would I like to break the spade suit. This brings me down to picking between my minor suit doubletons and I would be scared that leading a diamond from Jx would blow a trick (leading honor doubleton often blows tricks). So my safest lead looks like a trump.

Hi Sandra, I am sorry but I need more context, I don't know which hand you are talking about.