[blml] hesitation, less than 20 seconds

[Matthias Berghaus]

Hi Laci,

Laszlo Hegedus schrieb:
> Teams, screens are used
> E/NS
>
> 2.....................................AK3
> AK5...............................Q9
> AJ983.............................KT7542
> AJ92...............................K4
>
> EW playing a relay system, their 1NT open is 12-16 4333, 4432 or 5332 
> (with minor) are the only possible distributions on 1st/2nd places. If 
> 12, then good 12, if 16 then denies 4card Major. East did not forget the 
> system, he explains the bidding (not his hand) correctly to his 
> screenmate. the bidding went on:
>
> .......1N (12-16)
> 2C..2N (FG relay; any 4333)
>   

interesting choice.... If I had opened this 1NT (I probably wouldn`t, 
but that depends on several things) my choice of reply would be 3253 
(eventually). Doesn´t matter for the problem, of course :-)

> 3C..3D (relay, like Baron; exactly 3343)
> 4D..4H (declares diamonds as trumpsuit and optional rkc; good hand for 
> diamond slam)
> 4S..5H (rkc; 2 keycard and the Q of trumps (maybe additonal length in 
> trumps but now he had bidden exactli 4 card suit))
> 6D..? (to play)
>
> At this moment the tray came back after a real tempobreak (West 
> hesitated a little before the 6 diamonds), but about 10 to 15 seconds 
> only. All the players agree the facts above. East bid 7D (TD!). What's 
> your decision as TD or as AC?
>   

Are you kidding? A BIT suggests that all KC are accounted for, so 
bidding on is more attractive than after a prompt 6D.
I do _not_ buy into the "partner is looking at the D Queen and is 
thinking about what has happened" argument. If a KC is missing he bids 
6D first and thinks later. Change the C Ace into the queen to see what 
an in-tempo 6D looks like.....

> East explains his action that the 32 board match went on badly for them 
> till then and he had more tricks than he promised before.
>   

Well, if this guy constantly underbid the playing strength of his hands 
I am not surprised that the match didn`t look too good... And if he 
wants to gamble he has to teach his partner to plan the auction in 
advance and bid in tempo.
To hesitate over 5H shows lack of planning. He needs 2 KC for a grand 
slam (obviously). The best hands partner can have are Axx, Qxx, KQxx, 
KQx (7D is cold) or the same without one of the queens (slighly over 50% 
if the queen of diamonds is missing, less when lacking another queen). 
AKQ Jxx KQxx xxx gives no play at all, even 6 needs a decent lie of the 
cards. It should not be too difficult to ask yourself "what will I do 
opposite a 5D or 5H reply?"

Regards
Matthias

> regards
> Laci
>
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