[blml] SF NABC #1

[Alain Gottcheiner]

Guthrie a écrit :
> [San Francisco NABC+ Appeal 1]
> Open LM Pairs Final. Board 2. NS E deals
> East (Roy Welland): S:KJ942 H:J982 D:K3 C:KQ
> West (Bobby Levin): S:7 H:K7543 D:AQ75 C:J93
>
>   

AG : I have to disagree with Nigel.

> 2. The committee correctly note that East's pass of 1S is unusual. I 
> agree that a pass with *four card support* for partner's hearts and 
> two doubletons is weird. Unless East's pass is forcing? In which case, 
> should it be alerted? Did the committee enquire?
>
>   
Can we perhaps imagine that East followed this reasoning :
- either partner doesn't have the hand to reopen, and 'll let them play 
in their non-fit ; that's probably the best result I can hope for. In 
Hearts, we'll suffer from bad breaks.
  (note also the vulnerability, which pleads in favor of these tactics)
- either he has enough, and let's hope it's a double. In other cases, I 
can always raise hearts. I will have shown a 3-card raise and that's 
what my hand looks like.

East's pass deserves only one word : clever. Of course, it's unusual for 
a bridge player to make a clever call, but this doesn't deserve any TD call.

1C  (1S)  pass (hoping for a double) isn't forcing, isn't alertable and 
isn't suspect when partner indeed doubles. Why should this case be 
different ?

> 3. A group of EW peers unanimously reject West's reopening double.  I 
> agree with the committee that it seems OK; but I'm not competing in 
> the LM pairs. If the committee feel the consulted group are 
> unrepresentative, they should poll others, themselves.
> Anyway, the double does appear to cater for a psychic 1C opening.
>
>   
That's the part I totally disagree with. A double on this hand is 
automatic. It will nearly never be left in, of course, and the result is 
a bit unexpected, but what do you suggest ?
2D ? Most pairs play this as Canapé.
2S on a 10-count ?
Double says "I think we can make something, and I'm ready to play in 
whichever strain you'll choose". IOW a perfect TO double.
The fact that it turns out right facing the actual hand doens't mean it 
was made to cater for a psyche. This is the C-word in disguise, and I 
wouldn't at all like to be called a C**** for making a perfect TO 
double, whatever partner's hand turns out to be.


Regards

   Alain