[blml] SF NABC #1

[Harald Skjæran]

On 02/02/2008, Alain Gottcheiner <agot at ulb.ac.be> wrote:
> 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.

Strongly agree with Alain and the AC.
>
>
> Regards
>
>   Alain
>

-- 
Kind regards,
Harald Skjæran