[mikl_plkcc]

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Is bidding 7 a good idea? Matchpoints.

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What's the best line of play?

Unfortunately I got it wrong and found out from the traveller that no one else bid 6 of a major, with the top being 6 minor just made!!!

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

You know the spade void and the Ace of hearts, you have no idea if you are missing the Queen of trumps,
and your diamonds dont run, so I would say the Grand is less than 50%, hence you should stay out.
But then, I hate to go down.

As for the play, ruff the King of spade, finesse the Queen of trumps, hope for trump 3-2, and for
dropping the Queen of diamonds.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[shyams]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-April-16, 12:16, said:

Is bidding 7 a good idea? Matchpoints.

No, it's not.

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-April-16, 12:16, said:

What's the best line of play?

Unfortunately I got it wrong and found out from the traveller that no one else bid 6 of a major, with the top being 6 minor just made!!!

I would play this in the simplest way possible, i.e. ruff the ♠K in dummy, then lead ♥8 to your 10. It makes if hearts are 3-2 and the Queen is onside.

The robot opening lead of ♦Q does not change the equation. I would not rely on West bot deliberately leading a diamond because they held ♥Qx.
If West had led a spade, you will also need diamonds to be 2-2 or someone to hold a singleton ♦Q.

[hrothgar]

I suspect that the bidding the grand is poor, especially if you are in a weak field that is unlikely to bid 6♥

To some extent this depends on what is promised by the raise to 4♥

If partner can bd this on a small doubleton, as is the case here then you have an easy pass.
If partner is promising Hxx then bidding 7 seems reasonable.

If you aren't sure what partner is promising, then there sees like too great a chance that you either have a Heart loser or a Diamond loser

[mw64ahw]

The unfavourable vulnerability suggest 7 playing tricks for North so the slam try is warranted, but this depends on robot niceties and slam bidding tools are not up to scratch here to judge effectively.

0247, 0337 etc. Too many holes for the grand which may fail on some finesse.

[johnu]

Quote

Should I be in the grand?

How are you expecting to make 13 tricks? If partner doesn't have ♥Q, how do you like your chances of playing the heart suit for no losers, especially if you have to ruff a spade in dummy? Then there's the question of what to do in diamonds, since diamonds are not solid.

[mikl_plkcc]

 johnu, on 2025-April-16, 18:35, said:

How are you expecting to make 13 tricks? If partner doesn't have ♥Q, how do you like your chances of playing the heart suit for no losers, especially if you have to ruff a spade in dummy? Then there's the question of what to do in diamonds, since diamonds are not solid.

1. How can I find out if my partner has the Q.
2. As my partner has preempted in C, I am expecting to run it to cover my side suits after drawing trumps.

(Honestly, AQ98762 and a void does not qualify for a preempt by me at the first and second seat - the void affects the picture bid expectation of the partner. If partner doesn't have a void I won't have the problem of question 1)

[eagles123]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-April-17, 02:19, said:

1. How can I find out if my partner has the Q.
2. As my partner has preempted in C, I am expecting to run it to cover my side suits after drawing trumps.

(Honestly, AQ98762 and a void does not qualify for a preempt by me at the first and second seat - the void affects the picture bid expectation of the partner. If partner doesn't have a void I won't have the problem of question 1)

This is just madness, AQ98762 is perfectly reasonable suit quality for a pre-empt at any vulnerability and any form of scoring. Any stronger and you might as well use your 3M openings for something else.

[harikannan]

"Is bidding 7 a good idea? Matchpoints."


I remember this hand from weekly free tournament. Made 6 by ruffing SK and not finessing trump.

[hrothgar]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-April-17, 02:19, said:

1. How can I find out if my partner has the Q.
2. As my partner has preempted in C, I am expecting to run it to cover my side suits after drawing trumps.

(Honestly, AQ98762 and a void does not qualify for a preempt by me at the first and second seat - the void affects the picture bid expectation of the partner. If partner doesn't have a void I won't have the problem of question 1)

1. You can't. At least you can't with this particular set of agreements and choice of bids

2. There is no world in which a 3♣ preempt promises a running suit

Move the King of Spades to the Club suit and you MIGHT have an expectation that all those Diamonds could get thrown on clubs, but event here you rate to have transportation issues after pulling trump

[johnu]

mikl_plkcc, on 2025-April-17, 02:19, said:

1. How can I find out if my partner has the Q.
2. As my partner has preempted in C, I am expecting to run it to cover my side suits after drawing trumps.

(Honestly, AQ98762 and a void does not qualify for a preempt by me at the first and second seat - the void affects the picture bid expectation of the partner. If partner doesn't have a void I won't have the problem of question 1)

Obviously you can't make a queen ask over the 6♥ response to Blackwood. You have no idea whether partner has the queen or not, partner is not likely to have 4 card support, so bidding 7♥ isn't a percentage bid.

Looks like a typical 3♣ preempt to me and I wouldn't second guess a partner who made that bid. So, if your partner has semisolid clubs like KQJ10987 and say the dream heart holding of Qx, how are you planning to run the clubs holding a single club? And if partner has AKQxxxx in clubs and the heart queen, why is partner opening 3♣ and not a 1♣?