I found myself unexpectedly playing in the Roswell Sectional yesterday. Partner and I took first in X, but the real satisfaction came from a couple interesting deals.
N E S W
1♣ P 1N P
2♣ P 2♥ P
2♠ P 3♣ P
3♦ P 3♠ P
4♣ P 6♣ P
P P
When you use relay methods, there's nothing more satisfying than using them... except for applying them well! Below is a brief description of this auction, as the editing tool will not let me use superscripts to make little note inserts.
1♣ 15+ artificial (17+ if balanced)
1N 5+♣ 8+ FG
2♣ Relay, asking for length
2♥ 6 card suit
2♠ Relay, asking for top honors in ♣
3♣ 1 Top Honor (A, K, or Q)
3♦ Relay, asking for aces
3♠ 1 Ace
4♣ Relay, asking for kings
6♣ No Kings
Unaware of the ♠/♦ layouts, I elected to not try for 6N (which, as the auction was, would go down on a ♦ lead). 6♣ was a shared top.
As a point of interest, I was a little disappointed with East's lack of aggression over the strong club. Bidding any slam becomes a lot harder after an auction like:
N E S W
1♣ 1♥ 2♣ 3♥
For those curious, N/S make 1♥
This theme of passivity occurred frequently against us during this tournament. For instance,
1♣ P 1N P
2♣ P 2♥ P
2♠ P 3♣ P
3♦ P 3♠ P
4♣ P 6♣ P
P P
When you use relay methods, there's nothing more satisfying than using them... except for applying them well! Below is a brief description of this auction, as the editing tool will not let me use superscripts to make little note inserts.
1♣ 15+ artificial (17+ if balanced)
1N 5+♣ 8+ FG
2♣ Relay, asking for length
2♥ 6 card suit
2♠ Relay, asking for top honors in ♣
3♣ 1 Top Honor (A, K, or Q)
3♦ Relay, asking for aces
3♠ 1 Ace
4♣ Relay, asking for kings
6♣ No Kings
Unaware of the ♠/♦ layouts, I elected to not try for 6N (which, as the auction was, would go down on a ♦ lead). 6♣ was a shared top.
As a point of interest, I was a little disappointed with East's lack of aggression over the strong club. Bidding any slam becomes a lot harder after an auction like:
N E S W
1♣ 1♥ 2♣ 3♥
For those curious, N/S make 1♥
This theme of passivity occurred frequently against us during this tournament. For instance,
Our auction was as follows:
N E S W
- - - P
3♠ P P P
Most other pairs reached 4♥ on the E/W cards.
N E S W
- - - P
3♠ P P P
Most other pairs reached 4♥ on the E/W cards.
Believe it or not, N/S missed their game. We didn't have to lift a finger to do it either.
N E S W
- - P P
1♣ P 1♥ P
3♥ P P P
Consider the rationales that each player goes through to arrive at these unfortunate consequences, singe dummy. There's a lot to be learned from analyzing the routine hands like these, for bidding, play, or otherwise, simply by sitting in every seat and experimenting with the alternative choices.
I urge the reader to examine these boards, as well as the ones you play at your next club game, just a little closer.
N E S W
- - P P
1♣ P 1♥ P
3♥ P P P
Consider the rationales that each player goes through to arrive at these unfortunate consequences, singe dummy. There's a lot to be learned from analyzing the routine hands like these, for bidding, play, or otherwise, simply by sitting in every seat and experimenting with the alternative choices.
I urge the reader to examine these boards, as well as the ones you play at your next club game, just a little closer.