[AL78]

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Another 3NT-2 for a shared bottom. This was the evening of the failed 50-50 plays, as partner played to drop the club queen, and took the diamond finesse (both wrong). Once neither of those work, there is nothing to stop the defence running their spades when they get in (they led a spade at trick one).

5♣ is the optimal place to be, slam only makes if you finess the right way in clubs, but there is nothing to say that is the right play.

One West was allowed to play in 2♠-1 for an excellent score NS, another stopped in 4♣ for a near top. The top score was 3NT= on the same spade lead, so they must have played the clubs right.

[Cyberyeti]

AL78, on 2020-February-15, 16:53, said:

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The top score was 3NT= on the same spade lead, so they must have played the clubs right.

Not absolutely necessarily, try the effect after S's opened a somewhat bent 15-17 NT of winning dummy's ♠Q and taking a first round club finesse to west, who doesn't know the ♠K is dropping.

[hrothgar]

I'd rather be in 3N than 5♣ at MP

The odds of being able to pick up one of the minor suits seems good enough that I'm willing to risk going down

How does this work... 3N wins anytime

1. The Queen of Clubs is stiff
2. The Queen of clubs is doubleton
3. The Queen of diamonds is stiff
4. The Queen of diamonds is in the pocket

[Cyberyeti]

hrothgar, on 2020-February-15, 17:33, said:

I'd rather be in 3N than 5♣ at MP

The odds of being able to pick up one of the minor suits seems good enough that I'm willing to risk going down

How does this work... 3N wins anytime

1. The Queen of Clubs is stiff
2. The Queen of clubs is doubleton
3. The Queen of diamonds is stiff
4. The Queen of diamonds is in the pocket

Not quite true, you can't pick up BOTH Qxxx onside and Q offside, and 3 diamond tricks leaves you one short.

[hrothgar]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-15, 18:15, said:

Not quite true, you can't pick up BOTH Qxxx onside and Q offside, and 3 diamond tricks leaves you one short.

thanks

[FelicityR]

It's only one board on a Matchpoint Pairs evening. Next time you will get it right. It's unlucky. I am more bothered when this sort of hand turns up at IMPs and a swing could occur. Just as unlucky, but more of an impact.

At MPs I always factor in a few boards like this which you at a guess or can't do nothing about. Even the very best players get bottoms at MPs through no fault of their own. The trick is to be consistent with the other 20+ boards over the course of the evening, especially playing against ordinary club players. The more consistent players will always win in the long run, as everyone knows.

[miamijd]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-15, 17:14, said:

Not absolutely necessarily, try the effect after S's opened a somewhat bent 15-17 NT of winning dummy's ♠Q and taking a first round club finesse to west, who doesn't know the ♠K is dropping.

On some hands, that might work, but not this one. When East can't beat the Queen after the opening lead of the Jack, his signal ought to be count. Since he's raised spades, an even number means four. That makes things pretty simple for West.

Cheers,
Mike

[mikeh]

miamijd, on 2020-February-16, 00:18, said:

On some hands, that might work, but not this one. When East can't beat the Queen after the opening lead of the Jack, his signal ought to be count. Since he's raised spades, an even number means four. That makes things pretty simple for West.

Cheers,
Mike

Cyber’s point is, I think, that if S opens 1N, E-W never get into th3 auction, so west doesn5 see a raise by partner. However, east should still give count and then use a smith signal to show 4 rather than 2. I play reverse smith, but the idea is th3 sMe

[Cyberyeti]

mikeh, on 2020-February-16, 00:53, said:

Cyber’s point is, I think, that if S opens 1N, E-W never get into th3 auction, so west doesn5 see a raise by partner. However, east should still give count and then use a smith signal to show 4 rather than 2. I play reverse smith, but the idea is th3 sMe

Exactly.

Against experts it won't work, down my club it might where people play all kinds of signals, have never heard of Smith peters and the cards are small enough and similar enough that it may not be clear what they're showing, it sometimes will. Many pairs aren't clear which two cards they play from 4 small when they play high/low.

[msjennifer]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-15, 17:14, said:

Not absolutely necessarily, try the effect after S's opened a somewhat bent 15-17 NT of winning dummy's ♠Q and taking a first round club finesse to west, who doesn't know the ♠K is dropping.

Sir,pardon me , ,of course he knows it when E plays the S3 showing 4cards.
Playing Precision we reached 5C which made easily. It may be that even standard bidders would reach 5C if they proceed slowly and correctly.

[Cyberyeti]

msjennifer, on 2020-February-16, 10:31, said:

Sir,pardon me , ,of course he knows it when E plays the S3 showing 4cards.
Playing Precision we reached 5C which made easily. It may be that even standard bidders would reach 5C if they proceed slowly and correctly.

Why does that show 4 cards ? remember in this scenario partner hasn't bid the suit amd he hasn't raised and might have 2

[dsLawsd]

3NT right spot at matchpoints. 5♣ at IMPs (6 if a swing is needed).

I think after the spade Q wins is to play ♦AK then PLAY
FOR symmetry with Qxx in the OPPOSITE hand.

Typical hand that drives us crazy at matchpoints...