Competitive Decision

Hi all

On Friday Dennis and I tried to shine at BCO (pairs). One of the first games I’m in 3NT, I screw up badly. Developing my opponents suits is generally spoken a bad thing. A game later I double my opponent in 4 (via some insecure Ghestem sequence). She was holding a solid 6-6 and dummy brought some usefull cards too. Two overtricks were possible but she might have felt sorry for me. I’m very familiar with these kind of nights, it’s a struggle for points.

South
93
K76
AQ5
K8653

Vulnerable against not I open 1NT (12-14). Suddenly everybody has something to say.

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1NT1
2
double2
3
pass
pass
4
pass
???

1. 12-14
2. Takeout

What the hell? Dennis picks my five card suit. What kind of hand does he have?

A takeout double doesn’t promise a strong hand, we agreed Rubensohl for that. No, a competitive 34/43-0-6 (maybe an offensive 34/43-1-5) fits his bidding better. But what to do? I still have five trumps and an Ace, but it’s value is near worthless opposite a void. I’d be happy to trade my honours for the Ace of . No, my hand contains too many losers and too little power for game, I decide.

West isn’t done bidding yet: 4. Passed to me.

I crumble. I have no idea what to do. Let’s bring out Larry Cohen, maybe he has some ideas. It looks like there are 21 trumps together (11 + 10 = 21 trumps). I estimate points are divided about even. I’m holding about 1.5 defensive tricks and can account Dennis probably for the same amount. This brings me nowhere, I still don’t know what to do.

We won’t get very rich from +100 if we are cold a partscore and I don’t believe we will collect +300. I pass with more than just a little remorse.

South Dealer
NS Vul
North
AQ7
T853
QT9742
West
K84
AQ2
JT9762
J
East
JT652
J94
K843
A
South
93
K76
AQ5
K8653

The King in dummy made my heart jump. We will surely score plus this game. I get a ruff too and we score +100. A large part of the field went down in 5. If you switch the King and King in East-West 4 is a big candidate to make.