For Labrat and Discotap

I have some new mentees.  They are two young and up and coming women bridge players who go by the BBO names of Labrat77 and Discotap77.  Today Ray, the birthday boy, and I played against them for an hour.  They did very well.  The women are good card players but not surprisingly since they are fairly new to serious bridge, they have to learn more about bidding.

My charming husband who I won’t criticize (grr) because its his birthday decided to pysche against them on one hand.

Let me tell you about the deal from the point of view of the ladies.

Labrat ♠ 10 ♥ KJ1075 ♦ 984 ♣ Q975

This is how the auction started from Labrat’s point of view.  She passed.  I opened 1♠ .  Discotap doubled and Ray bid 2♥ .  What should she do?  What do you play in this situation?  What is double?  Is it the right bid?  Could the hearts be 5-5-3-0 with her partner having three and me having a void?  Without discussion I think double should be for penalties.  Partner has announced hearts and a good hand.  But is this the right bid on her hand.   Perhaps she should lie in wait and see what happens.  She does after all only have 6HCP.  She passed and as expected I bid 2♠ .

Now over to Discotap.

Discotap ♠ – ♥ AQ962 ♦ AKQJ2 ♣ KJ2

Wow.  She has a monster even with hearts having bid over her.  But what is the right bid now.  A double from her is not for penalty.  3♦ just doesn’t seem enough.  But if partner has nothing and the hearts are all over her maybe this hand is not going to play well.  But, she has 20 HCP.  What does 3♠ mean here?  That might work out or she could double.  If partner bids clubs she can retreat to diamonds so that isn’t much of a risk.  She finally chose the low road and bid 3♦.  Ray bid 4♠ which was passed back to her.  Is 3♥ sounding a bit suspicious?  She doubled 4♠ and there we played it.

Dealer:  Labrat Vul: Both	Ray ♠ K2 ♥ KJ965 ♦ J842 ♣ J3
Discotap ♠ – ♥ AQ962 ♦ AKQJ2 ♣ KJ2		Labrat ♠ 10 ♥ KJ1075 ♦ 984 ♣ Q975
	Linda ♠ AK653 ♥ 8 ♦ 1076 ♣ A1064

In all the years I have played with Ray (none recently) he has to my memory never pysched with me.  What got into him!  I know – it was birthday fever.  It did work brilliantly but still …

Dealer:  Labrat Vul: Both	Ray ♠ QJ98742 ♥ 43 ♦ 53 ♣ 83
Discotap ♠ – ♥ AQ962 ♦ AKQJ2 ♣ KJ2		Labrat ♠ 10 ♥ KJ1075 ♦ 984 ♣ Q975
	Linda ♠ AK653 ♥ 8 ♦ 1076 ♣ A1064

They had some good moments.  They bid 6NT in four bids and they bid to 4♠ just as economically on this deal.  Simple bidding at its best.

Dealer:  Labrat Vul: Both	Ray ♠ K2 ♥ KJ965 ♦ J842 ♣ J3
Discotap ♠ A ♥ AQ1073 ♦ 1097 ♣ Q1076		Labrat ♠ QJ98763 ♥ 8 ♦ AQ5 ♣ A5
	Linda ♠ 1054 ♥ 42 ♦ K63 ♣ K9852

Discotap	Labrat
	1♠
2♥ (not Game forcing)	3♠
4♠

So welcome aboard the bridge express, ladies.  Forgive Ray his transgressions.