The Power of Shape – Last Segment USBF Womens Semifinals
When Board 93 came up Westheimer (Valerie Westheimer, Disa Eythorsdottir (henceforth referred to as Disa), Jenny Wolpert, Mildred Breed) trailed Moss (Sylvia Moss, Judy Radin, Lynn Deas, Migry Zur Campanile, Joanna Stansby) by 19 imps and this board featured a 16 imps swing. However the swing was in favor of the leaders, thus effectively ending Westheimer’s chances. Everybody was vulnerable and North at both tables opened 1♦. East held
Are you a bidder or a passer?
Arguments for passing: You are vulnerable and you have a “lousy” six card club suit headed by the jack.
Arguments for bidding: Are you kidding 6-5 come alive – you are 6-6 baby. It is not the time for the faint of heart.
I confess I would have bid as I look at the cards although maybe at the table in a long tense match I would pass. Nah!
At the table Radin bid 2♣. The auction continued as follows
Are you going to defend 4♠. I think not. Once partner supported clubs I think you have to bid here. You might try 4NT. Surely that would suggest diamonds and clubs. But it might also provide a lot of information to your opponents. Radin chose 5♣ and she was awarded big time. 5♣ was passed around to Disa who doubled.This was the whole hand.
Making 5♣ doubled was worth +750 when Rading decided not to take any chances and after ruffing the opening spade lead did not finesse clubs. Looking at all four hands you may not like the decisions North-South made. I believe that 4♣ (which was alerted) was a serious slam try and Disa’s 4♦ cuebid was pretty much forced. Wolpert’s pass of the 5♣ “save” was forcing and therefore forward going. Disa really had no reason to pull. But then again I know we don’t have a slogan for 7-4 (go for more?) but maybe … If North-South had gone on to 5♠ (which can make and will on a revealing auction) would East-West have bid 6♣ (which does make)?
Things were quieter in the Open Room. East-West never entered the auction.
4♠ making was worth 620 and 16 big imps.
I am now thinking of slogans for 6-6 ..”Get in your licks” “Have your kicks” “It really clicks” Oh well I can’t think of anything really good.
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Bridge-related
I was taught that women have shape but hands have distribution 🙂
I know that we who prefer weak notrumps are known for overselling our system; indeed there have been many times where partner and I have suffered from not knowing about a 4-4 fit that the rest of the field has no trouble identifying early.
But hands like this keep high my support for weak notrumps. Whatever East decides to do at her first turn — and I think it is more dangerous for East to enter the auction when North has given a pretty fair description of her hand by opening 1NT than it is for East to enter the auction when North has opened 1D –, South will bid 4S opposite a weak notrump opening. And the partnership should have no problem competing to 5S if EW are attuned enough to force that choice.
Anyway, without being a result merchant, I like Radin’s overcall more than Breed’s pass.
(But why Pass by Radin over 3S, and not 4NT then? I just do not like the sound of the parlay of Pass over 3S, and then sacrificing once opponents have chosen to bid game.)
Thanks for presenting this hand.