Acol or Not?

After turning Ace, the pressure releases somewhat and I can try a bit of Acol bidding again. Does it really make a difference? And in which direction? Let us study the boards of today against expert Larry Li.

If you have not already played the boards, do not read further.

The bidding above was his. He opened 1♣ in 4th hand. I should have done that too. But it passed out on my table. The problem is that I have to open 1♥ in Acol with fuzzy hearts. Partner would bid 2♦ and we are in a good contract. However, it would still not be good enough to beat the expert, because he was allowed to make 1NT+1. At the end, Lia made a rare mistake in defense and discarded a high card due to incorrect assumptions on the hand.


This hand was a win for me. I opened South with 2♥, ending in 4♥. I know that this preemptive style is not advised by experts with 4 cards in the other major. And indeed, we have a spade fit. In this case, both major games make. The expert misplayed the hand in spades for down 2. Indeed, hearts are far more easy to play. The outcome, however, has nothing to do with the bidding system.


This is an interesting one. The bidding on my table was

As you see, the differences start when I bid 2♥ to show the heart suit instead of showing a two-suiter. But the main difference was my decision to double instead of hoping for 6♥. I cannot really see a reason why a slam should be on even after the bold bid of 4♥ by North. We have 5 losers, and opponents have shown some points. 

The end result was that 5♦ went down one, and 6♥ too. Bidding 5♥ with a little less greed would have been the winner. However, I thing my double is most likely the best choice. Again, the outcome has nothing to do with the bidding system.

This is again interesting. I consider the 1NT bid by South borderline. But, okay, the singleton, the good trump support and the long hearts look good. However, he has to bid 1NT, because 2♠ has a different meaning. West's 2♥ are sound. The bid is also lead directing. North's double is explained as shortness in hearts and 18 points. South now comes to support the spades probably showing a minimal 3-card support at this point, and they land in 4♠ which do not make. I consider South's game bid a typical example of greed. Lia on North needs one loser covered by partner. But South has nothing to contribute.

I decided to downgrade my hand to a pass. The 2♠ by opener mean nothing besides a longer spade suit, especially in Acol. I am not sure what a double instead would have meant. Probably, extra strength simply. With my singleton and the four cards in clubs, I passed. The contract went down once.

Does this have anything to do with the bidding system? You are the judge.

Kommentare

Kommentar veröffentlichen

Beliebte Posts aus diesem Blog

Series - The Mistakes I make in Bridge

Bild
This bidding got me stranded in 2♠ because of Acol. That's actually not bad. You cannot make it against good leads. But neither can you make 1NT, the contract you might reach by downgrading the hand to a weak 1NT. On almost all other tables, the bidding started with a strong 1NT and continued to a good heart contract for E/W by the bidding below. In that case, the "blocking" value of 1NT fails, and the direct mentioning of a spade suit works out to be superior.   But I spoiled that advantage by going down twice. Actually, I could have made the contract after the lead of ♣K. It is always tough to play 1 4-3 fit, and this is no exception. I started with a heart won by East who followed with a trump to prevent ruffs. I now can ruff only one heart at the table. The best line of play is to drive out the ♣Q now. If West takes it on the first round and returns a trump, you can play clubs to dummy and continue it. If he ducks one round, you need to find the finesse in diamonds t...
Mehr anzeigen

Series - The Mistakes I make at Brige

Bild
This is a nice one. You reach 4 ♥ , and West starts with the ♠8. If the trump finesse fails, you count 10 likely tricks, including one ruff of a spade at the table. But then there is also the chance to cash the ♣K for an overtrick. Easy. You are glad to combine all these options, and start a simple plan.  Cash the lead and make the finesse in hearts which fails. Another spade comes from West. When you notice that you are going to lose two trump tricks, you collect your tricks, ruffing one spade at the table at the end, and set all hopes to the club finesse which fails. One down. Everybody played like that, including me. You certainly spotted the way to make the contract? Of course. You could leave West with two trumps and throw him in after you trumped your space and cashed your  ♦ Q. Is this difficult to see at the table. Maybe. But you will definitely see West's 4 spades and hearts. When he discards the  ♦ J on  ♦ Q, the coup is very likely to work.
Mehr anzeigen

Series - The Mistakes I make at Bridge

Bild
2NT are not makeable, but if you go down only once, you are good against 2♠ by opponents. 2 ♥  would be a nice contract and just make with good play, but opponents won't let you play that easily nowadays, not even the robot Lia. The lead was ♠5, East following with the ♠Q and won in the hand. Due to severe communication issues this hand cries for a try to let the opponents play into the finesses. So, I correctly played the  ♥ A followed by a small one won by West, who cashed  ♥ K too, the followed with the ♠10  because everything else helps the declarer even more. At that point, I went for the clubs, but the diamonds actually work, playing for one honor doubleton at East. Check it out.
Mehr anzeigen