Passivity not Rewarded


Matchpoints
6NT by South
Dummy
S A 2
H A Q 3
D A 4
C A 10 8 6 5 3
Me
S 8 7 4 3
H 10 7 2
D Q J 8 3
C 9 2



In my experience, when it looks like the opponents have overbid to 6NT, it is usually best to go passive, especially holding only soft cards. In fact, even if the contract had been 3NT, I probably still would've led one of my major suits on the grounds that my hand had no entry to cash the eventually established winners. Better partner's suit is setup than mine. In this case, I chose the S3.

When dummy hit, I felt pretty good about my lead­ especially when dummy played the ace and Danny encouraged with the nine. Declarer crossed to his hand with the HK and floated the CQ to Danny's king. Danny returned a spade, but declarer cashed the king and queen of spades (pitching a small diamond) and produced the CJ. Making 6 when a diamond lead would've beaten the contract 3 tricks.

Later on in the evening, we sat against 2 reasonable players. I pick up in 4th seat:

Vul: We
S A 3    H J 7 2    D J 9 8 5 3   C A K 2

Lefty starts with ONE NOTRUMP which righty announces is 12 to 14 HCP. Danny and I play a constructive system called Cappelletti over weak 1NT opening bids. It focuses on showing hands worth overcalling, especially those with 5 card major suits. Danny bids TWO DIAMONDS which I ALERT as showing both majors. Generally, he should have at least 5 of each major, but if he did it on 5-4 and a good opening bid, then I wouldn't complain.

At this point, I am not sure what to do if righty passes. The hand should probably be played in game, but which one? 3H should be nonforcing and invitational for partner to continue with maximum values. A maximum hand in this case would hold a good 13 or better, because we tend to overcall 1NT with between 11 and 15.

Most of the time, partner will have 5 hearts anyway, and when he doesn't, then he'll have a good 13 or so. My hard club honours and raggy diamond protection are making me lean towards suit play with this hand. Furthermore, I think I'd want to be in game with this hand opposite most of partner's good 11 counts. 4H seems about right, but 3NT or 3H could easily be the winner. Their 1NT has blown us into a guessing game, which is often the effect of a weak notrump opening bid.

Alas, all of this thought was for naught because righty bids TWO NOTRUMP. Lefty ALERTS this as the beginnings of Lebensohl­ a system developed to cope with interference over partner's 1NT. To explain further, lefty is forced to bid 3C which says nothing about clubs. Righty can now show a weak hand with clubs by passing 3C or a weak hand with diamonds by bidding 3D. This is a good system to allow your side to compete with weak distributional hands.

Looking at my hand, righty can only have one plan. He plans to pass the 3C bid. How do I feel now? Well, before the 2NT bid, game for our side was uncertain. Why should I bid on when a partscore might be our maximum? It is probably best to play in 3C doubled and beat the field who are making +140 or -100 our way with a healthy +300 or more.

Accordingly, I PASS, lefty bids THREE CLUBS (completing the relay), Danny PASSES and righty PASSES. I DOUBLE which ends the auction.

Unfortunately, the defense was less than stellar. The contract is booked for two down, but some slips in the defence cost us a trick in the wash for one down. My most notable slip in the defense was breaking too many suits for declarer. Danny's most notable slip on this hand was having 6 spades and 4 hearts! I'm sure glad I didn't bid 4H!

On to the last hand and my final sin. In first chair I picked up:

Vul: They
S 9 6 5    H -VOID-    D A Q 9 8   C J 10 8 6 4 3

I PASSED and lefty opened ONE NOTRUMP which righty announced as 12 to 14 HCP (yes this was a different pair of opponents). Danny DOUBLES, which shows a good, penalty­oriented hand. Righty bids TWO HEARTS which is ALERTED as showing hearts and spades. I want more information, so PASS seems right. Lefty PASSES and Danny drops a DOUBLE card on the table. This is PASSED to me.

What's your call?