Sunday, December 01, 2002 1:42 AM

Learning from Mistakes

PITBULLS:

Played Saturday night teams and there were a few hands that might be beneficial to discuss . First of all a simple mistake that cost 26 IMPS . The opponents are in 6 NT and you lead a suit . Does partner show attitude or count ? In 1NT you show attitude , in 3NT you show attitude and in the rarified atmosphere of 6 contracts you show count . In 6NT where squeezes and discarding is the order of the day , count is imperative , you do not even think of attitude . My partner showed me he did not like my lead rather then giving me the count – result a 26 IMP swing .

O.K. you hold QJxxx x x KQJxxx and you pass not vul . Your vul LHO opens 1♠ and partner passes and RHO bids 1NT . You back in 2♣ and they bid 2♥ and partner 3♣ . What would a 4♣ bid by partner mean ? Would that be suggesting a sacrifice or showing a good hand . It is standard expert treatment that a jump in the minor is never strong and suggests a sacrifice . You have Q bids available for strong hands so why not suggest sacrifices when appropriate ? Anyway the opponents bid 4♥ and partner doubles and around to you . Do you leave it in or sacrifice to 5♣ ? Another 26 IMPS riding on your decision . You do have a nice playing hand and cheap insurance might be to be bidding 5♣ not vul . No you should not , as partner can have a very good hand for bidding 3♣ opposite a passed hand and this looks like the trump are 4-1 type of double . Partner could have lots of defense over there . You bid 5♣ and you go for –500 . You pass and you pick up +800 .

The last lesson hand is a mere 12 IMPS . You must get to 7NT on these cards .

xx Axx KJx AKQJ10 opposite AKQ xxx AQ1098 xx . My partner got

off to a good start by opening 1♣ and I bid a diamond . He bid 1 quiet heart and 2♠ here is 4^th suit forcing now what ? You could make the under bid of 3NT or the underbid of 4NT to show the top of the range NT bid . This should pre-empt you out of a grand though . How about an unassuming 3♣ bid and let the 4^th suit forcing person make some noise to describe her intentions . I would then bid 3♦ and you should now take control . I am showing slam interest with diamonds and you have this virtually unbidable hand . Time after time with 4^th suit forcing auctions if you keep the bid as low and quiet as possible then you can gather enough information to find the correct spot. My partner jumped to 3NT and I placed the contract in 6NT and we missed our grand.