[AL78]

I'm at a loss as to how I could have done better here:

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Matchpoints playing Benj Acol weak NT with a scratch partner. I took his 3♣ as game forcing with a club suit. We got this two down because I didn't realise I could give partner a spade ruff, but we have a slam in clubs available. Is there a realistic way to find it? The traveller was all over the place, +300 was worth 65% for us, one pair found 6♣.

[Cyberyeti]

Not sure you want to be in it, it's not as good as 2/3 finesses. Even if you bid it, 6♠ is only 500, if S bids 4♣ instead of 3♥ they should be getting to spades.

If 3♣ was GF, the W hand is suddenly enormous, and should forcing pass over 4♥. This should get you to 5♣ at least.

[pescetom]

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[AL78]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-April-16, 14:57, said:

Not sure you want to be in it, it's not as good as 2/3 finesses. Even if you bid it, 6♠ is only 500, if S bids 4♣ instead of 3♥ they should be getting to spades.

If 3♣ was GF, the W hand is suddenly enormous, and should forcing pass over 4♥. This should get you to 5♣ at least.

I don't think I would have wanted to assume anything about forcing passes in this partnership, I have never played with anyone where that has been a thing, I don't really understand it myself.

[mw64ahw]

Possibly not playing an immediate Gerber, but this strange method that nobody in the world plays!

1N-4♣ given the mod. loser count, but the combined hcp is off-putting
4♦ even keycards - 4♠ void because we don't go via 3♣ GF
6♣ 10-card fit is enough.

I think I should patent it as a ' 2W wangle' given the Ws in my username; I think I'll use 2WW going forward to indicate creative flair rather than actual system use.

[P_Marlowe]

AL78, on 2026-April-16, 14:38, said:

I'm at a loss as to how I could have done better here:

---

Matchpoints playing Benj Acol weak NT with a scratch partner. I took his 3♣ as game forcing with a club suit. We got this two down because I didn't realise I could give partner a spade ruff, but we have a slam in clubs available. Is there a realistic way to find it? The traveller was all over the place, +300 was worth 65% for us, one pair found 6♣.

You have game, but only 24HCP, east did well / the right thing to force to game.
You went plus. 65% is ok.

I dont understand the bidding by N/S.
I mean N has a hand to enter, he did not.
S has barely a 3H bid, but decided to repeat it on the 4 Level.

Obv. you should beat it 500, but I am not sure, if it is easy to
find the defence.

[Cyberyeti]

AL78, on 2026-April-16, 16:02, said:

I don't think I would have wanted to assume anything about forcing passes in this partnership, I have never played with anyone where that has been a thing, I don't really understand it myself.

The way we play it: (this is not an exhaustive list, but the one that might matter here)

If you have forced (through strength) to a particular level, any pass below that level is forcing eg 1♠-(P)-2N(inv+ raise)-(3C)-P is forcing because you were forced as far as 3♠, pass over 4♣ instead of 3 would not be forcing if your raise was inv+ but would be if your raise was GF.

Here, 3♣ forces to game, and effectively forces to 5♣ as you can't guarantee the stops for 3N so by that rule, pass would be forcing. If it's one of those "F3N but can pass 4m" bids, then pass would not be forcing.

[AL78]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-April-17, 01:48, said:

I dont understand the bidding by N/S.

It is club bridge in SE England, that should say it all.

[AL78]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-April-17, 01:48, said:

Obv. you should beat it 500, but I am not sure, if it is easy to
find the defence.

I either need to lead a spade at trick one, or after the actual club lead and return, lead a spade when in with a heart, partner leads a diamond back, I give partner a second spade ruff. The only way we finding that line of defence is by pure luck.

[P_Marlowe]

AL78, on 2026-April-17, 04:54, said:

I either need to lead a spade at trick one, or after the actual club lead and return, lead a spade when in with a heart, partner leads a diamond back, I give partner a second spade ruff. The only way we finding that line of defence is by pure luck.

But than 300 vs 500 wont make a big difference.

[Cyberyeti]

It will if others are taking 300 off 5♠ or 500 off 6♠, in this case it appears not many bid 5♣ or saved.

[AL78]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-April-17, 07:25, said:

It will if others are taking 300 off 5♠ or 500 off 6♠, in this case it appears not many bid 5♣ or saved.

The full traveller:

3♣E 11 -150
3NTW +2 -660
4♥XS -2 -300
4♠XN -1 -100
3♠N -2 -100
2♥S -2 -100
6♣E = -1370
4♥XS -2 -300
4♠N = +420
3♣E +2 -150
3NTW +2 -660

You are correct, no-one bid 5♣. Getting 500 would give us one more matchpoint.