[pilowsky]

"The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade." (James Shirley)

Playing GIB 2/1, I bypass my wonderful diamonds to make my partner aware of my five crooked spades.
But, with no armour against fate, Scylla passes and Charybdis doubles.
Well, I have five spades and a nice diamond suit. I'll pass and see what West thinks of his partner's hand.
Pass, Pass, Pass.
Scylla leads the ♦6, and the dummy appears.
I'm guessing that the ♦6 is a singleton. Charybdis ruffs with the ♠K.
Panic sets in.
When the dust settles, I've managed a creditable 1SX-4 and -800.
I was not disappointed when I discovered that this scored +1.6 IMPs
What did Scylla and Charybdis fail to find?

---

Here's the deal

Spoiler

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The possible contracts

Spoiler

http://bit.ly/board3Mar14

[nullve]

So West had

Spoiler

AQ853
J9752
6
T5.

I seem to recall that the robots (basic ones?) were pretty decent at applying LoTT, but recent experiences (mostly with advanced robots) suggest they have forgotten all about it.

[LBengtsson]

LOL X is wrong bid after west has passed. only robot can do...surely not human?

[AL78]

LBengtsson, on 2021-March-14, 07:22, said:

LOL X is wrong bid after west has passed. only robot can do...surely not human?

I assume the double was the start of showing a massive hand (intending to cue bid next round). That doesn't seem unreasonable at first glance except when partner passes with a spade stack. If you don't double, what do you do with the West hand?

[pescetom]

AL78, on 2021-March-14, 07:37, said:

I assume the double was the start of showing a massive hand (intending to cue bid next round). That doesn't seem unreasonable at first glance except when partner passes with a spade stack. If you don't double, what do you do with the West hand?

Think you mean East hand.

East knows from the auction that partner probably has a spades stack, so why risk double?
If 5♦ is exclusion Blackwood then that seems a good start.
If you have no agreements, then 6♣ will not be a disaster.

[apollo1201]

pescetom, on 2021-March-14, 16:03, said:

If 5♦ is exclusion Blackwood then that seems a good start.
If you have no agreements, then 6♣ will not be a disaster.

I’m not sure it is standard to bid XKCB at your 1st turn in balancing seat. 5Dwill be natural for 99% of players.
You might survive a 2S cue (H+minor) but 6C is a practical bid.

[AL78]

pescetom, on 2021-March-14, 16:03, said:

Think you mean East hand.

East knows from the auction that partner probably has a spades stack, so why risk double?
If 5♦ is exclusion Blackwood then that seems a good start.
If you have no agreements, then 6♣ will not be a disaster.

Yes I did mean East and I agree, punting the club slam is probably the best alternative.