[luke warm]

mr1303, on Oct 14 2005, 03:17 AM, said:

Yes, if partner had that hand he should pull the double of 4S ( if one was made) to 5H. Unfortunate that partner has 3 small diamonds, with 2 small 6 would have excellent play.

but had you bid 2S then 5D, partner's decision is simpler eh? and i disagree with mike's statement earlier that this is an 'intermediate' hand (thus unsuitable for michaels).. this is a great hand, so i'll help partner out with his sac vs. defend decision... i'll stick to 2S then 5D

blofeld said:

Could you explain the problem with doubling? I double because I think it's the best description of my hand. I'm willing to trust that my partner has some judgement as well.

look at partner's hand... maybe he should pull the double, maybe not, but why put him under so much pressure? you know you'd rather play than defend, so help him out by showing you have nothing against the 5 level

[beatrix45]

Blofeld, on Oct 16 2005, 02:16 AM, said:

jdeegan, on Oct 16 2005, 12:28 AM, said:

  I can hardly believe the number of votes for a double. For shame! I admit I voted for 5♥, when clearly 5♦ is the better bid.  But, at least I knew better than to double

Could you explain the problem with doubling? I double because I think it's the best description of my hand. I'm willing to trust that my partner has some judgement as well.

You are past the point of describing you hand. The preliminary part of the auction is over. You can see at least eleven tricks for your side so you gotta place the contract. If you can also give information to partner (e.g. bidding 5♦ instead of 5♥), then by all means do so. It might come in handy later if the hand has more tricks in it than we currently think.

You cannot be afraid of going down one. Partner bid hearts freely so it doesn't figure to happen, and when it does, the opponents may bid 5♠ to bail you out. To take only 10 tricks, you would have to lose two tricks in the red suits. Or else, partner has a small doubleton spade.

[Blofeld]

beatrix45, on Oct 16 2005, 10:41 PM, said:

You are past the point of describing you hand. The preliminary part of the auction is over. You can see at least eleven tricks for your side so you gotta place the contract. If you can also give information to partner (e.g. bidding 5♦ instead of 5♥), then by all means do so. It might come in handy later if the hand has more tricks in it than we currently think.

You cannot be afraid of going down one. Partner bid hearts freely so it doesn't figure to happen, and when it does, the opponents may bid 5♠ to bail you out. To take only 10 tricks, you would have to lose two tricks in the red suits. Or else, partner has a small doubleton spade.

As the auction may well not end with my call, I think it's ludicrous to say that we're past the point of describing our hand. Either we need to describe our hand to partner, or vice-versa. And it's a lot easier to get to the right place via the former route. I think doubling is more likely to get me to slam when it's right than a 5♦ bid.

luke warm said:

but had you bid 2S then 5D, partner's decision is simpler eh?

Well, in that there's no longer a decision available to him/her, yes.

luke warm said:

look at partner's hand... maybe he should pull the double, maybe not, but why put him under so much pressure? you know you'd rather play than defend, so help him out by showing you have nothing against the 5 level

Yes, I know that in general on this hand I'd rather play than defend. I got that across with my 2♠ bid. If you think that partner could consider not pulling the double on the given hand, could you please construct a hand that you think would bid 2♠ and then double?

[jdeegan]

Blofeld, on Oct 17 2005, 05:39 AM, said:

... could you please construct a hand that you think would bid 2♠ and then double?

A hand that would bid two spades and then double:

---

I don't want partner to bid 5♥ unless his hand is unusually good for that purpose, and I think it is our hand because my hand is strong for defense, one of those that was too good to overcall esp. since it has relatively weak hearts.

On the actual hand, having a secret trump trick (QJ3 of spades) is an attractive feature, but it doesn't outweigh all the distribution going on around the table.