[joshs]

Scoring: IMP

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Playing Light Opening bids (most ten counts 1/2 seat white) RHO passes, you pass, LHO opens 3C, partner xes, RHO bids 3N

A. what do you bid?
B. if you choose to pass here, the auction continues: P by you, P by the 3C bidder-x from partner-4C from the 3N bidder (suprise suprise)-?
Now what?
C. If you chose to pass again, the auction continues, P by you, P by the 3C bidder, x from partner, P from RHO, Now What?

[Miron]

1: pass
2: pass
3: pass (4 points against some 20, 4♣x should fall, I don't see any game chance here - partner has balanced hand)

[luis]

I won't pass 3NT I would bid 4♣ as "pick a major" and pass afterwards.
Thanks to RHO for leeting me bid 4♣ when he could bid that himself and give me a headache.

Luis

[mike777]

4D now.
prefer 4clubs earlier but...

[han]

1) Pass.

2) 3NT is just silly as a passed hand. I'm not sure this is enough for 4C, it is a golden opportunity though.

3) I will CERTAINLY NOT pass, I don't convert partner's take-out doubles with s stiff. I would bid 4H.

[cherdano]

Btw, what is the best use of the double vs 3N?
1. Takeout
2. X - then - bid over their 4C = stronger than direct bid?

Arend

[awm]

Well, I think a direct double of 3NT should show a good hand. Usually this involves something in clubs and desire to penalize. So doubling 3NT followed by a double of the run to 4♣ would be penalty. Thus I'd expect a pass of 3NT followed by a double of 4♣ to be responsive. In all:

Pass 3NT, then X 4♣ = responsive takeout (and my call with this hand)
Pass 3NT, then pass 4♣ = normally just a bad hand, maybe willing to defend if partner Xs again
Direct bid over 3NT = natural, tends to be a longish suit
Direct 4♣ over 3NT = multiple places to play, but really should expect to make game opposite a minimum X, thus a better hand than what we were actually dealt
Double 3NT, then bid over 4♣ = really maximum, slam try in the suit bid
Double 3NT, then double 4♣ = penalty, or desire to defend opposite a normal X anyway

While this auction is pretty weird, I think there are some similar sequences that can be used to build general agreements. For example:

(1♦)-X-(1NT)-X.

I take advancer's double here as penalty of 1NT. This shows a good hand, often balanced or with diamond cards. A 2♦ cue can take the place of a "responsive" double. If opponents run from 1NTX, then I would think this is a forcing auction, and that double of 2♦ by advancer is for penalty (unless you typically play takeout doubles in auctions like 1m-X-XX for example in which case pass is desire to penalize).

[joshs]

I wanted to pass 3N and then x 4C for takeout if partner xed 3N, but I wasn't sure partner would be on the same wavelength (obviously, from Adam's post, he is. Hi adam!). So I ended up in 4H down 1, when 4S was making and 4C-x was going down 3.

Partner had: AKJx AKx A9xx xx

I feel there are really 2 distinct ways of playing here.
a. xing 3N establishes a forcing pass, so then responder can pass for takeout on this hand
b. xing 3N shows extras but does not establish a forcing pass, so then responder's x is takeout, showing some values

I am not wed to either one...