[hrothgar]

Here is a hand that is generating considerable discussion on another forum.

You hold

♠ AJx
♥ KQxx
♦ Axxxx
♣ A

The opponents are playing strong club and 5 card majors.

The auction starts

(P) - P - (1H) - ???

What call do you make?

[mike777]

1nt..in for a penny in for a ....

[awm]

I'll try 2♦, the natural bid.

If partner can find a bid over this, we are very well positioned. I can show forcing raises of spades, or try notrump if partner raises my diamonds.

Double seems awful (no support for clubs, no clear followups after partner's next call) so the only other real option is 1NT. However, this hand is quite suit-oriented (all those aces...) and borderline too strong for 1NT. If partner passes, I don't hold out great hopes to make 1nt (can't get to partner's club cards, no real runnable suit) unless partner has a diamond fit... in which case we could well make game. If worst comes to worst and partner passes me in 2♦, chances are good I wasn't making 1nt either. Bidding 1nt could also miss a slam for our side, as it becomes hard to look for slam after a 1nt bid when partner doesn't want to (this is a monster hand if partner has five spades or four diamonds and some decent cards).

[Cascade]

I'll try 1NT, the natural bid.

The only problem with 1NT is when there is a spade fit and then we might have more playing strength than partner can expect. I'd be willing to consider a super-accept with only three spades if partner shows five spades.

[inquiry]

Too good to pass, ♦ spots to bad to bid 2♦'s if there is any other option. So 1NT seems more or less "required".

[mikeh]

Given that RHO made a 3rd seat 1♥ bid, my hand is too good, imo, for 1N. The ♦ suit is wrong for 2♦: partner will have to pass 2♦ on too many hands on which either 3N or 4♠ makes to make me happy with that call.

So I double, intending to bid notrump cheaply next turn.

I am thankful that partner is a passed hand since he will not go nuts on me in ♣. Also, my ♥ length/strength means that LHO is not going to bounce in ♥ very often (just about the only situation in which a passed hand partner will bid ♣ beyond the 3-level is after a preemption by the opps).


I suspect that the expert vote be spilt between double and double then notrump if we moved a small ♦ into the ♣ suit (I'd upgrade due to the controls... A's are undervalued in 4321 count methods.. this is more than 18 hcp) while double then 1N would be close to unanimous if we were 3=3=5=2 with the same honour cards.

So double and then notrump is the most accurate strength valuation, as far as I see it.

[Kalvan14]

X, and then NT for me too. Mikeh's analysis is correct.

[Impact]

Bidding ♦ immediately is out for a number of reasons:

1) the suit is poor

2) I have no rebid assuming the opponents make a bid: I play a rebid by overcaller in NT without any bid by advancer as showing length in the lowest available suit (typically a 64, occasionally a 54) - unless the opponents bid 3C in which case I could double

3) any rebid or takeout double by me which is likely to produce a "preference" bid returning to my overcalled suit in any close case is likely to produce a bad result

4) if I make a bid at the 2-level with this hand and it is passed out the odds are that I won't be happy.

That leaves a choice between a direct 1NT and doubling and then bidding NT(as a plan). The latter is about right on values: positionally and with 3 bullets, this hand is better than 18HCP, while it is very good for play in S despite the extra length in H.

Our most likely games are S or NT - and making a simple overcall in D is unlikely to get us to either. After all, on a H lead mere xxxxxx x xx xxxx gives me some play - and there will be many better hands he may hold on which no move would be made over a simple overcall.

I feel some relief as he is a passed hand and it is unlikely (based on my H holding) that the auction will bounce. So at teams at any vul I double, and at MP vul I also double (thereby putting a likely plus score in slight jeopardy for the additional return).

I should note that the opponents' methods protect them - and it may be that the 3rd hand opening bid will not be made at all tables, so I may have some "catch-up" to par.

n/v and playing MP I would be more inclined to take the low road of 1NT direct - only because the absence of the appreciable game bonus and the super-accept of S still remains to get us to a good game.

[paulg]

hrothgar,

You clearly do not read enough bridge magazines. Any time that double is a valid call in a bidding poll a significant number of the panel, and punters, will select it and so it should be on the list

Anyway what's the scoring and vulnerability?

At IMPs I would double here as the hand is too good for 1NT. At matchpoints I'd probably overcall 1NT.

Paul

[Chamaco]

Is pass unthinkable ?

===============

EDIT: I miscounted the hcp
With an 18 count I'd start with a double, like a man

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Apr 20 2006, 06:19 AM, said:

I suspect that the expert vote be spilt between double and double then notrump if we moved a small ♦ into the ♣ suit (I'd upgrade due to the controls... A's are undervalued in 4321 count methods.. this is more than 18 hcp) while double then 1N would be close to unanimous if we were 3=3=5=2 with the same honour cards.

Indeed, I voted 1N due to downgrading the singleton ♣A -- I would have voted double-then-1NT with AJx KQx Axxxx Ax.

awm, on Apr 20 2006, 04:00 AM, said:

However, this hand is quite suit-oriented (all those aces...) and borderline too strong for 1NT.

This is obviously right before RHO opened, but doesn't our heart holding after RHO opened 1♥ make this a NT-hand? Either partner or LHO are likely to be short in hearts, both of which would argue in favour of NT.

(I admit your other arguments against 1N, that I have conveniently omitted from the quote, are pretty good.)

Arend

[Free]

1NT, indeed a no brainer

[cherdano]

Chamaco, on Apr 20 2006, 10:03 AM, said:

Is pass unthinkable ?

===============

EDIT: I miscounted the hcp
With an 18 count I'd start with a double, like a man

Can some admin please remove Mauro's vote from the pass option? Even seeing one vote there is too much for me!

[whereagles]

Fun problem. I dunno what I'd do.. I'll try dbl, 1NT or 2♦ depending on the day.

Today I think I'll try 2♦

P.S. the suit is weak, but pard, who is short in hearts, probably has support, so 2♦ is not so dangerous as it seems. Especially with 18 hcp and RHO a limited opener.. LOL.

[jdeegan]

1NT. wtp

[han]

My choice is also between 1NT and double followed by 1NT (I would not consider 2D). With AJx KQx Axxxx Ax I would double first, now I bid 1NT directly.

[Gerben42]

1NT for me, but I have no problem with Dbl. 2♦ just doesn't look right here.

[joshs]

hrothgar, on Apr 19 2006, 08:38 PM, said:

Here is a hand that is generating considerable discussion on another forum.

You hold

♠ AJx
♥ KQxx
♦ Axxxx
♣ A

The opponents are playing strong club and 5 card majors.

The auction starts

(P) - P - (1H) - ???

What call do you make?

I can't seem to find the vul....

Pass is unthinkable if they are white on a hand thats probably too strong for a 1N overcall, but could be correct if they are red and we are white...

[keylime]

I think the hand is way too good for 1NT. All those controls, potential for many strains of contract, and that stiff ace of clubs which looks almost golden. I'm a doubler and bidder.