[Gerben42]

Scoring: MP

---

The auction at our table:

West North East South
--- Pass 1♥ 2NT*
Double Pass 6♠** Pass***
Pass*** Pass***

* Minors
** After a long pause
*** Confused

On the lead of the ♦4, this went one off. So far there was only one score on the scoresheet: 6♠ from East +1 (on the lead of the ♣A - it can be done! check for yourself).

So my question is: I would like to believe East did NOT have information from the scoresheet about the first result on this board, but I'm having trouble buying that. Any help here?

[awm]

I'm confused. What did north do that seemed strange to you? I guess he could bid 3♣ over 2NT doubled instead of passing to let partner pick a minor? Certainly I wouldn't double the final contract... there's no evidence that north had or used any UI.

As for east, perhaps he thought the double of 2NT showed spades. This seems the most reasonable explanation of the 6♠ bid.

[Gerben42]

I meant East, yes.

[hotShot]

The double of 2NT is negativ and shows the only remaining suit ♠.

[EricK]

I imagine East's thought processes were along these lines:

Partner has a good(ish) hand
He probably doesn't have ♥ support
North's Pass (rather than bidding ♣) probably means that partner has short ♦
We are certainly in the game zone but very probably in the slam zone
If we have a fit it is likely to be in ♠
I haven't got a clue how to investigate this properly.

[FrancesHinden]

I imagine East thought partner's double was negative, showing 4+ spades.

[Codo]

If E/W were a casual partnership and East as much a junior as you are, then the bidding may had worked that way. Or maybe, you had been part of the latest beer tournement and it had been one of the later rounds...

Else, a bid like 4 or 5 Club to look for 7 Spade had been more convincing.

[Trinidad]

I agree that East probably thought that West's double promised four spades. If I would think that and I was playing in an individual, I could well finish the auction immediately with a 6♠ bid to prevent any confusion.

I don't think the double promised four spades and you don't think the double promised four spades. But if all the players in Germany who do think the double promised four spades would pay me 1 Euro, I could buy a nice German car, even after having paid Dutch taxes over the amount.

Rik