[hatchett]

Scoring: IMP

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1♠ 3♦ 4♠ ?

[mike777]

Pass

If 4s is making 5H may only be down 2 or 3 for minus 300/500 vs 620 but let's pass and defend.

[Blofeld]

Pass. I'm guessing this worked badly or this wouldn't be a problem?

[mikeh]

I pass. Who knows who can make anything? Opposite a typical white v red 3♦ of xx x KQJxxxx xxx, 5♥ will be expensive even if trump are 3-2 and 4♠ is cold, while on other hands, 4♠ may be failing: xx Qxx AJxxxxx x... he leads his stiff ♣.

Bidding 5♥ requires the parlay that 5♥ goes for no more than 500 and that 4♠ makes. Passing wins whenever 5♥ is too rich or when 4♠ fails.

While, individually, I estimate that 4♠ will make more often than not and that 5♥ will fail by 300 or 500 more often than by 800, I don't like the parlay odds.

Note that I am not factoring in a playable 5♣. Assume 4N is takeout: will we really pass 5♣ doubled, when we could be in a 5-2 fit rather than a 7-1 or 7-2? Count me out of that gamble.

[hatchett]

Quote

Opposite a typical white v red 3♦ of xx x KQJxxxx xxx

That would be a typical 4♦ pre-empt for me at green.

[pbleighton]

"That would be a typical 4D pre-empt for me at green."

Me too.

Peter

[mikeh]

I don't have a problem with anyone saying that the hand xx x KQJxxxx xxx is a 4♦ preempt: I might do that myself.. the point was that even that good a playing hand (for a ♦ preempt) offers no help in 5♥... make it xx x KJxxxxx xxx and (I assume) you'd prefer 3♦ and you get my point.

BTW, for what it is worth, I am not generally a 4m bidder. 5m yes, 3m, yes, but 4 minor forces them to bid game all too often: either when they might have played 3M or in circumstances in which our partner has to make the last guess. Having said that, I well recognize the advantages of removing the forcing change of suit by responder and the cue bid, and, as the entries in my internal database change over time, I may become a readier 4m bidder than I am now.

[neilkaz]

4S has a decent chance to be set on a diamond lead. I pass quickly and think it has better expectancy than 5Hx, even at this vul.

.. neilkaz ..

[whereagles]

Pass. There's a good chance pard will have 3-4 spades and streched to bid 3♦. Don't punish him.

[han]

neilkaz, on Jul 7 2006, 06:08 PM, said:

I pass quickly.

I pass slowly.

[civill]

Pass for our misfit and their game.