[adhoc3]

IMP game, opps red and you white.

When you have beautiful 5530: ♠- ♥AKJT3 ♦K63 ♣AKJT4, you hear the bidding goes:

1♠---pass---1NT(F)---2♠ comfortable
3♠---pass---pass-----????

What will you do?

Tips:

1)If you bid anything above 4C, you'll get doubled from LHO.
2)If you double, it is not penalty. Pard will bid 4C.

Have fun.

[Free]

I guess 2♠ showed 5+♥ and 5+m. I have a very nice hand (read GF), so I'll bid my minor now...

4♣.

[awm]

I think double is pretty straightforward here. This should show a good hand, with some defensive values but it's not penalty. Partner is invited to defend with a misfitty hand including some spades, or to bid with a fit but too weak to compete initially.

The tough decision is what to do after partner pulls the double to 4♣. I think pass is probably the percentage choice (partner could have virtually nothing here).

[mike777]

Another anti Michaels vote here, I bid 2H over 1nt.

[neilkaz]

I'll show my Michaels 55 beautiful hand with a free bid of 4C.

I agree with 2S Michaels here, since I fear 2H gets passed with hands where we have game. I think it is important to flash the 2 suited hand signal ASAP here and before the opps end up quite high in spades since we could belong in any number of clubs here.

.. neilkaz ..

[kenrexford]

I believe that this is the fourth poll in a row where my answer is not provided as an option. Perhaps I should re-think my logic?

That being said, my vote is for 3NT. If double is not penalty (makes sense), it shows some take-out shape, right? Otherwise, I'd simply bid my minor. I expect that double includes 5530's. But, which?

One might surmise that 3NT is scrambling, such that partner can either pick a minor (5+) or ask me to pick (3NT).

The problem with this idea is that 3NT might be a viable contract. Is there, then, a better way to handle the 5530 "problem?" Sure!

Bid one 5530 through double and one through 3NT. Then, 3NT can end up the final contract. The distinguishing of specific 5530's seems much more likely than a natural 3NT call, and more useful. Thus, I would expect X and 3NT to distinguish which 5530 is held.

Now, which is which? Doubles and Unusual No Trump typically run one way. Doubles show the higher suits, and NT the lower suits. Given the force of a two-suiter with one known, it seems that double should show the higher suits (hence, diamonds) and NT the lower option (clubs). The focus should logically be on the longer suit.

Thus, if X shows specifically 0553, then 3NT shows 0535, which I hold.

Thus, 3NT.

Who wants the pipe next?

[adhoc3]

kenrexford, on Aug 1 2006, 10:24 PM, said:

I believe that this is the fourth poll in a row where my answer is not provided as an option. Perhaps I should re-think my logic?

That being said, my vote is for 3NT. If double is not penalty (makes sense), it shows some take-out shape, right? Otherwise, I'd simply bid my minor. I expect that double includes 5530's. But, which?
......

Thus, 3NT.

Reasonable, the double on 3S was passed on the next table, and 3S made with no problem. However, 3NT is too cold to be listed as an option :)




Now come to part II:

You doubled, and pard bid 4C, are you crazy enough to bid 5C? AWM said no, how about you?


♠- ♥AKJT3 ♦K63 ♣AKJT4

1♠---pass---1NT(F)---2♠ comfortable
3♠---pass---pass-----double
pass--4♣----pass-----???

[Free]

No! I told my hand and I have no extra's anymore. Partner decides he doesn't want to play 5♣, so don't bid it...

[kenrexford]

It depends upon technique.

If 3NT would have been Lebensohl-ish, a weak relay to my minor, then 4♣ is constructive. With this agreement, I raise.

If 3NT would be passable, then 4♣ seems to be the lowest paradox option, and I will pass.

If 3NT is scrambling, and 4♣ natural (the double showing some unknown 5530), then we have a 10-fit in clubs. Expecting something like 3235, I need very little to make game and will find out at jeopardy.

[whereagles]

Dbl to show extra strength. Pass if you're in Zia's heat 3.

[FrancesHinden]

I would have doubled 1NT (take-out of spades), as I would treat this as a 3-suiter.
Having doubled 1NT, I would bid 4H over 3S.

If instead I bid 2S over 1NT, I would then double 3S and pass 4C.

[mikeh]

I raise, since partner will have long ♣ on this auction.... he lacks 3♥ and certainly denies 5♠, so he has at least 7 cards in the minors and almost certainly 8+. With equal or near-equal minors, he should bid 3N... which is NOT to play... this is one of the very rare sequences in which 3N is NOT to play.

On this analysis, I need very little to make game... xxxx xx xx xxxxx may be enough.

If partner bid 4♣ as P/C, then 5♣ is too much.. and I doubt that we have an explicit agreement. BTW, for those who bid 4♣ over 3♠, in my view that showed 6+♣, not a good 553.

[adhoc3]

Part III

Quote

I raise, since partner will have long ♣ on this auction.... he lacks 3♥ and certainly denies 5♠, so he has at least 7 cards in the minors and almost certainly 8+. With equal or near-equal minors, he should bid 3N... which is NOT to play... this is one of the very rare sequences in which 3N is NOT to play.

On this analysis, I need very little to make game... xxxx xx xx xxxxx may be enough.

This is logical.

Crazy or logical, whatever, you bid 5C, LHO doubled as expected. The leading is ♦Q and you can see both hands:

N
♠-
♥AKJT3
♦K63
♣AKJT4

Leading from W: ♦Q

S
♠QTx
♥74
♦A8765
♣975

Now please move your seat across the table, how would you make the contract?

1♠---pass---1NT(F)---2♠ comfortable
3♠---pass---pass-----double
pass--4♣----pass-----5♣
double---all pass.

[Foxx]

Here's what I'm wondering: What the devil are they bidding and doubling on? I can't help but think East has a minimum hand and lot of spades (say seven), and maybe doubling on three (or four) clubs to the Q.

I'd win the ♦A in hand, cash one top trump, win the ♥AK and try for two heart ruffs in hand to lose a diamond and a club. Ducking the ♦Q lead is tempting, planning to cash ♣AK and ruff one heart in hand (throwing the rest on the diamonds) but too likely to blow up spectacularly when East has a singleton diamond.