[jdeegan]

Scoring: IMP

2♥-P-3♥-???

---

Playing with an experienced partner. First hand of a 12 board IMP pairs game. Your bid?

[Echognome]

I double. I'm 3-suited with short hearts. 5431s have good playing strength. It does not mean double is without risk, but you are the one with short hearts. You need to act.

[mikeh]

It is a bidder's game: double: sure, it may work out badly... so what?

Give partner a non-descript hand such as xxxx x KQxxx KQx and what did you expect him to bid over 2♥?

[bid_em_up]

Although I dont think its likely that partner will hold a stiff heart as well (as Mike suggested), double caters to finding the best possible contract by your side.

3N, 3♥ x'd, 3-4♠, or 4-5 of either minor are all possible contracts at this point, and the way to start is with an X. You can tolerate whatever partner bids.

Any other call (with the possible exception of pass) is masterminding. Pass is certainly an option, but over the long run, I believe it will put too much pressure on partner to do the right thing in the passout seat, especially since he knows absolutely nothing about your hand. Go ahead and describe your hand as best you can in one bid.

[Free]

Easy double

[inquiry]

All you easy doublers, what is 2H was game force showig spades? What if it was game force showing hearts? what if it was major two suiter and 10-12 points or flannery? I think we should find out what 2H means before we answer.

If it was a weak 2H, however, I would double.

[adhoc3]

Raising a preeemtive opening seemed so encouraging. But I'm too conservative and I would probably pass this. Maybe not to bid is more risky than to bid, I'm not sure. I really hope it was in the middle of the game.

[P_Marlowe]

Dbl.

I think it is close, and I may not be surprised,
if asked the question in a couple of weeks,
I may vote for Pass.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pclayton]

Double and I don't think its remotely close.

[Blofeld]

Double, even if 3♥ is invitational. Can't imagine passing.

[Walddk]

If you don't double with those cards, assuming that 2♥ is weak, I think your partner is entitled to look for a new partner. Because if you pass, the cards must scare you to death.

I don't even think there is a significant risk, and even if there was, it usually pays off to run the active risk (double) rather than the passive one (pass).

Roland

[willow23]

I would double..

If I were opps, I would raise according to the law to make life difficult for opps who are afraid of being vul...

So p probably has just as good a hand as you but probably was not short enough in hearts for a take-out double.

I would not go without a fight there, expecially as I am vul...Game may be a dbl away

[benlessard]

X but i think its close.

here is why


When partner has 4s
-----------------------

if partner has the J its unlikely that it will be easy.
if he doesnt you can be sure it will a tough spot.


when partner has 3s no contract will be a great spot.
-----------------------------------------------------------
3nt 4c or 4d 5c 5d are unlikely to be a good risk-return of investment deal



when partner has 5s
-----------------------

with a red ace and a minor Q

jxxxx
xx
Aqxx
xxx


xxxxx
xx
axx
qxx

xxxxx
axx
qx
xxx

xxxxxx
ax
xxx
qx



even with 3 good cards and extra trumps he can go down in 3 and 4s has no play.



When partner has enough values to go to the 4 level its basically the same thing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 will make but 4 will often go down.





The bottom line is

No matter what partner bid its not likely to be an easy contract.


if partner has a bad hand it will probably be a disaster.

if partner hand is fair you will probably go down

if partner hand is nice you will get a fair contract

if partner hand is great you will get a good contract.

if partner hand is excellent you will get a great contract but it wont be cold.

I hope you get my point


Same thing if partner pass its ulikely to be very juicy while the chance they make it is a worry.







At Matchpoint its an automatic X because settling for -140 or + 50 or + 100 doesnt seems like a good deal. in the long run.


Anyway its a perfect hand to show IMPs MP difference in strategies.

[Apollo81]

Insta-double

[jchiu]

Auto double.

[hatchett]

Obvious double

[Joe de Balliol]

Double wtp?

[the hog]

Assuming a weak 2 in H, you have an obvious double, even if 3H was invitatonal. If you don't X on these hands you WILL be robbed blind.

[mikestar]

Self-evident double, any vulnerability, any form of scoring. According to LTC or Zar you are a full trick better than a minimum opening and all of your cards are prime. You should be safe whatever partner does: you may go down, of course but you won't be hurt badly and will make a decent amount of the time. Partners worst hand offensively has heart length and soft cards in the red suits--and if he has this, he may well leave it in, and they aren't going to make more than 1 time in 20, if that.