[Poky]

IMP. They vul.

♠KQ9x
♥AJ
♦Jxx
♣AKQx

pass 3♦ ??

[whereagles]

3NT. Should make on couple layouts of the diamond suit.

[mike777]

Once more into the breach!

3nt

[han]

At different colors I'd bid 3NT but here... I voted for double, I will rebid 3NT over 3H.

[Apollo81]

Theres something to be said for a 3♠ overcall.

I'd probably just bid 3NT at the table.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

X

If you are not brave enough to bid 3NT,
you have to make a takeout double.

Anything else does not show this amount
of strength.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Halo]

Double

Yes, I'm not brave enough.

[pclayton]

3N. I have a balanced 20 right?

[FrancesHinden]

Jlall, on Jan 23 2007, 03:40 PM, said:

disgusting hand... I've decided bridge is a game for masochists

Quite.
I guess I double.
I can't stand 3NT against a 2nd seat vulnerable pre-empt.

[mikeh]

Jlall, on Jan 23 2007, 10:40 AM, said:

disgusting hand...  I've decided bridge is a game for masochists

It took you this long to realize this?



At the table, I bid 3N. I cannot bring myself to double.... even the thought of hearing 3♥ on a 4 card suit makes me break out in a sweat. Maybe partner has Qx♦... a good partner would....

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Jan 23 2007, 10:51 PM, said:

At the table, I bid 3N. I cannot bring myself to double.... even the thought of hearing 3♥ on a 4 card suit makes me break out in a sweat. Maybe partner has Qx♦... a good partner would....

Hmm, the 3♥ bid with 4 of them is no problem IMO. You bid 3N and have shown a doubtful stopper and flexibility with respect to non-heart strains, aren't you much better positioned than after a direct 3N? Partner will leave it in with a partial stopper, but take out to 4♠ with xxxx xxxxx x xxx.
(Ok, he might also takeout to 4♣ with Jxx xxxx xx xxxx which I raise to 5♣ and go down, while you make 3N when the diamonds are blocked and RHO has no entry. But I like my odds.)

Of course, a 4♥ bid on 4 hearts is a different story, but good partners try to avoid this (when I have 2 hearts only).

[cherdano]

Jlall, on Jan 23 2007, 11:34 PM, said:

cherdano, on Jan 23 2007, 04:20 PM, said:

Hmm, the 3♥ bid with 4 of them is no problem IMO. You bid 3N and have shown a doubtful stopper and flexibility with respect to non-heart strains, aren't you much better positioned than after a direct 3N? Partner will leave it in with a partial stopper

I don't really agree with any of this analysis. It would be routine to double and then bid 3N with say, KQxx AQx AQ KTxx. Here you have 3 hearts and good diamond stoppers.

It would also be normal to X and bid 3N with KQx AKx Axx KQxx so partner should not take out to 4S on the 4513 hand you gave (he should bid 4D to let you pick). Doubling and then bidding 3N would show at least one stopper and 3 hearts a large majority of the time.

Well, no matter what you exactly expect for double-then-3N, partner is way more likely to take it out than a direct 3N, no? So I don't really see what you lose compared to a direct 3N.

[pclayton]

In an ideal world, what should a 3N call actually show? Partner is a passed hand (which matters), and its IMPs (which matters, a little).

I would suggest that 3N shows the following: either a a balanced or semi-balanced 16 to 22. The spectrum could be anything from ♠Axx ♥Kxx ♦AQ ♣QJTxx to ♠AQx ♥KQx ♦AQ ♣KQTxx. I think balanced hands in 15-16 point range can compete, but 3N shouldn't include hands this weak.

3N also includes a hand with a great source of tricks with a shaded point count. I would include the likes of:

♠Ax ♥xx ♦Axx ♣KQJTxx to:

♠Ax ♥Kx ♦Axx ♣AKJTxx

[marcD]

pclayton, on Jan 23 2007, 05:57 PM, said:

In an ideal world, what should a 3N call actually show? Partner is a passed hand (which matters), and its IMPs (which matters, a little).

I would suggest that 3N shows the following: either a a balanced or semi-balanced 16 to 22. The spectrum could be anything from ♠Axx ♥Kxx ♦AQ ♣QJTxx to ♠AQx ♥KQx ♦AQ ♣KQTxx. I think balanced hands in 15-16 point range can compete, but 3N shouldn't include hands this weak.

3N also includes a hand with a great source of tricks with a shaded point count. I would include the likes of:

♠Ax ♥xx ♦Axx ♣KQJTxx to:

♠Ax ♥Kx ♦Axx ♣AKJTxx

Agree with this comment . That's why 4C relay (asking for hand type) over 3NT is a good convention . x then 3NT shows a flexible hand not a stronger hand. partner is expected to pass over a direct 3NT unless he has a suit he wants to play opposite xx ou x

[mike777]

I have no idea what this comment means but it makes sense

[000002]

i agree the major commentator,and plus a clear reason:

it's some difficulty to rebound 4♥/4♠ by pd if i overcall 3nt,es[ecially holding 4=4=2=3 or 5=3=1=4, but weakish hand(3-8p).


regards 000002

[Winstonm]

I am 98% certain that Marshall Miles would bid 3S with this hand and I'm 100% sure he could then convince you that it is the best bid.