[ewj]

Scoring: IMP

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3♣ on your right, your go.

[hotShot]

pass

In 2nd hand, a bid promises more than i have.

[Apollo81]

I think it is clear to act. I would double, but I can respect a 3♦ call also.

[whereagles]

Yeah, you have to bid now. Agree with apollo.

[mikeh]

Two conflicting aspects here: bidding at the 3-level promises more high card strength than we have, but we are the ones short in ♣s. If we don't act, either partner will feel constrained to pass due to his club length or LHO will be bouncing us and partner may be unable to act due to relative weakness: if it takes strength to bid at the 3-level, it also takes strength for him to act over 5♣.

So for me the decision is clear, altho not comfortable: 3♦.

No way am I doubling... I'd rather pass than double, and I can't stomach passing, so imagine how double makes me feel

Ok, more elaboration:

if we double, partner will expect more than 7 cards and 3 points in the majors.

If we double, partner will expect more defence and may make a poor double later or may pass 3♣ x'd.

If we double, and partner is, say, 3433, we play ♥s, quite possibly doubled, when we have a 9 card fit in ♦s.

If I knew that partner would get us to ♠s over a double, either with a good hand and 4 decent ♠s or any hand with 5+♠s, then double is wonderful... but why should he? And bidding 3♦ doesn't mean we can't get to ♠s some of the time when it is right and it does mean that we will always get to ♦s when that is right.

[pbleighton]

3D. I won't repeat any of mikeh's good post.

Peter

[paulg]

pbleighton, on Apr 10 2007, 04:36 PM, said:

3D.  I won't repeat any of mikeh's good post.

Peter

Ditto.

[jdonn]

For me, double for sure. I have an awesome dummy in support of all other suits, about all I could want for a takeout double. If partner passes I am a bit worried but anyway it could also work well so I certainly won't let that one chance stop me.

3♦ is fine.

If my opponents start passing on these hands, I may make the agreement to open 3♣ on every board from now on.

This is turning into another good problem. It seems pretty evenly split between double and 3♦.

[Fluffy]

This kind of hand I would like to bid at the 4 level if my suit was a major.

pass crosses my mind, but no thank you, don't feel specially right for 3♦ or double, I would probably just double

[Fluffy]

jdonn, on Apr 10 2007, 03:51 PM, said:

If my opponents start passing on these hands, I may make the agreement to open 3♣ on every board from now on.

You ain't dealed a void every hand! , anyway 3♣ opeing on every hand looks like a fun strategy

[jillybean]

3♦ If we are meant to be in a ♠ game I will trust my partner to bid them

[mike777]

3D

Per Cohen/Bergen I try and go out of my way to not making high level takeout doubles with a void.

[mcphee]

Passing is out of the question. I prefer 3D to the t/o dble. I'd like another defensive value in case partner converts the dble, a chance greatly increased when holding a void.

[pclayton]

Acting is clear. Here's why I like 3D better than x:

1. A moysian rates to play poorly with dummy getting tapped at T1.

2. This is a great dummy if pard chooses 3N with a 10 count, doubleton diamond and fair club stop.

3. This is a great dummy for hearts but only if pard can bid them voluntarily over 3D.

4. The only drawback to 3D is it might be tougher to get to 4-4 spades, but with dummy getting tapped its not clear spades are the right spot.

An interesting side question: if we overcall 3D and LHO bids 5C and pard x's, what do we bid?

[MickyB]

I held this hand and bid 3♦, it felt fairly clear. It's from the U25 pairs in London, and was actually Butler IMPs in case that changes anyone's decision

Ed, will you be posting partner's hand over your 3♦?

[P_Marlowe]

3D, wtp?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[the hog]

3D. X is sick.

[Edmunte1]

My choice is between 3♦ and pass, and i'll choose 3♦. I don't like double

[helene_t]

3♦. Basically I agree with Mikeh although I don't get nauseous from the thought of dbl.

[jchiu]

MickyB, on Apr 10 2007, 08:52 PM, said:

I held this hand and bid 3♦, it felt fairly clear. It's from the U25 pairs in London, and was actually Butler IMPs in case that changes anyone's decision

Ed, will you be posting partner's hand over your 3♦?

That changes my decision. In a normal IMP game, I would bid 3♦ without hesitation or regrets. However, in an EBU sponsored U25 Butler contest, or against anyone named Myers :-P, the fear that swish would lead to a bad result subsides and I would either double or bid 3♦ depending on my table feel.