[jillybean]

Playing with very experienced but juniorish forum members; this auction came up.
Whats going on and how do you respond?

Dealer: North Vul: All Scoring: IMP

♠ J542 ♥ AT7432 ♦ Q5 ♣ J

West North East South

 -     1♣    Pass  1♥
 2♦    2♥    2NT   Pass
 3♦    Pass  3NT   ?  

[Echognome]

Why didn't I bid 3♥ at my last turn? Then I could feel done with bidding.

I guess if a subbed in for someone who was sick, I'd now guess to bid 4♥.

[jtfanclub]

[warning, nonexpert opinion ahead]
Well, if I bid like this as RHO, I have....

Txx
KQT
Kxx
Axxx

and I think I can steal 6 diamonds, 2 hearts, and a club before you guys realize spades are wide open. Or, maybe I'll get lucky and partner will have a spade stop.

I'll pass and lead a black suit. Partner should have 12 hcp in the black suits, so it's a guess. I'll guess clubs.

[han]

If you knew the people at the table a little better then you would have known who was joking.

[jillybean]

Maybe next time I will. I thought I had such a bad hand, apart from the 6♥'s with the A the hand has nothing going for it. I'm being cautious bidding to the 3 level now. (corrected)

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     1♣    Pass  1♥
 2♦    2♥    2NT   Pass
 3♦    Pass  3NT   Pass
 Pass  Pass  

[jtfanclub]

????

You meant 7♦? 3NT is a good bid, whether it makes or not.


So, did 4♥ make, or go down 1?

[jillybean]

jtfanclub, on May 22 2007, 07:32 PM, said:

You meant 7♦?  3NT is a good bid, whether it makes or not.

no, Im south with 6♥'s. I said 7 in the post, corrected now.

My question is; although we have a huge ♥ fit I think my hand is awful, should I bid at the 3 level? In the past I wouldn't have thought twice about bidding 3 or even 4♥'s. Other posters have made me think before pushing to the 3level

[Fluffy]

you are suposed to be weak for 3♥, otherwise you would double 2NT.

You will still go for a number, but hey, partner won't double them for that

[whereagles]

Jilly, your hand is not awful in support of hearts. It's actually pretty shapely, even discounting the diamond wastage.

[helene_t]

Your 1♥ bid promised 4 hearts and you have 6. Who's going to bid 3♥, you or partner? Even if partner has 4 hearts it isn't automatic for him to bid again.

Of course you may get another turn (partner may double 2N, or LHO may bid 3♦) but now is the chance to bid 3♥ before opps exchange more information by bidding 3♦ and before they force you to bid at the 4-level.

You shouldn't pass because you have a bad hand. 3♥ is no stronger than pass. It is based on O/D ratio, not on strength.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

assuming EW know what they are doing,
the 3NT is based on 6D a heart stop
a club stop and a AQ combination.
This will give them 9 tricks.

I would have bid 3H the round before,
now it is 50/50, I will double and lead
a spade.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: saw the hand, 3NTx=...
PSS: The double will test their nerves,
maybe they run.

[jdonn]

P_Marlowe, on May 24 2007, 11:09 AM, said:

PS: saw the hand, 3NTx=...
PSS: The double will test their nerves,
maybe they run.

Look closer, it's down 3 on a spade lead

[foo]

jdonn, on May 24 2007, 11:26 AM, said:

P_Marlowe, on May 24 2007, 11:09 AM, said:

PS: saw the hand, 3NTx=...
PSS: The double will test their nerves,
maybe they run.

Look closer, it's down 3 on a spade lead

Yep. That D AJT tight in Declarer's hand really stinks after the Open lead knocks the SA entry from Dummy (and holding up is not an option... )

[jdonn]

jdonn, on May 24 2007, 11:26 AM, said:

P_Marlowe, on May 24 2007, 11:09 AM, said:

PS: saw the hand, 3NTx=...
PSS: The double will test their nerves,
maybe they run.

Look closer, it's down 3 on a spade lead

I should have mentioned however, this does NOT mean I approve of the double. Qx of diamonds on this auction is death, you know they are going to run diamonds on you. If east had a more appropriate hand like Txx QJxx AJx Axx then you would be depending on the diamond blockage to save you, not what I call a confidence inducing proposition.