[dake50]

What's my weak 3-suit takeout? Included in immediate t/o X? then that and partner's X shows max pass, -> 4S.
No weak takeouts incorporated -> P then X to 4H showing weak 3-suit takeout.

[Echognome]

I'm wimpy. Pass then pass. I'm hoping my void means they will not make. I need more to take action. Once you throw in something in addition, it will push me to immediate action. I won't pass then double, although not sure what that should mean.

[Mbodell]

I think I dbl and pull to 4♠ over the dbl of 4♥. If I passed, I'm not sure if dbl shows this or is penalty oriented, but I think your hand shows why this might be better. I assume 3♥ would show a stronger 3 suited take out which is why you aren't considering it.

[mike777]

pass and then 4nt.....if partner passed in first seat...they are closer to seven than us beating 4

[pclayton]

I pass initially. Seems clear.

Over 4♥ double definitely shows this. As a matter of fact, I discussed this identical auction with Crush a few weeks ago and he felt that a vast majority of top players would play the 2nd double as a sac suggestion.

[Gerben42]

Justin, where do you get these problems?



I guess Pass then Double...

[helene_t]

Pass then dbl could show this hand opposite an unpassed p, but with p being a passed hand? Maybe just for the sake of a sac at these colors. But I'm really worried that p will take it as penalty.

If p doubles 4♥ I bid 4♠, wtp.

[ArcLight]

>it will be unusual for partner to have 4 spades and X 4H,

Why? What if pard has a weak hand, say 4 spades and 8 points. Maybe LHO has a good hand. What would pard do with 4 spades and 3/4 hearts?

[helene_t]

Oh sorry, I was thinking of pass, then p doubles 4♥. As for X then p doubles 4♥, I suppose I bid 5♣.

[andy_h]

Pass then pass. Hopefully partner has some hearts to take it off. Maybe the tenaces are on my left and it might be just a close sac. 4S could be a bit scary, as we're most likely getting tapped from 1st trick.

Unsure what pass then X means. With no discussion, partner will probably take it as penalties.

[Apollo81]

Jlall, on Oct 29 2007, 12:07 AM, said:

Kxxx --- JTxx KJTxx

p 2H ?

imps, w/r. If you pass and it goes 4H p p do you think X shows this? If you X and partner Xs 4H will you pass or bid something (what?)

I do NOT think pass then double 4♥ should show this hand.

I do think that you can double if you were in 1st seat and it had gone p-(2♥)-p-(4♥) back to you.

[Edmunte1]

This is a tough problem and a matter of style. The most important thing is that i don't like to put partner to take a decision over 4♥ holding a 3433 hand or 3442 hand. It's could be easy a big minus, and it's bad for partnership. If your methods allow you to act over 2♥ with a double, meaning that partner can play you for a weaker hand due to his initial pass and right vulnerability and won't double 4♥ contract with a balanced 9 count, that seems fine to me and has its logic (they are red, probabily they bid to make, take a save or pass). Otherwise pass

[whereagles]

Jlall, on Oct 29 2007, 04:07 AM, said:

Kxxx --- JTxx KJTxx

p 2H ?

1. imps, w/r.

2. If you pass and it goes 4H p p do you think X shows this?

3. If you X and partner Xs 4H will you pass or bid something (what?)

1. Depends. If I think pard will take me seriously, I guess I should pass. Otherwise dbl is ok. Wouldn't dream of it if pard wasn't a passed hand, though.

2. I prefer to use this rule: "Dbl of a game opps bid freely, our side passing throughout, is PEN." Now, this isn't necessarily what a random pard will make of the bid, so, if I passed before, I'll pass now as well.

3. Pass.

[dburn]

Most of the time, partner will know from an inspection of his or her heart holding what I have for this delayed double. But quite a lot of that time, partner will be faced with working out whether we are more likely to concede 1100 if she bids or 990 if she passes. Of course, if partner has three small hearts and enough shape that we have a profitable sacrifice, I will be a lion. If not, I will be a goat.

Though I was born under the sign of Leo, I am old enough by now to realise that Capricorn would have been more appropriate, wherefore I would double in the given auction only if my clubs were interchanged with my hearts - and sometimes not even then.