[y66]

Vul at MPs.

You deal and pass with 1065, 7, AJ754, AJ76 then it goes (p) 1D (1H) : 2N* (4H) p (p) : ?

2N = inv diamond raise (usually 5 diamonds). You could have bid 4H (splinter) instead but didn't want to go past 3N if opener has the right hand.

Do you pass, double or bid 5D?

Responder bid 5D here, then apologized for making a "terrible" bid when they doubled, diamonds broke 0-4 and we were off 2.

She has 2 quick tricks and opener (yours truly) has 1 1/2 or more (usually).

At matchpoints, how do you decide between 4HX down 1 or 2 (usually) and 5D making occasionally, especially when you feel that your earlier bid (2N) did not fully describe your hand.

5D didn't work this time but is it really so "terrible"? I thought it was a gutsy, crapshoot kind of bid.

p.s. Would also like to know if you'd open 1D with that hand in 1st seat vul.

[karlson]

Given that 2N is going to badly wrongside a potential 3N, I think you're better off splintering. You couldn't splinter 3h?

I would pass now, especially if I've already shown 5 diamonds, as you say. The singleton heart is nice, but probably not especially surprising to p, and the minor aces make for pretty good defense. I don't think I have to double them even at MP when this could be the normal spot.

Btw, you should give the opponents' vulnerability also, though I don't think it changes my decision here.

[ArtK78]

The way the hand was presented, it is a little hard to follow.

I would have bid 3♥ rather than 2NT on my first bid. 3♥ should be a splinter raise on this auction.

If 3♥ is not a splinter raise (and you did state that 4♥ was a splinter raise, although I cannot understand why that would be so), I would bid 2♥. I am a passed hand, and I want to represent a better hand that just a limit raise. Having done that, I can give partner the final decision when the opponents bid 4♥. We may still wind up in 5♦ but from what you have presented here it doesn't sound like 5♦ was a terrible contract.

[whereagles]

Everything seems normal to me. Perhaps opener should have dbled?

[finally17]

y66, on Dec 15 2007, 12:27 PM, said:

At matchpoints, how do you decide between 4HX down 1 or 2 (usually) and 5D making occasionally, especially when you feel that your earlier bid (2N) did not fully describe your hand.

5D didn't work this time but is it really so "terrible"? I thought it was a gutsy, crapshoot kind of bid.

I don't know partner's style, but it seems that anything other than pass is just punishing him for opening 3rd seat on a bad hand with support for both majors. Or even for opening an normal but aceless hand.

Seems like he knows the combined strength of the side a heck of a lot better than me. Sure, he doesn't know it's bullets, but your DA might not be worth anything anyway, I think you're still well within the range of expected defensive values and offensive playing strength (likely he knows you have a stiff H) for him to make a good decision. And he passed.

As for the quoted "decision" bit, the overall vulnerability seems relevant, but at least as far as it's equal or favorable, "take your plus" seems to apply if you're so sure they're going down (here I wouldn't be, but your question wasn't strictly about here). If I'm sure I'm beating it, I'm not making any "gutsy" calls.

[han]

I'd recommend playing 3H as a splinter as well. 2NT as an invitational raise seems a very poor agreement, since it will wrong-side 3NT on many hands.

By not showing your hand initially you have forced yourself to guess over 4H. Any guess could be right or wrong.

[jdonn]

I think it's close between pass and double. 4♥ undoubled making their way is probably not much of a matchpoint score anyway, and we do have two aces. But I wouldn't fault pass. It's not like you expect 4-0 diamonds though.

5♦ is not a good bid. The hand is already described. You even said in your system the fifth diamond was already known, so really there is not much else to point toward bidding.

[neilkaz]

Hannie, on Dec 15 2007, 05:23 PM, said:

I'd recommend playing 3H as a splinter as well. 2NT as an invitational raise seems a very poor agreement, since it will wrong-side 3NT on many hands.

By not showing your hand initially you have forced yourself to guess over 4H. Any guess could be right or wrong.

Agreeing with Han. I also like the direct 3♥ as splinter, then 2♥ is the usual cue=limit raise or +.

Hopefully there's room to ask for a stop for 3NT with 3♥ later if PD hasn't bid NT.

[y66]

Thanks all for many helpful comments. Will discuss with p.

Key points:

Play 1m (1M) 3M as splinter; this accurately describes responders hand and does not go past 3N. Less complete descriptions may result in our side taking the last guess.

Playing 1m (1M) 4M as a splinter does not make sense.

1m (1M) 2N risks wrong siding contract.

After responder limits her hand, opener is best judge of combined strength. By bidding again, responder risks punishing partner for opening light.

4H undoubled is not a good matchpoint score. No fault to pass. 5D is not a good bid.

When in doubt, take the sure plus.

[han]

Not a bad summary. I'd add:

-Use the cuebid for invitational or better hands.

-Partner had a difficult bid. In fact, two difficult bids because this hand isn't really strong enough for a splinter.

-Always keep in mind what you have already shown. Here you have shown your strength and diamond support, but you haven't shown your heart shortness.

-Discuss whether third seat openings can be lighter than usual. If so, then that suggests passing 4H.

[whereagles]

jdonn, on Dec 15 2007, 11:30 PM, said:

5♦ is not a good bid. The hand is already described. You even said in your system the fifth diamond was already known, so really there is not much else to point toward bidding.

I think this depends on what pass to 4♥ is. If it's not forcing, then you can pass. If it's forcing, then this is a good hand to bid on because of the likely ♥xxx opposite our singleton (ie. all our hcp are working).

[whereagles]

y66, on Dec 16 2007, 04:04 PM, said:

1. 1m (1M) 2N risks wrong siding contract.

2. 4H undoubled is not a good matchpoint score. No fault to pass. 5D is not a good bid. When in doubt, take the sure plus.

1. Usually, right-siding is of minor importance as compared to describing your hand (many people here disagree, but I think they're quite wrong on this). Still, this is one of those cases where the risk of wrong-siding is real, so the limit or better raise should be bid via other means, like e.g. a straight cue, 2♥.

2. As I said above, this depends on agreements. If pass to 4♥ were NOT forcing, then dbl is ok. Otherwise bidding 5 is clear, in my opinion.

[jdonn]

whereagles, on Dec 16 2007, 12:46 PM, said:

jdonn, on Dec 15 2007, 11:30 PM, said:

5♦ is not a good bid. The hand is already described. You even said in your system the fifth diamond was already known, so really there is not much else to point toward bidding.

I think this depends on what pass to 4♥ is. If it's not forcing, then you can pass. If it's forcing, then this is a good hand to bid on because of the likely ♥xxx opposite our singleton (ie. all our hcp are working).

It's obviously not forcing. I won't get into a debate about bridge logic even though forcing pass makes no sense to me here, but you can tell because pass was an option offered in the original post.

Nothing about 5♦ has changed. This hand has better defense but similar offense to what was already shown (remember this is not a std system - the fifth diamond was already shown.) What do you think partner expects you to hold in hearts when he has xxx?

[whereagles]

I don't know what he'd expect, but I'd expect x or xx

Still, it's indeed true this is a "show what you have" hand, not a "decision time" hand.

[the hog]

whereagles, on Dec 17 2007, 12:50 AM, said:

y66, on Dec 16 2007, 04:04 PM, said:

1. 1m (1M) 2N risks wrong siding contract. 

2. 4H undoubled is not a good matchpoint score. No fault to pass. 5D is not a good bid. When in doubt, take the sure plus.

1. Usually, right-siding is of minor importance as compared to describing your hand (many people here disagree, but I think they're quite wrong on this). Still, this is one of those cases where the risk of wrong-siding is real, so the limit or better raise should be bid via other means, like e.g. a straight cue, 2♥.

2. As I said above, this depends on agreements. If pass to 4♥ were NOT forcing, then dbl is ok. Otherwise bidding 5 is clear, in my opinion.

Agree with Nuno. Right siding the contract is a bee that some posters have in their bonnet.