[hrothgar]

Here's the one hand from this weekend where I really felt stuck for a bid...

IMPS
White v White

You hold

♠ J87654
♥ x
♦ xxxx
♣ xx

LHO opens 2♥
Partner doubles
RHO jumps to 4♥

I would (dearly) love to be able to play 4♠. This should be better than defending 4♥. My worry was that if I were to bid 4♠ partner - who might very well be sitting on a big balanced hand - might make a slam try...

The're a simple solution to the problem which (regretfully) did pass through my mind. Bid an insufficient 3♦. When the opponents call the director bid 4♠ and get partner barred from the auction. Despite the clear technical merits of the 3♦ bid, I decided that I needed to choose between the more mundane choices of Pass and 4♠. (Damn ethical streak)

I decided on Pass and the opponents quickly rolled home with 10 tricks.

Still wondering what I should have done.

[gwnn]

If pard is relatively minimal (in terms of hcp, maybe in the 15-ish zone), he shouldn't hang us and pass could lead to a large disaster.

If pard is significantly more than minimal, he will make a slam try and we may or may not go down. In this case, he will usually double again and pass our 4♠ bid.

Pass tries to cater for the second alternative, which is perhaps a little less likely than the first one. So while I agree it's close, I'd surely bid 4♠ because I think I can make that.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

4S.

Ok, I know that I bid against making
4H, which makes this simpler, but I
would bid it.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[whereagles]

hrothgar, on Jan 14 2008, 02:01 PM, said:

The're a simple solution to the problem which (regretfully) did pass through my mind. Bid an insufficient 3♦. When the opponents call the director bid 4♠ and get partner barred from the auction.

If you know the laws this well, you'll also know you'll get an adjustment and quite likely a procedural penalty..

[firmit]

hrothgar, on Jan 14 2008, 04:01 PM, said:

The're a simple solution to the problem which (regretfully) did pass through my mind.  Bid an insufficient 3♦.  When the opponents call the director bid 4♠ and get partner barred from the auction.  Despite the clear technical merits of the 3♦ bid, I decided that I needed to choose between the more mundane choices of Pass and 4♠.

(..)

Still wondering what I should have done.

Given the fact that you are sharing this thought-process of yours, I take it as you were not actually considering bidding in the described, intentionally destructive way you outlined with the goal of sabotaging the game!

[miguelm]

4S.

If this goes wrong (e.g. partner proceeds to slam) I apologize, congratulate opponents and move on.

If partner isn't able to understand why I did what I did, it is time to consider some changes

[hrothgar]

firmit, on Jan 14 2008, 05:38 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Jan 14 2008, 04:01 PM, said:

The're a simple solution to the problem which (regretfully) did pass through my mind.  Bid an insufficient 3♦.  When the opponents call the director bid 4♠ and get partner barred from the auction.  Despite the clear technical merits of the 3♦ bid, I decided that I needed to choose between the more mundane choices of Pass and 4♠.

(..)

Still wondering what I should have done.

Given the fact that you are sharing this thought-process of yours, I take it as you were not actually considering bidding in the described, intentionally destructive way you outlined with the goal of sabotaging the game!

The deliberate insufficient bid was (largely) thrown out there as a joke...

I did find it worth posting because its rare to get a hand where this sort of tactic is viable

[pclayton]

Pass and pull a double of 4♥ to 4♠.

[awm]

I'd bid 4♠. A few thoughts:

(1) It's quite possible this is a double game swing. Hate to risk one of those.
(2) Partner will know I might stretch a bit here, and should pass on borderline hands.
(3) If partner is bidding on, it's still possible I might make 5♠, or that 5♠ might be a good sacrifice against 4♥.

[Apollo81]

For all you know they could be making 4h -- even if 5s goes down 1 or 2 doubled it still might be OK

[han]

I'd bid 4S, partner should give us a lot of leeway in this position. That doesn't mean that he should never act, but he should hold back.

[jdonn]

I think you were right to pass, partner giving us leeway is one thing but there has to be a line.

[dcvetkov]

pclayton, on Jan 14 2008, 10:34 AM, said:

Pass and pull a double of 4♥ to 4♠.

YOu really hate to defend 4H, but pass and pull the dbl seems most sensible option. Question is how much partner needs to reopen at 4 level, he will likely pass with most balanced hands 13-16 range