[rogerclee]

R/R IMPs, against highly expert opposition:

♠AQ942 ♥J6 ♦AQJ ♣QT5

You open 1♠ in first seat (some might open 1NT, but let's say you play weak NT or something), LHO doubles, and this is passed back to you.

[Fluffy]

I always go 800 on this boards by staying, but I don't think we should run.

[finally17]

Given that my partner would have bid with a 5 card suit and a smattering of points and no spade tolerance, I give it maybe 20% odds that attempting to run will land us in a better spot.

Pass.

[han]

Partner would have bid with a 5-card suit and a smattering of points???

[rogerclee]

finally17, on Feb 13 2008, 09:23 PM, said:

Given that my partner would have bid with a 5 card suit and a smattering of points and no spade tolerance, I give it maybe 20% odds that attempting to run will land us in a better spot.

Pass.

I think you're reading it incorrectly.

[Cascade]

Where do I run?

To a three-card minor or my doubleton heart?

Sure we might get there via 1NT or Redouble but it has the same ultimate affect.

[the hog]

I remember speaking to Stephen Burgess once about this. His argument was that if you are playing good opps and they pass you out in a t/o double, this cannot be a good spot for you. 1NT for me, t/o for the ms.

[rogerclee]

FWIW, I agree with this overwhelming consensus to pass. Michael Rosenberg online chose to xx, puzzled as to what he was trying to accomplish (and if I have a bridge hero, it is Rosenberg). This led to one of the most bizarre auctions I have ever seen in my entire life.

1♠-Dbl-P-P
Rdbl-P-2♦-P
P-Dbl-2♥-P
P-Dbl-P-2♠-P
P-Dbl-3♣-Dbl
AP

3♣x=.

RHO is 7-4 in the black suits, ♠JT8xxxx and ♣KJxx.

[the hog]

rogerclee, on Feb 14 2008, 11:56 AM, said:

FWIW, I agree with this overwhelming consensus to pass. Michael Rosenberg online chose to xx, puzzled as to what he was trying to accomplish. This led to one of the most bizarre auctions I have ever seen in my entire life.

1♠-Dbl-P-P
Rdbl-P-2♦-P
P-Dbl-2♥-P
P-Dbl-P-2♠-P
P-Dbl-3♣-Dbl
AP

3♣x=.

The opps got suckered in by a rhythm double - not that uncommon.

[Cascade]

The_Hog, on Feb 14 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

I remember speaking to Stephen Burgess once about this. His argument was that if you are playing good opps and they pass you out in a t/o double, this cannot be a good spot for you. 1NT for me, t/o for the ms.

That is not the same thing as saying you have a better spot somewhere else.

[the hog]

Cascade, on Feb 14 2008, 12:27 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Feb 14 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

I remember speaking to Stephen Burgess once about this. His argument was that if you are playing good opps and they pass you out in a t/o double, this cannot be a good spot for you. 1NT for me, t/o for the ms.

That is not the same thing as saying you have a better spot somewhere else.

Sure I agree with that Wayne, but he was basically arguing that you should try to find a better spot. On this hand if you are playing competent opps, S figure to be 5-1 at best, so maybe you should try to find a 7+card fit - its not that unlikely that you have one. Poorer opps may well sit a t/o x with KJTx.

[rogerclee]

The_Hog, on Feb 14 2008, 01:08 AM, said:

Cascade, on Feb 14 2008, 12:27 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Feb 14 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

I remember speaking to Stephen Burgess once about this. His argument was that if you are playing good opps and they pass you out in a t/o double, this cannot be a good spot for you. 1NT for me, t/o for the ms.

That is not the same thing as saying you have a better spot somewhere else.

Sure I agree with that Wayne, but he was basically arguing that you should try to find a better spot. On this hand if you are playing competent opps, S figure to be 5-1 at best, so maybe you should try to find a 7+card fit - its not that unlikely that you have one. Poorer opps may well sit a t/o x with KJTx.

In my experience, poorer opponents need more, in fact, much more to sit for a 1-level penalty double than good players.

[pclayton]

I bid 1N. I'm not sure SOS applies after we open a major.

If pard has any 5 card suit, it has to be a better spot than 1♠ and if theres a 1444 facing it seems we can scramble better in a 3-4 fit.

[whereagles]

I'm gonna bid 1NT. Not dead yet.

[skjaeran]

I'm a passer. I've got some hope of escaping for -500. We might have a better spot, but I think we might easily get really hammered if I try to run.

[Impact]

i'm with Harald:-

a) we are at the one level and any other contract will be a level higher
I have AQ9 in trumps behind the penalty passer
c) there is no reason to believe we have a better reachable spot
d) my partners with voids and 6+card suits tend to transfer....

I'll take my lumps...
regards

[finally17]

Jlall, on Feb 13 2008, 11:36 PM, said:

finally17, on Feb 13 2008, 11:23 PM, said:

Given that my partner would have bid with a 5 card suit and a smattering of points and no spade tolerance, I give it maybe 20% odds that attempting to run will land us in a better spot.

Pass.

With bad hands he will pass regardless of his spades.

I know. I wasn't very clear, I think because at the time I hadn't bothered to note that the rest of the bidding indicated partner's 3 or so HCP--whatever--