[Gerben42]

Scoring: IMP

---

1♠ 2♥ Pass Pass
Dbl Rdbl 3♣ Dbl
Pass Pass Pass

Down 3.

[whereagles]

Just run to 3♦. Pard should have either 4 clubs or 4 diamonds. Since he obviously doesn't have clubs, he should have diamonds.

[jdonn]

This is hardly the worst thing to ever happen to anyone. You ended in a 6-2 fit at the three level with 22 points and the opponents have a nine card fit in a major, oh no! Sometimes all the trumps are just offside and it's too bad the club spots were so small, unlucky.

[helene_t]

I voted unlucky as well. Maybe opener should have bid 2♠ instead of double but I don't really think so.

Opener clearly cannot run to diamonds. Maybe responder could but I don't really think that either. At least you need a lot of faith in opps to do so.

[benlessard]

Not strong enough to reopen RvsR imo

[Fluffy]

Jlall, on Mar 2 2008, 12:24 AM, said:

I hate the reopening X with this hand, what is the point? Partner couldn't make a neg X.

Ok, I'll be the one to bite, to be able to play 2♥ doubled maybe?

[skjaeran]

Fluffy, on Mar 2 2008, 09:32 AM, said:

Jlall, on Mar 2 2008, 12:24 AM, said:

I hate the reopening X with this hand, what is the point? Partner couldn't make a neg X.

Ok, I'll be the one to bite, to be able to play 2♥ doubled maybe?

Holding ♥Q8 you just know partner hasn't got a penalty double. So that's just a non-issue.

[the hog]

Don't like the x and why didn't East bid 2NT scrambling?

[gnasher]

The reopening double isn't only about taking a penalty. Responder can have quite a reasonable hand and not make a negative double. You can't afford to keep leaving the opponents in a comfortable partscore and conceding -110 when you can make something yourself, or push the opponents into a misjudgement.

For example, xx xxx Axxx Kxxx is some way from being worth a negative double, but it's quite likely that both 2H and 3D make.

On the actual deal, where East had x J9 Q109x Kxxxxx, looking at just the East-West cards, I wouldn't want to defend 2H. Obviously I'd rather play 3D than 3C, but even given a choice between defending 2H and competing to 3C, I'd still prefer to compete because we might push them to 3H.

-800 against +170 is 12 out; +100 or +110 in both rooms is 5 in. You need only three partscore gains to make up for the 800.

[Fluffy]

skaeran, on Mar 2 2008, 09:09 AM, said:

Holding ♥Q8 you just know partner hasn't got a penalty double. So that's just a non-issue.

You just know?, you are stating that partner can't have a penalty double ever?, you know much more than me hehe.

[skjaeran]

Fluffy, on Mar 2 2008, 04:30 PM, said:

skaeran, on Mar 2 2008, 09:09 AM, said:

Holding ♥Q8 you just know partner hasn't got a penalty double. So that's just a non-issue.

You just know?, you are stating that partner can't have a penalty double ever?, you know much more than me hehe.

I'll admit it's possible, but it's really far out.

I could see making a double, but not because I expected a penalty pass.

[Cascade]

We got to a six-two fit that didnt break too well and our suit was not so solid - bad luck.

Next Board ...

[jdeegan]

Reopening double is imho a very bad percentage bid holding ♥Qx and 5-2-4-2 shape with 16 HCP. If pard has a penalty pass, AND if they don't run; you will get a telephone number. But, the odds of this are very, very slim.

If a penalty pass is (very nearly) out of the picture, then imo 2♠ with the 100 honor suit is considerably better than a pass, and much better than (ugh) an eccentric 3♦ or 2NT. Partner did not make a negative double, so game looks remote.

It looks like declarer might scramble home with eight tricks in spades - five spades and three diamonds with the singleton spade in dummy holding off the heart tap long enough to knock out the ace of diamonds. At worst you will go down one or two. Maybe, the opponents will take the push to 3♥.

Any disaster here is, imho, self-inflicted.

[gnasher]

jdeegan, on Mar 3 2008, 07:05 AM, said:

It looks like declarer might scramble home with eight tricks in spades - five spades and three diamonds with the singleton spade in dummy holding off the heart tap long enough to knock out the ace of diamonds.

Only if the clubs were 5-0 or blocked. Otherwise, they could cash two hearts, then play three rounds of clubs.

[P_Marlowe]

Unlucky.

Double is clear cut, unless your partnership
required add. values. (*)
You are short in their suit, you have an opening
bid.

Given that reponder holds 6 clubs, it is natural to
ignore the diamonds.

Opener should certainly not run to diamonds.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS (*) and even than 16HCP should be enough.

[jdeegan]

gnasher, on Mar 3 2008, 04:02 AM, said:

jdeegan, on Mar 3 2008, 07:05 AM, said:

It looks like declarer might scramble home with eight tricks in spades - five spades and three diamonds with the singleton spade in dummy holding off the heart tap long enough to knock out the ace of diamonds.

Only if the clubs were 5-0 or blocked. Otherwise, they could cash two hearts, then play three rounds of clubs.

Let's face it. 3♣ is always down one at best - 2♣, 2♥ and one ♦. Imho, 2♠ is a better spot, and it is harder to double for penalties. Their chances of making 2♥ (or more) are close to 100%. As usual, I really have to go with jlall on this one - double sucks.

This hand addresses a bidding issue about which there has been very little written, and I am delighted to see it put up for discussion.

[gnasher]

jdeegan, on Mar 3 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

Let's face it. 3♣ is always down one at best - 2♣, 2♥ and one ♦. Imho, 2♠ is a better spot, and it is harder to double for penalties.

Yes, of course 2S is a better spot than 3C - no one suggested it wasn't.

[jdeegan]

gnasher, on Mar 3 2008, 07:22 PM, said:

jdeegan, on Mar 3 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

Let's face it. 3♣ is always down one at best - 2♣, 2♥ and one ♦.  Imho, 2♠ is a better spot, and it is harder to double for penalties.

Yes, of course 2S is a better spot than 3C - no one suggested it wasn't.

I didn't mean to dispute anyone. My point was that balancing with (ugh, imho) a double will get you to 3♣ on the quite reasonable looking 6-2 fit when 2♠ is much better even with the 5-1 fit - because you have the suit with a 100 honors.

There are so many possible issues raised with this hand. What if you were vul? Would I have opened 1NT w/o the solid spade suit? What is the proper bid with the same HCP and distribution but a weaker spade suit? How weak do I have to be to pass with the awful 5-2-4-2 distribution and wasted soft values in hearts?