[ArtK78]

I was playing in an IMP match with a player who was subbing for my partner. The sub is an older player who can be very good but also can be erratic.

In any event, at unfavorable, you pick up:

Scoring: IMP

(P) - 1♠ - (2♠)* - x**
(2NT)*** - x - (3♦) - P
(P) - x**** - (P) - ?

---

* Michaels - Hearts and a minor suit
** - Do you agree with the double?
*** - Bid your minor suit
**** - Very slow double

What is your action over 3♦x?

If you have comments about the auction prior to this point, please share them.

[effervesce]

Double is fine-shows ability to penalise at least one of the options.

As for action over 3D double, you cant take into account partner's hesitation as that would be unauthorized information. If you did, the max score you can get is minus 4IMP. His X is penalty, and you do not have a hand to remove that X.

**edit noticed now that the hand was weak-double should have extra high card strength

[655321]

Dislike the double of 2♠, prefer Pass instead. Our hand is very weak, we have a spade fit, and hearing partner double 3♦ has got to be by far the likeliest scenario. If our values were not all in hearts, a 3♠ bid would have merit.

Having got yourself into this, I think you need to pass now. Yes, you could argue that you were never going to sit 3♦X, and would always have bid 3♠, but... I think partner has taken that option off the table by his slow double.

[han]

Double followed by pass shows more HCP and fewer spades.

[jdonn]

First double is clearly wrong, should have about an invitational strength hand so we are simply too weak. This sort of problem, that of partner doubling diamonds and us having no idea what to do, was very foreseeable.

[mr1303]

Agree. The only possible course of action on this hand was a direct 3S over 2S. Now I have to pass, and expect -670 or worse.

Incidentally I lead a trump.

[andy_h]

Disagree with the double - i would have bid 3S instead. and now I'm in a pickle..

[jtfanclub]

Curious to know if anybody plays your pass of 3♦ as forcing.

After all, you've shown a fairly strong hand that can penalize 3♥. It seems reasonable to me to not let them play a contract undoubled at the 3 level.

On the other hand, this is IMP....

[ArtK78]

It seems that there is a consensus that my hand was not strong enough to double the Michaels bid.

What sort of hand do you expect from partner for his double of 3♦?

[han]

Any hand with 4 diamonds or a balanced hand with 3 good diamonds.

[ArtK78]

So then, the following hand should not double 3♦ on this auction:

AJ9xx
AJx
Jx
AKx

There is no need to confirm this. I thought it was pretty clear that this hand cannot double 3♦. Partner said he could double one or two of the opponents' suits, and did not double 3♦ himself, so he doesn't have diamonds. The opponents seem to have a massive diamond fit. Clearly, this hand has to bid.

I suggest a call of 3♥ - inability to rebid spades, inability to double 3♦ and inability to bid 3NT, but not willing to sell out to 3♦ (assuming that partner's pass of 3♦ was not forcing). The 3♥ call is not intended to suggest playing in hearts, however.....

The funny thing is that the only game that has a reasonable chance on this hand is 4♥. 4♠ does not make, as hearts are 5-0 and spades are 5-0. However, there are 10 tricks in hearts if played carefully. 3♠ should go down on reasonable defense.

[han]

Indeed, that's not a double. Still, I can at least understand partner's double.

[jdonn]

han, on Mar 21 2008, 02:31 PM, said:

Indeed, that's not a double. Still, I can at least understand partner's double.

I can't, he has already doubled 2NT to show his extras! If he hadn't I could see your point more. I think he has to just suck it up and bid....well I admit nothing looks good, but I prefer the cheapest bids in any of the suits to double. Actually 4♦ choice of games looks like a neat choice.

[jdonn]

Jlall, on Mar 21 2008, 04:52 PM, said:

jdonn, on Mar 21 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

han, on Mar 21 2008, 02:31 PM, said:

Indeed, that's not a double. Still, I can at least understand partner's double.

I can't, he has already doubled 2NT to show his extras! If he hadn't I could see your point more. I think he has to just suck it up and bid....well I admit nothing looks good, but I prefer the cheapest bids in any of the suits to double. Actually 4♦ choice of games looks like a neat choice.

And over that partner can choose 3N when suitable...oh wait! I think 4D is ridiculous when compared to the obvious 3H

Oh god, wrote something absurd then caught it before being quoted. Yes 3♥ is obvious. For some reason I was thinking they had shown only diamonds...