[Stephen Tu]

You hold:
♠AKQx ♥xx ♦AQx ♣AQ8x

vul vs. not, IMPS.

auction:
(1h) x (4h) p
(p) x (p) 5c
(p) ?

Do you raise?

What's the minimum hand/distribution you expect for partner to
pull rather than leaving it in 4hx?

[effervesce]

I pass. Partner could have anything down to a yarborough with a singleton heart (as is certain on the bidding). Partner won't be sitting 4♥X with a heart singleton.

[whereagles]

6 can make, but it's a bit iffy and it's not even a certainty pard has a singleton heart (though I agree it's likely).

[OleBerg]

There are two basic philosofies for what it means, when partner takes out a high-level double:

1) I believe I'm bidding a winning contract.
2) I belive either ours or their contract is a winner.

What philosofi you adopt also depends on / have an impact on, what your doubles looks like.

Using philosofy 2, pass is obvious.

Using 1, 6♣ could be a winner, but I'd still pass.

As I play the second philosofy, partner can have a Yearl, and I dont raise.

[jdonn]

I pass 5♣, and partner should have at least 6 clubs.

[sathyab]

jdonn, on Jul 27 2008, 10:35 AM, said:

I pass 5♣, and partner should have at least 6 clubs.

You figure he has at most three spades and a stiff heart. With 5-4 in minors he'd have bid 4nt and so 5c should promise a 6-bagger ?

[gnasher]

sathyab, on Jul 27 2008, 05:42 PM, said:

You figure he has at most three spades and a stiff heart. With 5-4 in minors he'd have bid 4nt and so 5c should promise a 6-bagger ?

I think part of that is back-to-front. He doesn't have to have a singleton heart to pull, but if he's not offering either spades or both minors, he must have a singleton. That is, he could bid 4NT with 22(45) or 5♣ with x2x6, but he probably won't bid 5♣ with 3235.

[Echognome]

sathyab, on Jul 27 2008, 08:42 AM, said:

jdonn, on Jul 27 2008, 10:35 AM, said:

I pass 5♣, and partner should have at least 6 clubs.

You figure he has at most three spades and a stiff heart. With 5-4 in minors he'd have bid 4nt and so 5c should promise a 6-bagger ?

I imagine Josh is figuring that with a 3=1=4=5 or a 3=1=5=4 partner is passing 4♥X. With 5=5 in the minors, partner may bid 4NT as you suggest.

[Stephen Tu]

So I was 5c bidder, and I indeed had 6 clubs, and I do think that it ought to be 6 clubs.

Now, partner debated:
- am I allowed to bid it with a doubleton heart? I think so.
- how many of these missing kings am I supposed to have? Am I supposed to autopass with only 1 K or 0 Ks?

(Partner raised to 6, and I have a small doubleton heart. But opening leader had AQ of hearts, led a diamond, and it made )

[benlessard]

In imps 5C is saying i have a shot at making it. To bid 5C as purely sac is nonsense. However with a better hand we could have bid 5C earlier.

Can 5C show a doubleton ? I think only when the opps are red and when they dont play 4 card major. (You are sure partner got a stiff). Here i think partner is showing

1- Kxxxxx in clubs
2- a stiff H + extras

Here its seems the only extras can be 6-4 shapes, a 7th clubs or the K of D or a H void.

So raising to 6 make sense. Im a K stronger than what is expected.

[brianshark]

I'm passing. Bidding slam in situations like this is a huge gamble and I don't think gambling bridge is winning bridge.

I reckon pard will have at minimum 3-1-4-5 or 3-1-3-6.

[benlessard]

I think with 3145 shape he would pass the X easy unless a lot of extras wich on this deal is impossible.

[gnasher]

I'd almost always bid with 3145 in this situation, but I'd bid 4NT rather than 5♣.

[benlessard]

xxx
x
Kxxx
Kxxxx

Is a hand where you have a sure + but bidding 5C isnt cold.

AKQx
Kx
Axxx
Axx

AKxx
x
Axxx
AQxx

etc.

If you decide to bid 5C you might hit partner with a doubleton club.

Red vs W i can live with a 4Nt bid but i think passing is ok too.

Still since this "borderline" hand make 6C, the doubler should bid 6C.

Those who bid 4Nt or 5C with only 1 king and no H void are off the track.