[han]

The following two hands came up tonight on BBO, they may or may not be interesting.

Scoring: IMP

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The bidding went

1C - (5D) - p - (p)
??

And the next:

Scoring: IMP

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(1S) - p -(3D*) - 4C
(4S) - p - (p) - Dbl
(p) - ??

3D was a Bergen raise (about 6-9 pts).

[inquiry]

The second hand, i know, as Bob Hamman and Chris Compton played that one while I was kibiting. So I can't answer, as I know what the best bid is. (their auction started 1s-p-3s instead of 1S-p-3D however.

On the first hand, I have to pass and just let them play it.

[jdonn]

First one I definitely double, of course there is no guarantee of beating them but I would never let them steal me blind when I have this hand. Don't think it's that close.

Second one tougher, I guess I would bid 5♥ but could possibly be convinced to pass.

[mike777]

1) double if open lite, pass if open sound. If I open lite partner cannot assume I have this hand.....If I open sound partner knows I have this hand

2) 5h.

[the hog]

First hand clear pass.
Second hand 5H.

[rogerclee]

I would double on the first hand. The second hand is a close pass for me.

[Impact]

1. not thrilled on hand 1, but it is very much borderline double: distribution is ok and bare minimum strength with no guarantees but that is life...at this level you expect partner to sit frequently but it is also "pour encourager les autres"

2. 5H : partner holds short S, 6+ C and more than tolerance for H with extra values...C could be right but you just bid what is under your nose as 4NT is not right for me here

regards

[gnasher]

Double, because we might have a game on.

5♥, because partner has made a takeout double, and I have a 6-card major without much defence.

[OleBerg]

1) Double. (Unless I am in a forcing situation.)

2) 5♥. It's called a take.out double, because partner wants you to take out.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 X
#2 Pass, I am not happy

With kind regards
Marlowe

[655321]

1) I like double on this hand. Maybe we make a game and 5♦X is 2 down, maybe we make nothing and 5♦X is cold, but I do think we have enough in the way of extra values to double.

2) 5♥, not at all close. Partner has not promised 4 tricks in defense against spades. Partner has at most 1 spade, probably none, and, with heart support and a spade void opposite, playing 5♥ must be a lot more promising than defending 4♠X.

[han]

I hope more will respond but let me tell you about partner's hands.

On the first partner had xxxxx KJxxxx - xx. At our table we doubled and ed to 5H which made after the defense didn't find their spade ruff.

On the second hand partner had - AKxx Axx KQJxxx. We defended 4SX which went down after a misplay. 5H can be set with a club ruff but the person with Axxx of clubs would have to lead them.

Thoughts about partner's bidding?

[pclayton]

Clayton's Law: When in doubt bid 5♥.

[han]

I'll remember that Phil.

[jdonn]

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How is 5♥ going set? Were hearts 0-3?

[han]

Oh wait, maybe it would have made.

[inquiry]

han, on Aug 15 2008, 11:38 AM, said:

Oh wait, maybe it would have made.

actually, with opening leader holding the ♦K and no club ruff available, 6♥ makes... so of course, I bid 6♥ with the long hearts....

[skjaeran]

1) Double. We might have a game, though I doubt it. Can't let them steal us blind, odds are they go down.

2) 5♥, wtp. This one seems very obvious to me. Partner made a t/o double and I've got a 6-bagger in the unbid major. They might make 4♠ or we might make 5♥ or both.

[Double !]

The first hand also presented a defensive problem.

Fwiw: I was the diamond bidder on both hands.

On the first hand I held ♠ void, ♥ Ax, ♦ AKJTxxxx, ♣ J9x. When my partner led a low diamond, I played the Ace (not the usual Ten), and Han ruffed. When he led a heart toward dummy, I won with the ace and tried figure out where two more tricks were coming from. I played my partner for the Club Ace and shifted to the Jack of Clubs. I had hoped that that, along with play of the diamond Ace at trick 1, might get partner to return a spade. Alas, P returned a second club. Admittedly, it was difficult for my partner to envision declarer with 5 spades along with length in hearts.

My question is: do people agree with my choice of plays, or is there a better way to suggest that partner shift to a spade from Qxxx?

as always, TIA and best wishes:

DHL

[han]

Diamond ace should have made it clear Don. Would have to think about club jack vs club 9.