[CSGibson]

Scoring: MP

(1♥)-X-(4♥)-P,
(P)-X-(P)-?

---

Opponents are playing a precision variant, so opener's hand is limited to 17 HCP.

What call would you make?

[rogerclee]

Pass.

[Mosene]

I think 4nt (pick a minor) and pass are the only real options. I passed, but not sure at all. Let me guess - they cross-ruff to make 5.

[pclayton]

If you've lurked BBF for more than a week, you know that pass is the only option on hands like this. I'm pretty sure our tendencies are not to take out these high-level auctions as often as others however, but this one is an obvious pass.

[CSGibson]

Mosene, on Sep 26 2008, 03:41 PM, said:

I think 4nt (pick a minor) and pass are the only real options. I passed, but not sure at all. Let me guess - they cross-ruff to make 5.

4, not 5. I took some heat for passing at the table, so I wanted to double-check what others would do.

[Lobowolf]

I'd sacrifice with 4NT (though at pairs, I'd feel better if 4Mx= was 810, not 790). What's 5m go for?

[Edmunte1]

Obvious pass for me

[mcphee]

Sorry, but passing does not cross my mind. Partner holds 1H if any at all, I hold zero defensive values and all offensive values (I find it ofensive pard dbled again:) ) and I can not fail to let pard choose his minor via 4N. I do not even feel this is any sort of problem, no brainer to bid.

[TimG]

CSGibson, on Sep 26 2008, 05:32 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

(1♥)-X-(4♥)-P,
(P)-X-(P)-?

---

Opponents are playing a precision variant, so opener's hand is limited to 17 HCP.

What call would you make?

I think that even if we beat 4H nearly half the time, we will lose fewer points (and IMPs) overall if we pull (via 4N).

It is possible that I give the vulnerable opponents too much credit for their jump to 4H, but I'd guess (with the help of simulation) that they're making about 60% of the time.

[CSGibson]

Lobowolf, on Sep 26 2008, 04:31 PM, said:

I'd sacrifice with 4NT (though at pairs, I'd feel better if 4Mx= was 810, not 790). What's 5m go for?

I'll let you decide for yourself:

Scoring: MP

---

[TimG]

pclayton, on Sep 26 2008, 05:50 PM, said:

I'm pretty sure our tendencies are not to take out these high-level auctions as often as others however, but this one is an obvious pass.

Is that the royal "our"?

[pclayton]

TimG, on Sep 27 2008, 08:12 AM, said:

pclayton, on Sep 26 2008, 05:50 PM, said:

I'm pretty sure our tendencies are not to take out these high-level auctions as often as others however, but this one is an obvious pass.

Is that the royal "our"?

I have a mouse in my pocket.

He appreciates the reference to royalty.

[TimG]

pclayton, on Sep 27 2008, 11:22 AM, said:

I have a mouse in my pocket.

And here I thought you were just happy that someone was reading your posts.

[cherdano]

Against opponents who always have 10 trumps on this auction I think it is clearly right to take this double out. They have a 10-card fit, and we have a double fit in the minors (with a 9-card fit). It might well be a double game swing.
Against someone who might jump to 4♥ with, say, 6331 shape and some 10 hcp, we have to pass - which shows why these jumps can be a winning style.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, wtp.

Given the bal. nature, I hope p has 4 tricks,
and can beat it on his own.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ASkolnick]

I pass, but even more importantly, I don't think North has a 2nd takeout double. If you beat 4 Hearts, I doubt you are getting rich and you definitely have much more of a chance to beat 4H than go plus in anything else. Give partner an extra card (almost anywhere), and you have just changed your plus into a minus.

And even still, it was no guarantee that they would make game. Without the 2nd double, they may even guess spades wrong for you to go plus.

[jdeegan]

A qualified 4NT. This one looks like a 19 or 20 trick hand. No certainty how tricks might split, but there are more ways to lose by passing than bidding. This problem would be tougher at a different vulnerability. Also, tougher at MP's than IMP's. ♠Q is a good card.

A full explaination of RHO's 4♥ bid seems in order - what were his other alternatives - e.g. does it suggest five pieces of trump? If yes or probably yes, a cheerful 4NT seems clearcut at IMP's. Wtf, the opponents may take the push to 5♥.

[grrigg]

I agree that the 2nd takeout double was too much.

[waubrey]

Pass. No question for me.

[Codo]

I had passed.

I can see just two reasons to bid 4 NT:
1. They bid 4 HEart to make, they are vul. against not.
2. I have no trick in defence.

But otoh: Bidding will surely result in a minus. My shape screams defending and I have not many tricks in offense too and I don*'t spoil partners tricks with length in some side suits.

Here passing did not work because: Diamonds are 4-1, the spades behind the doubler, no way for us to lead trumps to cut down ruffs.

Besides: This is a clear second take out double for me. Sometimes they make a doubled contract, so what?