[Gerben42]

Scoring: MP

---

1♦* 2♣ Pass 3♣
Dbl Pass ?

* Promises at least 4 cards

[matmat]

3♥. fyp.

[han]

Yuck!

4H could be cold, 5D cold be cold, 3H could be down a ton, 3D will almost certainly make but doesn't pay a game bonus, 3NT might just be cold as well. Maybe pass is an option too. I have to think about this a little more, good problem.

4C gotta be better than 4H btw.

[Fluffy]

I will try the 3NT route with not much conviction, I have to bid a game though.

[han]

Alright, I'll pass. Second choice 3NT. Third choice 3D. Fourth choice 4C.

I'm not bidding 3H (which combines the risk of being in a silly strain with the nothingness of being in a partscore). 4H is worse.

[mike777]

Gerben42, on Dec 23 2008, 09:40 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

---

1♦* 2♣ Pass 3♣
Dbl Pass ?

* Promises at least 4 cards

pass

second option....4c.

[foo]

han, on Dec 23 2008, 11:19 AM, said:

Yuck!

My sentiments exactly.

♠K74♥8732♦875♣A74

1♦* (2♣) Pass (3♣);Dbl Pass ??

I have a 9 loser minimum and partner has held a gun to my head.

If pard's X shows short ♣'s, me passing with only 1 trump trick looks like a Bad Idea.

Pard asked for a major. I have a minimum with a 4cM. I'll bid it that way.

3H

[Free]

Pass, with 3♥ as close second (and not happy about either)

[rogerclee]

Pass.

[JLOL]

foo, on Dec 23 2008, 12:05 PM, said:

Pard asked for a major. I have a minimum with a 4cM. I'll bid it that way.

LOL

[JLOL]

foo, on Dec 23 2008, 12:05 PM, said:

I have a 9 loser minimum and partner has held a gun to my head.

LOL

[y66]

I voted for 3H. Like pass better now.

[wclass___]

Pard will shoot me if i pass.
4333 usally sucks, but not this one, if pard has some shape my hand should be pretty useful. Taking pard for balanced is antipercentage.
I voted for 3♥, but now i like 4♥ better...
World belongs to crazy people...

[dcvetkov]

I dont share the optimism of other posters, that we should be in game here. Two nice cards, but its balanced, hearts are weak and it needs powerhouse opposite to make. I would not be surpised even if 3♣ make some percentage of the time, although not likely.

I would bid 3H, not too happy about it

If partner has 4-3-4-2, where you want to be?

[Benoit35]

I have to assume partner is 4-4-4-1. This may be off by a card or two, but at this level you don't take out unless you can handle any suit thrown back at you. I bid 3♥ and resort to strangulation if necessary.

If partner and I don't have an agreement on what the double means, Pass and a flask of my partner's favorite arsenic-laced drink is a tempting choice. I don't think declarer would expect the ♠K and ♣A to be in my hand.

[han]

dcvetkov, on Dec 23 2008, 01:31 PM, said:

If partner has 4-3-4-2, where you want to be?

So partner has 18-19 points. I'd like to defend 3CX, you?

[HeavyDluxe]

Han,

At the risk of sounding like the kid who can't swim who plays in the deep end of the pool:

Could you 'expound' your reasoning that led you to choose to pass? You laid out your dislike for the options initially, then your choice. I'd be interested what ran through your head in coming to that decision.


Thanks....

[jdonn]

I would bid 3♥, I don't share all this optimism that abounds. Sure pass works when partner is 4342 18, but why can't he be 4450 14?

[rogerclee]

I think the hopes that partner is 18-19 balanced are basically zero, my opponents seldom bid this way with about 15 points between them and 8 clubs.

What I don't get is why it is bad to defend 3♣x anyway.

[jdonn]

rogerclee, on Dec 23 2008, 04:17 PM, said:

jdonn, on Dec 23 2008, 01:55 PM, said:

I would bid 3♥, I don't share all this optimism that abounds. Sure pass works when partner is 4342 18, but why can't he be 4450 14?

I am not sure it is necessarily bad to pass if partner is 4450 14.

I know it is necessarily good to pass if partner is 4342 18.

1. I'm sure it's bad in the long run.
2. How likely do you think this is relative to partner being lighter with shorter clubs? What in the world are the opponents bidding on?