[hanp]

A
Q872
J103
QJ743

(1D) - Dbl - (1S) - ?

Double would show 4 spades. Your call?

[MarkDean]

I would try 2♦, which would hopefully check if partner has 4.

[hanp]

What does that mean Mark?

[MarkDean]

I think it shows interest in two place to play, which in this auction seem likely to be hearts and clubs. I admit I might be off on what is standard/biased by having the perfect hand for it.

[jdonn]

I bid 2♥. Surely I would often do this with less than 10, but the disposition of the honors seems lousy (diamond jack, singleton ace) and with bad hearts I'll go low. If my hand was the same shape but small spade and AQxx of hearts I would bid 3♥ instead.

[TimG]

Seems a tossup between 2H and 3H to me. Given the weak heart suit of only four cards and the fact that I'm making a free bid, I'll go conservative with 2H.

[mike777]

I would have bid 2h wtp ...now I will read the thread posts.

2h freebid.....showing 4h and some constructive values.

granted with less I am stuck and must pass.

I guess that means 3h=5h and constructive
2d cue=limit raise+?

again I assume that means with 4 or 5 h and less than constructive you are stuck with pass.

[neilkaz]

2♥ is enough for me here. I won't hang us on this hand if PD has doubled somewhat offshape or somewhat light.

[the hog]

2 or 3 H. I'll probably go aggressive and bid 3.

[zasanya]

What would a dbl here mean?Would it show ♥ and ♣ and borderline invitational values?If so that seems to me the best way to proceed.

[matmat]

zasanya, on Mar 15 2009, 10:36 PM, said:

What would a dbl here mean?Would it show ♥ and ♣ and borderline invitational values?If so that seems to me the best way to proceed.

"hannie" said:

A
Q872
J103
QJ743

(1D) - Dbl - (1S) - ?

Double would show 4 spades. Your call?

[655321]

2♥

[zasanya]

matmat, on Mar 15 2009, 10:41 PM, said:

zasanya, on Mar 15 2009, 10:36 PM, said:

What would a dbl here mean?Would it show ♥ and ♣ and borderline invitational values?If so that seems to me the best way to proceed.

"hannie" said:

A
Q872
J103
QJ743

(1D) - Dbl - (1S) - ?

Double would show 4 spades. Your call?

Sorry.Drinks on me next time we meet

[hotShot]

3♥, although I think it's a little to weak if partner has to many wasted ♠ values.

[gnasher]

2♦. The modern tendency in my part of the world is to use this like a responsive double, showing the unbid suits and not promising a rebid. More traditional partnerships use it as forcing to agreement, so 2♦-2♥-3♥ or 2♦-3♣-4♣ can be passed.

If you play this as game-forcing, change your methods.

[FrancesHinden]

gnasher, on Mar 16 2009, 08:42 AM, said:

2♦. The modern tendency in my part of the world is to use this like a responsive double, showing the unbid suits and not promising a rebid.

Me too. If you have this agreement it is clearly superior to bidding 2H, as you don't have to play in a 4-3 heart fit with a 5-5 club fit available.

More interesting question is whether you are worth a raise if partner bids 2H.

[whereagles]

2♥ + 3♣ if necessary.

Soft values, possibility of spade wastage and both opps bidding warn against being too aggressive.

[Phil]

edited

[hanp]

The play in 4H might be interesting as well:

10xxxx
J543
Ax
AK

A
Q872
J10x
QJ7xx

When I played the hand, LHO had bid a support double (showing 3 spades) and RHO had taken a preference for 2S.

LHO leads the spade king, RHO signaling positive attitude. How do you play?

[ArtK78]

I think that I have to try to ruff out three spades and get rid of dummy's diamond while trying to limit my losses to three trump tricks. Based on the auction, it appears that spades are 4-3. So, how about this line:

Win trick one, cross to dummy in clubs, ruff a spade, cross again in clubs and ruff another spade. Now play a top club. If LHO ruffs low, overruff and lead the fourth round of spades. RHO cannot gain by ruffing low, so he either pitches, allowing you to ruff, or he ruffs high. In the latter case, you should be able to limit your losses to two trumps and one diamond.

If, when you play a top club, LHO ruffs high, you can pitch a diamond. They have to play trump to prevent you from ruffing the fourth round of spades, so you may be able to limit your losses to a spade and two hearts.

Of course, if the clubs are 3-3, you pitch dummy's diamond loser on the club winner, cross in diamond and lead the fourth round of spades. Hopefully you can limit your losses to three trump tricks.

I have not worked out all the minutia of this plan, but that is what I would do at the table.