[quiddity]

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥? What now?

---

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥? What now?

---

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥? What now?

---

[nigel_k]

1. Double. -140 won't be good anyway so try to get 200 to beat those scoring 140 our way.

2. 4♠. Could obviously be wrong but looks better than passing.

3. 3♦. 2NT protects the ♥K but I don't like it with so few tricks in view. Pass could be right as well because maybe they don't make or we go for 200, but I think it is too much of a position with four card support. I really don't like the support double especially playing strong NT - would prefer to raise with three and be able to double with 2254 and better than minimum. I would be happier passing if I knew partner had either a weak notrump or a bad hand.

[pooltuna]

quiddity, on Oct 7 2009, 05:05 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥?  What now? 

---

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥?  What now? 

---

Scoring: MP

P 1♦ X 1♠
2♥ 2♠ 3♥ P
P 3♠ P P
?

Do you agree with 2♥?  What now? 

---

1) no problem with 2♥ but unless you know partner is an inveterate overbidder (3♥ should have shown xtras) you should bid game after the raise instead of passing. Since I am guessing you know partner has rebid his hand I would X.

2) Didn't they teach you? 4♥ is a transfer to ♠

3) I would pass. The alternative is 3♦ and may go for 2 undoubled.

[effervesce]

X, 4♠, 3♦

[andy_h]

1) Pass. -140 may not be good but it's likely going to be reached across the field so why am I trying for a top/bottom? As an added note, the opponents have competed on a 4-4 fit so that leaves partner with a most likely shape of 3424 or 3415 or 3433. The former 2 doesn't exactly help our defence given we have 9+ clubs between us and either opponent could be short in a round suit.
2) 4♠. Bid them suits and it's MP's.
3) 3♦.

[Codo]

X 4♠ 3♦

[655321]

Third hand is interesting. Really I want to double. If partner is 2443, double is perfect. Usually partner will be some other shape though, and the auction might get murky. If he doesn't pass the double, he might think he is expected to bid on over my belated 3♦.

So if I am confident X then 3♦ is non-forcing I will do that, otherwise 3♦.

[Jlall]

655321, on Oct 8 2009, 05:59 AM, said:

Third hand is interesting. Really I want to double. If partner is 2443, double is perfect. Usually partner will be some other shape though, and the auction might get murky. If he doesn't pass the double, he might think he is expected to bid on over my belated 3♦.

So if I am confident X then 3♦ is non-forcing I will do that, otherwise 3♦.

X and 3D is forcing imo.

[phil_20686]

2 is a non problem imo. Id bid 4s with no regrets.

1 is interesting. I do not agree that 3h showed extras, just a hand that doesnt want to defend 2s, or maybe just trying to get opposition to take the push. They have so that is job done. I'll defend this undoubled. Dble is simply aiming for too small a margin imo - you will already be beaing anyone who didnt compete to 3h, and losing to anyone who bid 4h when it makes. The dble only helps you against the ppl who are defending 3s, and who defend as well as you, or the ppl who are in 3h when 9 or 10 tricks are avaiable. If i was going to do anything, i am closer to 4c than dble. The QJ in your suit and the JT98x are both aggressive looking holsdings, as we probably have to many in both those suits for them to be defensive assets. If partner always has a classic shape such that partner is certain to hold 3 clubs, then i will consider 4c. However i think the risk of 200 is too much. I'd pass at the table.


3) i think 3d is obvious. Partner cannot be in teh strong nt range unless he is 5-4, i play 2N would be lebensohl here, so 3d shows some extra values. 8-10 about. If partner is 5-4 and 15-17 he will have done something here. Probably 3c or dble. I dont think 3N is on the radar.

[mcphee]

For number 2 bidding 4S looks normal. and for number 3 bidding 3D is exactly what I have.

Hand 1: this is a bit of a different story. For many players bidding 2H (even though released from responding) does not show a lot, how else do you get to play 2H. I expect the 3H raise to be extra values and would have bid game.

[ArtK78]

x, 4♠ and 3♦.

I believe that 3♥ is going to be the normal contract on this hand. There is no reason to believe that partner's bids are not legitimate, so we are likely to make 3♥. McPhee raises a valid point that 4♥ may make on this bidding. Even if that is so, doubling 3♠ may work out well. I doubt that both sides can make as much as 9 tricks, and if we can make 10 tricks they might be held to 6. I don't believe too many pairs will bid and make game in hearts.

4♠ seems clear cut on the second board. That is not to say that it will be right, but it seems right to bid it.

I have to compete on the third hand. We don't have an 7 card spade fit, so we must have an 8 card diamond fit. So I bid 3♦.

[jdonn]

1. I pass, double is the sort of top/bottom action I absolutely hate. I do ok at matchpoints because even when I'm in a "minus position" on hands like this, people double and give me some matchpoints anyway. I mean seriously, what is there about our one trick, the good breaks for the opponents, and both sides having a known double fit that makes us want to double?

I might have found myself in game before anyway, it depends who I'm playing with.

2. 4♠, you have to.

3. 3♦, I just hope they weren't in a stupid contract. Sometimes they were and I regret this.

[quiddity]

Thanks for the comments! Here are the full hands:

Scoring: MP

P 1D X 1S
2H 2S 3H P
P 3S P P
P

---

Perhaps an anomaly, since partner's double is a bit off-shape, but they had one more trump than expected and still went down. Maybe double is right after all? Anyway, I was interested to hear the different takes on 3H; my feeling at the table was that it was competitive rather than invitational - that most hands with 4 hearts should bid 3H. Can't the truly invitational hand bid 3D?

Scoring: MP

P 1D X 1S
2H 2S 3H P
P 3S P P
P

---

Doh!

Scoring: MP

P 1D X 1S
2H 2S 3H P
P 3S P P
P

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Yes, partner had the 2443 death hand. I regretted it.