[kenberg]

Recently a couple of doubling situations arose that caused me stress. Both ended happily, but it was a little bit touch and go. I will present the two hands on separate threads.

Hand 1

Scoring: IMP

1♦ 1♠2♣ P
3♣ 3♥ P 3♠
P P X P
?

---

Now what? And do you think that the choice is clear cut?

[maggieb]

I would pass, but I disagree with my first three calls.

[dicklont]

Pass, and I was tempted to double myself already.
I have three almost certain tricks and a balanced hand, partner holds 10 points.
And I have nowhere to go.

When the opps play Michaels declarer has 4 hearts and partner is sitting over him with hearts.

[kenberg]

I passed. As I said, it was touch and go. Partner led a trump, reasonable enough, after which declarer can bring it in if he takes the right view. He didn't.

For me, the main issue is whether I should construe this as a penalty double, something I would pull only if I was bidding primarily on shape, or whether I should take it as a "do something intelligent" double, always a risky thing with me.

I don't much agree with the opponent's bidding so there is not that much reason to show the hands. They are, however, cold for 4H.

Maggie, I am interested in your views of my earlier bidding. You open it 1NT? We play 15-17 and while this is certainly one of my better 14s, I didn't borrow a point. The raise of 2C to 3C did give me pause, I considered 2S or 2N but I decided if partner had something in spades she might well trot out 3NT herself (at the time I bid 3C, hearts had not yet entered the picture). It turns out that 3NT does not make, at least not unless the opponents cooperate.

Oh well, why be coy. I'll show the hands. Presumably 3NT fails when there are only four tricks in diamonds but if I am l playing it and the opening lead is a small spade I can win and return a spade. W might well cash his spades and then I have him. I think I have him even if he even cashes a spade at trick 3 (If E throws a heart then I can block the heart suit and establish clubs). This all assumes I have the wit to return a spade at trick 2 and read the rest correctly. Don't place any heavy bets.

Scoring: IMP

---

[maggieb]

I would open it 1N because I think it's about right on values. The combination of aces and a minor we hope to establish is good for declaring 3N.

I would certainly have rebid 3N instead of raising to 3♣. Qxx is positionally favorable to declare, and we have a great hand (again, aces + minor trick source).

I would rebid 3N the third time, which is inconsistent with the auction, but that's how strongly I feel about bidding 3N.

Your partner should have passed 3♠, and I think doubling is a gigantic mistake, since I would expect it to usually make. He had nothing special on defense, you didn't promise any number of spades, and he was basically as broke as he could be on defense. His double shows a total lack of judgment to me.

Just to bring my point home, look at how good of a contract 3N is opposite a partner who basically has a total minimum (just looking at the NS hands).

[jdonn]

Hmmm, I have no problem with 1♦ (the suit is too bad for my taste to upgrade to 1NT), and I agree with 3♣ (I really disagree with Maggie about the power of Qxx as a stopper on this auction). 3NT on the third round may actually be a good bid to show that I have some doubt, so I disagree with the prior bidding on that basis. Here I think I would have passed the double, frankly expecting to do quite well.

[maggieb]

jdonn, on Nov 16 2009, 01:55 PM, said:

I really disagree with Maggie about the power of Qxx as a stopper on this auction

I'm really surprised by this. The holding is bad, but we know the opponents have an 8+ card heart fit. The danger of a spade lead and a heart shift, or a heart lead on the go, is so high that I think just jumping to 3N is a must on this hand.

Edit: Oh okay I see I wrote Qxx is positionally favorable to declare. That's...not true. But the stuff I just wrote is!

[gwnn]

I agree with 1♦, 3♣ and pass. Although in my dark moments I will sometimes open 1NT.

[pooltuna]

kenberg, on Nov 16 2009, 09:37 AM, said:

Recently a couple of doubling situations arose that caused me stress. Both ended happily, but it was a little bit touch and go. I will present the two hands on separate threads.

Hand 1

Scoring: IMP

1♦ 1♠2♣ P
3♣ 3♥ P  3♠
P    P    X  P
?

---

Now what? And do you think that the choice is clear cut?

It depends on my opinion of partner (is he a pickup,etc?) and the opponents (how much respect have they shown for V vs NV?). Against Jush and Jostin I would bid 5♣ unless I really, really trust partner [J & J can plead temporary insanity ]. I find the inability to hit 3♥ but Xing 3♠ is very suggestive of strong minor suit holdings. I leave it to Jush and Jostin to post sane hands for EW given the colors.

[jdonn]

maggieb, on Nov 16 2009, 02:06 PM, said:

jdonn, on Nov 16 2009, 01:55 PM, said:

I really disagree with Maggie about the power of Qxx as a stopper on this auction

I'm really surprised by this. The holding is bad, but we know the opponents have an 8+ card heart fit. The danger of a spade lead and a heart shift, or a heart lead on the go, is so high that I think just jumping to 3N is a must on this hand.

Edit: Oh okay I see I wrote Qxx is positionally favorable to declare. That's...not true. But the stuff I just wrote is!

You just confused me there. You think there is a great danger they will make an effective lead or switch, and therefore you want to bid 3NT? Isn't that totally backwards, or did I simply misunderstand?

pooltuna, on Nov 16 2009, 02:18 PM, said:

Against Jush and Jostin I would bid 5♣ unless I really, really trust partner [J & J can plead temporary insanity  ]. I find the inability to hit 3♥ but Xing 3♠ is very suggestive of strong minor suit holdings. I leave it to Jush and Jostin to post sane hands for EW given the colors.

Justin?

If I ever decide to make a career out of bridge, this very curious recent association people have of Justin and me is really going to be a great benefit! Not so much for him though.

Interesting factoid: I have never played a single hand of live bridge with Justin.

[kenberg]

As soon as we get you playing with Justin we will get started on picking out a wife for you. My daughter has this friend......

[Jlall]

There is no way Justin would ever bid 3C, it's non forcing! After 2C the power of our aces has gone up a lot...if partner has a hand with 6 clubs that's pretty weak like Jx Kx xxx KQxxxx or Ax xxx xx KQxxxx game is cold. If partner has a random 10-11 with 5 clubs, I definitely want to be in game with points, aces, 2 possible sources of tricks, etc just on power.

So basically any time my partner passes 3C, I will feel terrible about it since I think we have probably missed a game.