[kenrexford]

♠xxx ♥Qxxx ♦Axx ♣xxx

This may be a no-brainer, but for some reason I found this to cause my head to explode, trying to figure out what was going on.

LHO opens 1♣, "could be short." Partner doubles. RHO bids 1♦, "artificial, no 5-card major. You trot out a somewhat aggressive 1♥.

Opener rebids 2♦. Partner raises to 2♥. Responder competes to 3♦.

Is it just me, or does something not seem right? What rough layout are you expecting?

[helene_t]

Dunno opps' system but I expect LHO to have a reverse and RHO to have a minimum response, which leaves p with a minimum t/o double. I suppose he hasn't promised me more than that. P has only two diamonds but I think that's ok against when doubling a "could be short" 1♣. But maybe the answer is that LHO has shown a balanced 12-count with 5 diamonds and p has some extras. If so, at MPs maybe we shouldn't defend 3♦ undoubled, but I am not going to act again with this lousy hand.

If opps are messing around at p doubles 3♦, I pass. As it happens I don't care about scoring and vulnerability.

[ArtK78]

I can't argue with anything that Helene said, but I really think the problem is much simpler than you portrayed it to be.

You state that your 1♥ call is "somewhat aggressive." I don't agree with that characterization - I feel it is really quite normal. In any event, you told your story with that bid and you need not take any further action at this time. And, as Helene said, if partner doubles 3♦ you have a clear pass. Further, if partner bids 3♥ you have a clear pass. I can't imagine that partner could take any other action.

As for your head-explosion problem, I suggest you seek treatment. Not only is it difficult to function properly after your head explodes, but everyone else has to clean up the mess.

[Bbradley62]

helene_t, on Apr 23 2010, 09:51 AM, said:

Dunno opps' system but I expect LHO to have a reverse and RHO to have a minimum response, which leaves p with a minimum t/o double. I suppose he hasn't promised me more than that. P has only two diamonds but I think that's ok against when doubling a "could be short" 1♣. But maybe the answer is that LHO has shown a balanced 12-count with 5 diamonds and p has some extras.

LHO can't have a balanced 12-count with 5 diamonds; surely he would have opened 1♦ with that.

The explanation of 1♦ sounds strange to me. Maybe LHO didn't see/hear partner's double? But once LHO bids 2♦, that pretty much leave Helene's first statement as the most likely situation.

I agree with Art that (a) your 1♥ bid is perfenctly normal, (b) you're making this more difficult than it is, and (.c) you shouldn't make other people clean up after your head explodes.

[aguahombre]

ArtK78, on Apr 23 2010, 08:31 AM, said:

I can't argue with anything that Helene said, but I really think the problem is much simpler than you portrayed it to be.

You state that your 1♥ call is "somewhat aggressive."  I don't agree with that characterization - I feel it is really quite normal.  In any event, you told your story with that bid and you need not take any further action at this time.  And, as Helene said, if partner doubles 3♦ you have a clear pass.  Further, if partner bids 3♥ you have a clear pass.  I can't imagine that partner could take any other action.

As for your head-explosion problem, I suggest you seek treatment.  Not only is it difficult to function properly after your head explodes, but everyone else has to clean up the mess.

Well put. Excessive thinking is over-rated.

You will probably have most of your questions cleared up when you see the dummy LHO puts down.

Your side has had a simple auction equivalent to your pard opening and making a simple raise of your 1H response. The only other thing you need to guess about is what to lead. I would just lead a low heart --even less thinking involved.

[whereagles]

Is this an opening lead question?

[Fluffy]

ArtK78, on Apr 23 2010, 02:31 PM, said:

As for your head-explosion problem, I suggest you seek treatment. Not only is it difficult to function properly after your head explodes, but everyone else has to clean up the mess.

Nah, he said no-brainer, so not that much mess