[Hanoi5]

---

South deals, all white, imp's, bidding goes:

(1♥) 2♥ (3♥) Pa
(Pa) X (Pa) 4♣
(Pa) 4♦ (Pa) (Pa)
(Pa)

[rogerclee]

West's bidding was normal to me. East was just terrible, I guess I could see a beginner bidding 4C because he thinks his hand is not working that well, but after his partner showed diamonds, he just forgot how to play bridge.

[Cascade]

I would bid 4♦ rather than double although maybe double then 4♦ is even stronger. Typically I try to reserve a subsequent double for a more normal 5-5-2-1 hand or perhaps 5-5-3-0 and rebid one of my suits with extra length in that suit.

East has much more than the nothing promised in the auction.

That hand is close to wanting to compete over 3♥ and definitely should do more when partner freely takes a second bid.

[rhm]

Both underbid in my opinion.
While East should have raised 4♦, slam was out of the picture.

Reopening in the balancing position with a void in opponents suit does not require such a powerhouse and East should give West some leeway for contesting the part-score.
Accordingly I agree with East's 4♣ bid.

For example few West would pass 3♥ with:

♠ AQJxx
♥ -
♦ Qxxxx
♣ Axx

The actual West had a 3 looser hand and the bidding made it likely that the ♠ finesse would work.
Anyway West should assume that East can cover one of his losers.
The bidding made it also likely that East would have support for ♦. It seems reasonable to assume that North South have a nine card fit in ♥ and after East 4♣ bid, it was clear that East had fewer than 3 cards in ♠. Therefor East must have at least 7 cards in the minors. East quite rightly bid "pass or correct" over the reopening DBL, which means his ♦ support would be at least as good as his ♣ support.
Accordingly 4♦ was too little.
If West bids a brave 5♦ over 4 ♣, East has an easy raise to 6♦.

Rainer Herrmann

[hanp]

Agree with Roger about east. What on earth is this doing in the A/E forum?!?

[gszeszycki]

when michaels bidder X 3h they are showing a VERY good hand for defense since it is possible for partner to decide to defend. Taking this into consideration I would bid 3n with east hand with my outside A and 2nd round heart stop). This should be very clear to P since I would probably opt to defend with a couple of heart tricks and out. Now the bidding takes an interesting turn because it is now up to W to determine a reasonable course of action. I would opt for 4h to show I was not just strong but SLAM WORTHY. East is still not convinced that the DIA ace is worth its weight and has to bid 5c. West now must bid 5D and East realizing how much P is interested in SLAM and missing the DIA ace no less MUST realize the potential of Axxx in dia and bid a happy 6d.