[quiddity]

1♥ X 2♥ 3♠
4♥ ?

---

[jdonn]

Sure, what does partner need to have play, AQJxx of spades and very little else? Besides why take the chance that the opponents make. Or maybe they will bid 5♥ anyway. I know it looks weird on an 11 count with 3 spades, but maybe I just make so many stupid doubles now that any hand with a singleton in their suit looks like gold.

[gwnn]

don't pass!

and don't double!

[mikeh]

I suppose it depends on what 3♠ shows....for me, it would certainly be at least 5 spades.

I wouldn't pass for two reasons: the first is that we may make game on remarkably few hcp if he holds long spades, and the second is that when we fail, it may be a good save. A tertiary low frequency reason is that they may bid 5♥, which will usually be good for us.

One worrying note: I would expect most partners to jump to 4♠ on most hands with 6 spades, so we are playing in a 5-3 more often than not...and trump leads may embarrass us. Oh well, if you never go for a number, or for a phantom, you aren't bidding enough.

[quiddity]

I blew this one at the table yesterday; 4♠ is cold.
One thing I wasn't clear on was that the 3♠ bid showed 5+ spades. How do the hands with only 4 spades invite? The 3-level cuebid sounds game-forcing to me, and I would have thought the doubler would rebid 3♠ over the cuebid whenever he has 4 spades almost regardless of strength.

[billw55]

Interesting .. I was thinking that I have already fully shown this hand. A minimum-ish takeout double, and only three spades. Why is leaving this decision to partner wrong?

[jillybean]

mikeh, on Jul 2 2010, 10:43 AM, said:

Oh well, if you never go for a number, or for a phantom, you aren't bidding enough.

I'll be sure to quite you next time I go for a big number

[Gerben42]

Quote

don't pass!

and don't double!

Hmm, I am kind of committed then

Anyway, Aces are good for 4♠ and it won't hurt when I am forced to ruff with 3 small. Okay, sometimes it goes down but pd bid 3♠ on his own, I could be

T9x
xx
AQTx
AJxx

but I'm not.

[Phil]

4♠.

Did I miss a slam?

[Cyberyeti]

quiddity, on Jul 2 2010, 01:34 PM, said:

I blew this one at the table yesterday; 4♠ is cold.
One thing I wasn't clear on was that the 3♠ bid showed 5+ spades. How do the hands with only 4 spades invite? The 3-level cuebid sounds game-forcing to me, and I would have thought the doubler would rebid 3♠ over the cuebid whenever he has 4 spades almost regardless of strength.

3S and 2N with a 3C puppet followed by 3S should distinguish invitational and forcing 3S bids.

[FrancesHinden]

quiddity, on Jul 2 2010, 07:34 PM, said:

I blew this one at the table yesterday; 4♠ is cold.
One thing I wasn't clear on was that the 3♠ bid showed 5+ spades. How do the hands with only 4 spades invite? The 3-level cuebid sounds game-forcing to me, and I would have thought the doubler would rebid 3♠ over the cuebid whenever he has 4 spades almost regardless of strength.

Don't forget they've only bid 2H.

You can double 2H (take-out), then raise doubler's 2S bid to 3S. If the doubler doesn't bid 2S, then you didn't have a 4-4 spade fit and you'd be quite pleased not to be in 3S.

Or, if you are playing 2NT as lebensohl (which I do, but some people prefer to use it to show the minors) then 2NT followed by 3S shows an invitational hand with 4 spades.

[mcphee]

You have a decent hand that should offer your partner a good play for game, you are vulnerable, bidding game is normal. If partner held 4S he might have bid only 2 or perhaps make a responsive double. Passing is being a whimp.

[neilkaz]

When in doubt bid 4♠ over 4♥ very often, but here I don't really have much doubt. 4♠ and if wrong, maybe the opps bid a silly 5♥

[ggwhiz]

Imp scoring? 4♠ is auto.

Matchpoints? The mission is to win the post-mortem so make it ummm, auto.

[cloa513]

Honestly why did partner bid 3 spades with AQJxx and little else, 4S should be automatic at this vulnerabilty. 3S says two suits including spades.