[lisengerg]

Scoring: IMP

I am a beginner, but I got no response on the beginner/intermediate board. The bidding went:


(1♠) X (2♠) 3♥
(4♠) X (P) 5♥

Two questions:

Should I bid 4♥ instead of 3♥ at my first turn? Is pulling my partner's X justified, and if not, what hand would pull the X?

Thanks for your help.

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[P_Marlowe]

#1 Yes, 4H.
#2 5H is ok.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[hrothgar]

This is a tricky hand:

Start by thinking of the types of hands that partner could have for his take out double.

He could (obviously) hold a decent hand with spade shortness
He could have a strong balanced hand that is too strong for a NT overcall
He could have a strong single suited hand that prefers to start with a double rather than an simple overcall.

Next, consider that

1. You have short spades yourself
2. You have a very weak hand
2. RHO is weak and doesn't have many spades

My immediate reaction is that partner is much more likely to have a strong balanced hand rather than a "classic" takeout double.

Personally, I'd start with a 4♥ bid (to show my Heart length). After I did so, I'd feel much better about if partner doubled 4♠

Having bid 3♥ I'm kinda stuck after partner's double.

I think that I'd pass, however, this could work out very badly.