[ahydra]

RHO deals (none vul) and opens with 1♦. You have

♠AK9xx ♥xx ♦K10x ♣KQJ

I bid 1♠ (not fancying 1NT overcall with such a good 5-card major). LHO puts in 2♥ and your partner 2♠. RHO pulls out 4♥ - when you look to have the balance of points, what do you think this is based on? What's your call?

Highlight the text below to find out what I picked and the ensuing disaster:

I doubled, based on values + the distinct possibility of 4 tricks (2 clubs, diamond, spade, with a slight possibiilty of 2nd spade trick). My theory was that the 4H bid was based on a decent diamond suit - but with a control there I'd have time to set up clubs. The double was passed out and the opps ended up making +2 on a huge crossruff - a 19-point slam (on a non-heart lead or switch)!

ahydra

[NickRW]

ahydra, on Oct 14 2010, 10:43 PM, said:

what do you think this is based on?

Distribution?!

Quote

What's your call?

Well I can't say my hand would have stayed off the double card - but it sounds like your pard had a case for a preemptive 4♠ raise - which might have tipped you off, or failing that, pard might have pulled the double

[keylime]

I'm bidding 4♠ here. Double is wrong, and your hand I feel is much more suited for declaring instead of defense, especially when pard was kind enough to raise in a comp. auction to 2♠.

[bucky]

I think double is clear. It shows general value rather than trump stack. What is your partner's hand? I suspect the 2♠ bid or pass of double are questionable.

[kayin801]

keylime, on Oct 14 2010, 04:06 PM, said:

... especially when pard was kind enough to raise in a comp. auction to 2♠.

Pass, how many do we really expect to beat them here? There are lots of 0 trick hands that partner could raise on in the advancing seat, especially in spades.

Something is also fishy here if RHO opened 1♦ and LHO bid 2♥ freely, it's more likely now that partner has raised on garbage. I think THEY have the points, and our X just tells them where they all are.

[bucky]

keylime, on Oct 14 2010, 06:06 PM, said:

I'm bidding 4♠ here. Double is wrong, and your hand I feel is much more suited for declaring instead of defense, especially when pard was kind enough to raise in a comp. auction to 2♠.

I cannot disagree more. This hand SCREAMS for defense: ♦K, ♣KQJ, and quick tricks in spades. I am also assuming that we don't have huge spade fit; with 4+ spades and a weak hand, partner could've/should've made a preemptive raise.

[keylime]

I'm willing to wager -590 hit the scorecard here. I happily stand by my 4♠ call here and would live with any consequences. I suspect we have spade-clubs, they have diamonds-hearts, and our hand is going to get played for the points.

[Siegmund]

I would have doubled too, though I would have liked it better if I had been on lead to start with a club. I certainly expect raiser to have a singleton or void in spades, but I am liking my chances to get 2 clubs and a diamond for sure, along with perhaps a spade and anything partner might contribute.

I am not seeing "lots of 0-trick hands" that partner might raise on. He'll have at least one face card besides the SQJ, and most of the possible face cards he can have are possible winners.

[ahydra]

590? I wish, it was 790 (two overtricks)

The 1♦ opener had a 12-count, 4441 shape with singleton Ace of Clubs, while her partner had a singleton diamond AND singleton spade, resulting in an epic cross-ruff. Partner hadn't raised on that bad a hand - Q10x of spades and the queen of diamonds outside - but unfortunately for him all his points proved to be useless.

I certainly considered 4S, but even then I would have doubled 5H and ended up with just as big a disaster.

ahydra

[the hog]

I think double is a very poor call. You have two logical choices, 4S and pass. I think pass is clearly superior. Would not be surprised if this made.

Lol - read the rest....it did make!

[keylime]

Hog -

Pass did cross my mind before I did the 4♥ transfers to 4♠ bid.

[Fluffy]

I think people suggesting a pass is a bit resulting.

However I play a style where 2♠ shows a constructive hand, so maybe I am just out of my experience camp. IMO partner is lacking a full king for the action.

As a general rule in doubt you should bid 4♠ over 4♥, but I see nothing wrong with your double this time.

[paulg]

Club game presumably means matchpoints, and matchpoints at love all means competition. My partner's 2♠ call is wide-ranging (filth to poor), as too is my overcall. I think I have to take some action over 4♥ and I'm not overly convinced that either double or 4♠ is right and I may chose either on any particular night.

However I am also not overly bothered about opponent's making 19-point slams. This is rare.

[the hog]

Fluffy, on 2010-October-20, 14:30, said:

I think people suggesting a pass is a bit resulting.

However I play a style where 2♠ shows a constructive hand, so maybe I am just out of my experience camp. IMO partner is lacking a full king for the action.

As a general rule in doubt you should bid 4♠ over 4♥, but I see nothing wrong with your double this time.

How can it be resulting when you suggest the pass before you know the result. I think pass is pretty obvious.