[twcho]

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Suppose you double in the 1st round. What is your choice now? Pass/4♦/4♥? Is 4♦ forcing?

At the table, I double first and retreat to 4♦. My partner now bid 5♣. What is the meaning of that bid?

[Fluffy]

I wouldn't double because I barelly have the values, and I need some extra strenght to compensate the wrong shape.


I'd bid 4♥, somebody has to.

5♣ will have to be a balanced hand, probably happier to play 3♠X or 3NT. It is probably a 2335 now, but 3325 is also possible, we are in a bad position I think I'd just pass.

[655321]

Agree with double, KQJx of hearts and a doubleton spade.

In hindsight perhaps 3NT was a better bid than 4♦, partner can start bidding suits over that if he wants to.

Pass now over 5♣, partner could have bid 4♥ over 4♦ if he had four hearts along with his clubs.

[inquiry]

I would bid exactly as you did up to 5♣. Over 5♣ I would pass.

This assumes the following.
1. First double promised hearts
2. Double of 3♠ was "responsive" and in this case denied a four card heart suit

Partner's bidding suggest that his hand was all about clubs it seems, and was hoping you would/could bid 3NT. Your hand wasn't quite up to bidding 3NT, now in the rear-view mirror, I wish I had bid 3NT but not way to backup to it.

[dbsboy]

I think the values are barely enough for the first double, if you had 3♠ then pass would be obvious. After double of 3♠, it didn't deny 4♥ the way I play it, but I would still start with 4♦, partner can still bid 4♥. After 5♣ we could only pass.

[nigel_k]

I agree with your initial double.

Over partner's double I would not bid 4♥ as I don't expect partner to pass 4♦ when he has hearts but he may double just to compete in either minor. This is a style issue though. 3NT is possible but having Ax makes a suit contract preferable. So I also agree with 4♦.

When partner bids 5♣ he has one of two hand types: a slam try in clubs or a hand that was looking for 3NT with 5♣ as a backup. Again this depends on style and agreement. There is not much that is really standard when opponents preempt. Anyway I would pass 5♣.

[Fluffy]

Maybe its because I had bad experiences recently, but I have decided to show hearts before minors on this type of auctions, even at the 3 level.

The reason is: I have found partner with hands suitables for slam in hearts, but after 3m or 4m over the double, there is no forcing bid avaible with hearts. But if the limited hand bids his 4 card hearts partner can cuebid or use blackwood or whatever.

[Free]

I agree with your bidding so far, and would pass 5♣. I think partner has a good hand with some ♣s, but my hand is weak. Only ♠A is nice, but I guess that won't be enough.

[pooltuna]

having grossly overbid my hand with my initial response I now pass and hope we beat it