[SimonFa]

MPs Both Vul

I had something like:
♠ AKxx
♥ Txx
♦ xxxx
♣ 96


1C - (1D) - 1S - (2D)
3C - (3D) - P - (P)
3H - (P ) - ?

Partners' 3C promises 6 and the 3H promises 4.

I passed on the basis that:

1. Nine tricks easier than 10
2. Partner might be able to ruff a Club in my hand for an extra trick, whereas he has no chance of ruffing in clubs.

It turned out that 3H-1, 4C a mixed back and 3D goes off -1 once and -3 twice for a top

Was my thinking sound or should I have just gone for the "golden fit" that partner always likes and made clear when he saw dummy?

In hindsight perhaps I should have doubled 3D with 2 quick tricks and four of them as partner is showing 16HCP?

As always, thanks in advance,

Simon

[Phil]

Easy 4♣. You know partner's hand is getting tapped to death playing in hearts and the clubs will soon suffer "death by ooga booga". Seems difficult to be able to scramble enough tricks in 3♥.

[ggwhiz]

Yes, 4-3 fits are great if the 3-card side takes the tap, decent if the 3-card side can try to draws trumps after the tap, ie. KQT and terrible on 3 to the left as in here.

Doubling would be legit and somewhat inspired at MP's but I wouldn't consider it at imps.

[neilkaz]

Great comments here by Phil and ggwhiz about considering all 52 cards and the way the hand is going to play out. A bit of foresight certainly isn't above our B/I's here and once you see it is abvious that pd will be taped by continued ♦ in the 4-3 fit you have to bid 4♣.

[Zelandakh]

If partner has 6 clubs and 4 hearts then why did they choose a 3C rebid rather than 2H? Partner has gone out of their way to emphasise the clubs. In combination with the points already raised this makes 4C completely automatic. Are we even certain here that 3H is not some sort of NT probe with great clubs?

[SimonFa]

Zelandakh, on 2012-January-09, 07:57, said:

If partner has 6 clubs and 4 hearts then why did they choose a 3C rebid rather than 2H? Partner has gone out of their way to emphasise the clubs. In combination with the points already raised this makes 4C completely automatic. Are we even certain here that 3H is not some sort of NT probe with great clubs?

Not in that sequence for us.

Thanks all for the comments, another lesson leaned.

Regards,

Simon

[TWO4BRIDGE]

neilkaz, on 2012-January-06, 23:13, said:

Great comments here by Phil and ggwhiz about considering all 52 cards and the way the hand is going to play out. A bit of foresight certainly isn't above our B/I's here and once you see it is obvious that pd will be taped by continued ♦ in the 4-3 fit you have to bid 4♣.

Agree.
4C
Pard is going to be tapped in Diam ( with his void )... so it might as well be CL as trump.

[P_Marlowe]

I dont think, it is playable to require, that 3H always promises 4 cards.
Responser could have made a X over the 1D overcall, to show 4-4 in the
majors, 1S does not deny 4 hearts, but the likelyhood, that responder
has 4 hearts is reduced.
Additionnally Responder had the chance to bid 3H over 3D with 54 and
sensible values.

3H by opener just showes values, a stopper and is a probe for 3NT,
asking in particular about a diamond stopper. Youd dont have one, bid 4C
or 5C, you never promised 2 sure tricks, and nevertheless partner forced
to the 3 level.

Given your diamond suit partner will have a diamond shortage, and you have
no wastage, i.e. all points are working. If this is enough to try for game
by bidding it, is a matter of style / including the knowledge how much
partner requires for the 3H bid.

With kind regards
Marlowe.