[Hanoi5]

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No, we don't play lebensohl here. Would that have helped?

[gwnn]

East chickened out. His partner made three moves, the last two of which are showing quite a bit of strength. I think I would bid 5♦ over 3♥ but maybe 3♦ was already slightly too little.

[Codo]

I disagree with Csaba.

1. I missed a game where I need the 6. diamond, the heart ruff and the club finesse. Hard to bid with confidence.
2. As East, I have the worst possible heart holding. There is no law to forbid partner to hold a third heart or just three diamonds. In both cases, game is impossible or unlikely.

Of course BOTH players could had have a more optimistic view, but I would not fault anybody.

[mikeh]

There is virtually no possibility that West has 3 heart losers to have bid 3♥.

I think E focused too much on his hcp weakness and not on how good his hand was compared to what it might have been.

He might have held 2=4=4=3 shape, and yet his partner, knowing that such was possible, forced to the 4 level and made a strong plea that East bid game with any excuse. East had ample excuse.

[Codo]

mikeh, on 2012-March-05, 11:28, said:

There is virtually no possibility that West has 3 heart losers to have bid 3♥.

Why?

[nigel_k]

West's bidding was fine. East could have done more but it's not obvious by any means. Mostly unlucky.

[mikeh]

Codo, on 2012-March-05, 13:20, said:

Why?

I could start with the fact that partner doubled hearts for takeout twice

I can then move on to a suggestion that you try constructing hands, consistent with the auction, in which partner, having seen you pass 1♠, and having heard you forced to bid 3♦ (assuming no lebensohl inferences available....most would play 2N as grope, I think, not lebensohl), then forced you to the 4 level while imploring you to bid game with any excuse.

Be aware, when constructing hands, that most of us tend to think of hands that justify our view....here, for you the temptation would be to find hands containing xxx in hearts, whereas for me, the temptation would be to find stiffs or very strong hands with xx.

[Codo]

I would construct hands with a 20-22 hcp NT without a heart stopper and I would rate these hands (with two or three hearts) as the most likely hands for the bidding. My guess would be that he holds 3 hearts in about 20 % of all cases 2 hearts in about 40 % and fewer hearts in another 40 %.

[DrMunk]

Hanoi5, on 2012-March-05, 04:50, said:

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No, we don't play lebensohl here. Would that have helped?

Yes. West bid fine. But east has so much more than he needed to have, so he clearly is worth 5♦ over 3♥.
If I was east i would only think about how bad my hand could have been, and then 5♦ should be pretty easy to bid.

[neilkaz]

West has clearly shown a monster and they give a nice bonus for vulnerable games. I think east should take his shot at game with 6♦. He could have a flat yarb on this bidding and he doesn't. I think that mikeh hits the nail squarely on the head in this thread with his previous comments.