[ggwhiz]

7 board swiss match, you are w vs r with

Jx, x, Kxx, AKQJTxx

1♣ - 1♠ - p - p
?

oops. It's only 7 clubs now

[Hanoi5]

The Director should have been called when 14 cards were dealt to us.

I'll suppose it's only 7 clubs and I'd start doubling. 3NT over partner's 1NT.

[MrAce]

Hanoi5, on 2012-October-08, 20:05, said:

The Director should have been called when 14 cards were dealt to us.

I'll suppose it's only 7 clubs and I'd start doubling. 3NT over partner's 1NT.

Not only you have to put a gun on my head but also you have to convince me that you are serious and will pull the trigga if i don't dbl with this hand.

Whats the matter with you ?

[Quantumcat]

Hanoi5, on 2012-October-08, 20:05, said:

The Director should have been called when 14 cards were dealt to us.

I'll suppose it's only 7 clubs and I'd start doubling. 3NT over partner's 1NT.

What do you bid over 2♥ by partner? I know it is very unlikely (no negative double), but they will have a very weak hand if so and mightn't they take your double then 3♣ as a strong hand, or maybe a strong hand with diamonds and longer clubs? They might do something silly. Also with such a weak hand opposite you may not be able to make nine tricks even if they do pass.

Over 2♦ you can probably pass though you might be in the wrong contract (if they have mild club support, or have a decent amount of HCP but not quite enough to bid 2♦ the first time and no stopper to bid 1NT the first time).

Partner could easily have a spade stopper/length but be too weak to have bid 1NT to start with. But then you only have eight tricks (your seven clubs, partner's spade stopper). So you still don't want to bid 3NT over that.

I think the opponents probably have the majority of the HCP and not a spade fit (no spade raise, yet no 1NT or double by partner). It might be right to pass (1♠ goes off, but they bid a better contract that is not going off over 2♣, and 3♣ goes off), but I'm a chicken and if it is wrong partner will look at the hand record afterwards and say, "you didn't rebid that suit?!?!". Anyway partner might have a bit of club support and some useful cards e.g. the QJ of diamonds, and 3♣ makes. So 2♣ for me.

I was going to respond to MrAce's reply only I couldn't figure out if he was saying you should or shouldn't double

[MrAce]

Quantumcat, on 2012-October-08, 21:50, said:

I was going to respond to MrAce's reply only I couldn't figure out if he was saying you should or shouldn't double

I was trying to say i would never balance with dbl with this hand, unless you convince me that i am about to die if i don't do it.

[Quantumcat]

MrAce, on 2012-October-08, 22:04, said:

I was trying to say i would never balance with dbl with this hand, unless you convince me that i am about to die if i don't do it.

I just reread your post and I understand now :-)

[aguahombre]

Normally I object to posters' badmouthing one choice without presenting their own. However, perhaps Timo has about as much experience bidding with 2-1-3-8 patterns as I do...and doesn't know what to do, either.

[Codo]

I would never double, I would not like partner to sit or to pull. I would try 3 ♣. If partner has the penalty double hand, we will play 3 NT off the first 5 heart tricks- so be it.

[Rossoneri]

Codo, on 2012-October-09, 00:34, said:

I would never double, I would not like partner to sit or to pull. I would try 3 ♣. If partner has the penalty double hand, we will play 3 NT off the first 5 heart tricks- so be it.

I'm not quite sure if 3♣ is best but I agree on not doubling.

[MrAce]

aguahombre, on 2012-October-08, 22:12, said:

Normally I object to posters' badmouthing one choice without presenting their own. However, perhaps Timo has about as much experience bidding with 2-1-3-8 patterns as I do...and doesn't know what to do, either.

Tbh as you said i dunno what to do with that 14 cards, but i am assuming he had 7 clubs. I didn't provide an answer because i may not have opened it 1♣ at the first place, all i am trying to say is double sounds plain wrong to me, i can probably live with the alternatives.

But if you insist, probably 3♣ now.

[ggwhiz]

---

I was curious as to whether I was just lucky, insane or both. I've settled on both.

I thought a spade stopper (even 4 to the ten) and a card or two would not be unexpected in pards hand and if I go down to a heart suit, so be it.

If lho had the big one he's got a headache and I'll go quietly at 50 a trick or scurry off to 4♣ if doubled.

Hugely lucky buy in the North hand but I don't see any other route to slam unless you disagree with pards pass of 1♠ or even then.

ps. 5♣ goes down to a spade ruff and a heart back but nobody is going there.

pps. If you really doubled here, rho is running to 2♥ probably down 1.

[cloa513]

ggwhiz, on 2012-October-10, 08:15, said:

---

I was curious as to whether I was just lucky, insane or both. I've settled on both.

I thought a spade stopper (even 4 to the ten) and a card or two would not be unexpected in pards hand and if I go down to a heart suit, so be it.

If lho had the big one he's got a headache and I'll go quietly at 50 a trick or scurry off to 4♣ if doubled.

Hugely lucky buy in the North hand but I don't see any other route to slam unless you disagree with pards pass of 1♠ or even then.

ps. 5♣ goes down to a spade ruff and a heart back but nobody is going there.

pps. If you really doubled here, rho is running to 2♥ probably down 1.

There is 2♠ for strongish hands unsuitable for double or you can agree to always double in this position with some decent hand assuming you think opponents are competent (i.e. they haven't accidentally missed reaching game)- partner should never bid to game only invite at most.

[gnasher]

ggwhiz, on 2012-October-10, 08:15, said:

Hugely lucky buy in the North hand but I don't see any other route to slam unless you disagree with pards pass of 1♠ or even then.

What's wrong with

1♣ 1♠ pass pass
3♣ pass 6NT