[awm]

♠ -
♥ A9xx
♦ AQ98x
♣ JT9x

BAM, both sides vulnerable. Opponents are Meckstroth and Rodwell. RHO (Rodwell) deals and:

1♣(1) - 1NT(2) - Dbl(3) - 2♦
Dbl(4) - Pass - 2♥ - Pass
2NT - Pass - 3NT - All Pass

(1) Strong club
(2) Both minors
(3) Semi-positive hand
(4) At the end of the auction, it was revealed that doubler intended this as penalty but partner took it as takeout.

[quiddity]

awm, on 2012-December-02, 14:24, said:

(4) At the end of the auction, it was revealed that doubler intended this as penalty but partner took it as takeout.

Wow.. it is amazing to me that a pair like Meckwell can have such a trivial misunderstanding.

[gnasher]

The opponents' misunderstanding tells us quite a lot about the shapes. LHO didn't look for a major-suit fit opposite a takeout double, so presumably he has only four hearts and no more then three spades. RHO didn't raise a heart bid that (from his point of view) showed at least five, so he probably has no more than two hearts. Partner has longer diamonds than clubs, and shouldn't be 3=2 (because he could pass, relying on me to redouble with equal length).

I think the most likely distribution is 3415 - 6331 - 4243. Hence I'm probably getting in twice, once with a heart and once with a club. I lead ♦A.

I may have another problem on the next round, about whether partner would encourage with 10xx.

[awm]

The layout (spots approximate) was:

---

The contract is always failing barring a defensive mistake later in the hand or a ridiculous low club lead. However, in order to beat the contract two tricks you need to lead either a heart or a top diamond. On a low diamond lead, declarer wins dummy's jack, take a winning spade hook, and establishes a club, and we can take at most two hearts, two diamonds, and a club. On a club lead, declarer plays similarly and if we continue a passive defense he can lead up to the diamond jack twice.

The extra undertrick was important because our teammates defended 2♠ making by north! My passive top club lead at the table didn't get it done.