[akwoo]

I bid 3C over 2H.

[pescetom]

akwoo 3♣ with jillybean in South:

MP

---

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1 1C
#2 X after 2H, 3H is forcing to game, and assuming no error, as far as I counted I have 14HCP, with a single Q in
their suit facing a passed hand, i.e. why should I force to game?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pescetom]

 P_Marlowe, on 2026-October-11, 04:54, said:

#1 1C
#2 X after 2H

I don't think I would move in South over the probable 3H by East.
Do you pass it out?

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-October-11, 03:50, said:

akwoo 3♣ with jillybean in South:

MP

---

This is looking promising, I’m waiting at the bar.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-11, 06:38, said:

This is looking promising

You have to play it now, you're not going to like the first trick.

 jillybean, on 2026-October-11, 06:38, said:

I’m waiting at the bar.

You may get off lightly, the bar is humming with discussion of my opening.

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-October-11, 06:40, said:

You have to play it now, you're not going to like the first trick.

This is where I usually fail. Today, I have the time to lay out the cards and give it a proper try.

pescetom, on 2026-October-11, 06:40, said:

You may get off lightly, the bar is humming with discussion of my opening.

[P_Marlowe]

pescetom, on 2026-October-11, 06:28, said:

I don't think I would move in South over the probable 3H by East.
Do you pass it out?

Sure, partner heared me.

[WasWinM]

pescetom, on 2026-October-10, 12:41, said:

Jillybean "not a mechanical error" 3♥:
MP

---

apollo1201 and mike777 X:
MP

---

WasWinM Pass:
MP

---

Isn't MP fun?

This isn't so tough, especially as partner isn't supposed to have 4 hearts, so the double is neither takeout nor penalty but informatory, telling me he has a maximum for this actions, so probably a decent 10 count. My hand isn't especially defensive, anyway, so I'm bidding 3C.

Something to consider here: If 3 clubs or diamonds is making, that's 110, so a double and a 1-trick set still doesn't help us if the scores are all plus 110. If they are +130, we should be copmpeting to the 4 level. The only time it's really right to double hearts is if we are a maximum of +110 and can set them for +300. It's much easier to get that magic number at 3H than 2H, although they do (or should have) a nine-card fit.

And finally, if LHO made an inspired 2H call with 5 hearts and caught magic, pay off the fix. They happen.

[pescetom]

The auction ended swiftly at my table, it's friday night and this is my rogue NT partnership:

MP

---

[pescetom]

WasWinM, on 2026-October-11, 09:16, said:

Something to consider here: If 3 clubs or diamonds is making, that's 110, so a double and a 1-trick set still doesn't help us if the scores are all plus 110. If they are +130, we should be copmpeting to the 4 level. The only time it's really right to double hearts is if we are a maximum of +110 and can set them for +300. It's much easier to get that magic number at 3H than 2H, although they do (or should have) a nine-card fit.

NS did indeed have 3 making in the minors and EW only 2 hearts making (LoTT compliant).

Unsurprisingly nobody passed the board out, would have been about 40%.
Only our one surviving 4 card major pair got to play 2♦+1, nobody the clubs.
Most tables played 3♥-1 with one hothead table in 4♥X-2.
Two tables played 3NT South, going down 2 on a hearts lead taking out the Q.
I played 3NT North, making +1 on a hearts lead won by the Q.

[pescetom]

Here is the full board:

MP

---

[WasWinM]

pescetom, on 2026-October-11, 10:33, said:

Here is the full board:

MP

---

So you were the fixer instead of the fixee. Well played.

The most interesting question to me would be in this auction:

P-P-P-1C
P-1D-2H-P
3H-X-P-?

[mike777]

North certainly should be down on a heart lead. I would add the auction calls for an aggressive rather than passive lead.

That could have been a thread in itself.


All around excellent post in many ways, thanks for sharing.

[pescetom]

WasWinM, on 2026-October-11, 12:01, said:

The most interesting question to me would be in this auction:

P-P-P-1C
P-1D-2H-P
3H-X-P-?

Yes it's interesting, as South I struggle to imagine what hand my partner could have to open in fourth but pass over 2H.

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-October-11, 12:07, said:

North certainly should be down on a heart lead. I would add the auction calls for an aggressive rather than passive lead.

That could have been a thread in itself.

The choice of 4♥ lead was curious, but opponents were unhappy for some reason and I didn't enquire further.

[jillybean]

Magnifico