[pescetom]

This other hand intrigued me even more, although I recognize it is much more difficult.
Let's start with West (hoping mikeh will forgive me for the choice, South had an interesting dilemma).

---

Your call now?

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2026-October-28, 16:23, said:

This other hand intrigued me even more, although I recognize it is much more difficult.
Let's start with West (hoping mikeh will forgive me for the choice, South had an interesting dilemma).

---

Your call now?

X

[mike777]

mikeh, on 2026-October-28, 18:04, said:

X

This

[jillybean]

Pick a game?

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-October-28, 18:54, said:

Pick a game?

I don’t understand your comment. In what universe is my double forcing to game? Obviously I’m passing 4H or 3N, and we’re in game. But why would I even think about raising 4m?

I’m doubling because I don’t want to put all of my eggs in the 4H basket with Axxxx We’re not missing a 5=4 heart fit. I’ll miss out when partner has 3 hearts. C’est la vie. Or tant pis

I’m not aiming to be perfect. Perfection is the enemy of good.

[jillybean]

It's not forcong to game but with the opps opening a vulnerable 3♠ it is hard to imagine partner will convert this to penalty.
Could happen

[mike777]

-

[mike777]

 mike777, on 2026-October-28, 21:35, said:

Yes double is risky since LHO is an unpassed hand
You may be at the 4 level with no play..
So be it. At least partner plays it while you go get a cup. Of something..

[pescetom]

Do your best to forget the other hand.

---

Your call now?

[pescetom]

 P_Marlowe, on 2026-October-29, 03:44, said:

4H

It is a game, most of the time, p will have 4+ hearts for his X,
i.e. it is likely, we have a 8 card fit, in clubs this is not so
certain.

My apologies, that East was wrong (editing on a phone).
Now corrected in the preceding post.
Thanks if you can cancel your post to avoid confusion.

[apollo1201]

 pescetom, on 2026-October-29, 03:13, said:

Do your best to forget the other hand.

---

Your call now?

Axx is the perfect holding for 3NT

[P_Marlowe]

pescetom, on 2026-October-29, 03:13, said:

Do your best to forget the other hand.

---

Your call now?

3NT

I have a stopper, ..., as far as I know, p could still only have a , min
opener, i.e. why should I start looking beyond 3 NT.

[jillybean]

3NT looks obvious

[awm]

Doubler could easily have something like ♠x ♥Axxx ♦AQxx ♣KQJx where 7♦ is excellent. Even a stronger hand (say adding the heart king) would be unlikely to move over 3nt. It seems like we should at least make some sort of move towards a diamond slam. Without great agreements (or much space) in this auction, I'd start with 4♠ and plan to bid diamonds next.

[Cyberyeti]

awm, on 2026-October-29, 09:01, said:

Doubler could easily have something like ♠x ♥Axxx ♦AQxx ♣KQJx where 7♦ is excellent. Even a stronger hand (say adding the heart king) would be unlikely to move over 3nt. It seems like we should at least make some sort of move towards a diamond slam. Without great agreements (or much space) in this auction, I'd start with 4♠ and plan to bid diamonds next.

I think 3N shows values here, partner can have a minimum-ish opening bid short in spades

What I move on is more complicated.

[jillybean]

awm, on 2026-October-29, 09:01, said:

Doubler could easily have something like ♠x ♥Axxx ♦AQxx ♣KQJx where 7♦ is excellent. Even a stronger hand (say adding the heart king) would be unlikely to move over 3nt. It seems like we should at least make some sort of move towards a diamond slam. Without great agreements (or much space) in this auction, I'd start with 4♠ and plan to bid diamonds next.

Do we have room to suggest diamonds?

---

[mikeh]

awm, on 2026-October-29, 09:01, said:

Doubler could easily have something like ♠x ♥Axxx ♦AQxx ♣KQJx where 7♦ is excellent. Even a stronger hand (say adding the heart king) would be unlikely to move over 3nt. It seems like we should at least make some sort of move towards a diamond slam. Without great agreements (or much space) in this auction, I'd start with 4♠ and plan to bid diamonds next.

I agree with all of this except that I think that if doubler had your heart king hand, so x AKxx AQxx KQJx he owes you a 4N bid over 3N

[WasWinM]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-October-29, 07:30, said:

3NT

I have a stopper, ..., as far as I know, p could still only have a , min
opener, i.e. why should I start looking beyond 3 NT.

Your style is different than mine. A t.o. double of a 3S preempt is a lot more than a minimum opening. I'm thinking slam is likely so 4S for me in my style.