[han]

Ax
Kx
AJxxx
xxxx


You are red against white, IMPs.

RHO opens 2D, multi.

You double, showing either a weak notrump or a very strong hand.

LHO bids 3H, pass or correct.

Partner doubles (takeout) and RHO passes (he has hearts).

What's your call?

[pooltuna]

your choices look to be pass or 3NT. I will grit my teeth and pass but only because I don't know what your doubling agreements are in this situation.

[helene_t]

4♦. I think partner would have bid 3NT on most hands with which we want to be in 3NT.

[Fluffy]

We don't want to be in 3NT it seems, 4♦ will be enough

[nige1]

han, on 2011-November-07, 11:15, said:

You are red against white, IMPs. ♠ Ax ♥ Kx ♦ AJxxx ♣ xxxx
(2♦ = Multi) Double (3♥ = P/C) Double = T/O;
(Pass) ??

IMO, 3N = 10, 4♦ = 8, Pass = 5. Judging by the auction, we've lots of minor cards between us. 3N may still be playable/ It's less likley to be doubled than a minor game -- partner is unlikely to pass 4♦.

[aguahombre]

West, knowing your methods, could be having a lot of fun at this vul with a non-heart 3-suiter.

[gnasher]

3NT. I seem to have a heart stop, and rather more offensive strength than I might have had.

[mikeh]

My instinct is to bid 4♦ on the basis that partner simply doesn't rate to hold enough for us to take 9 tricks, but I am trying to overcome my 'glass half empty' philosophy. We could easily be cold for 3N and we ain't getting there any other way. Moreover, even if 3N fails, it's not as if we are always going to make (or stop in) 4♦.

So 3N it is.

Hamman used to say that it was an error for his partners to bid in the hope that he held the magic cards....but bidding 4♦ is a similar error in reverse....it is bidding on the basis that partner has magically bad cards. There is no need to be that pessimistic.

[Free]

3NT, P/C at 3-level at this vulnerability can even be on a singleton.

[whereagles]

4D. Pard might be streching to dbl 3H and I really need him to have considerable extras to make 3NT.

[gwnn]

I suspect the glass is 60% empty this time so I will try 4♦.

[MrAce]

3NT

[han]

Thanks for the responses.

Partner had

QJ10x
Qx
KQxx
AJx

If you are in 3NT, you will probably take the losing spade finesse at some point, so you take -200 and the reputation of an optimist.

If you pass you score +100 and obtain the reputation of a madman.

If you bid 4D you will there for +130 and the reputation of a coward.

It shouldn't surprise anybody that I ended up as a madman.

[han]

Free, on 2011-November-08, 03:42, said:

P/C at 3-level at this vulnerability can even be on a singleton.

If the opponents can be in a 6-1 or 6-2 fit, then why aren't we passing?

I must admit I haven't seen the singleton raise yet, but people frequently bid 3H with a doubleton heart. People never seem to bid 3H with 4-4 in the majors at these colors.

[gnasher]

han, on 2011-November-10, 05:40, said:

If the opponents can be in a 6-1 or 6-2 fit, then why aren't we passing?

I must admit I haven't seen the singleton raise yet, but people frequently bid 3H with a doubleton heart. People never seem to bid 3H with 4-4 in the majors at these colors.

Partner made a takeout double of hearts. I have only two hearts. How can the opponents be in a 6-1 fit?

[han]

gnasher, on 2011-November-10, 14:10, said:

Partner made a takeout double of hearts. I have only two hearts. How can the opponents be in a 6-1 fit?

I find the thought of raising to 3H on a singleton stranger than doubling with 4 hearts. Partner is under pressure.

[cherdano]

One argument in favor of 4♦ that hasn't been said yet is that it shows our hand really well - how else could a weak NT-ish hand look like that takes this double out to the 4-level? So I think partner will typically get the decision whether to pass or move over 4♦ right.

[MrAce]

I still prefer 3NT and go down when a finesse fails at IMPS, rather than making deep anaylsis and try to play short of game when our side has 27 hcp combined holding K in 1 hand Q in the other of opponent suit.

[han]

Sorry I don't think that's a relevant argument. You don't know your partner has 15 HCP when you have to decide whether to pass or to bid 3NT.

You do know that your partner is very likely to have a doubleton heart, and that the opponents will lead hearts. So in order to make 3NT, you probably need 9 tricks from the top (including your heart king). How likely is it that you can take those? Well, your AJxxx of diamonds is of course good, although if you have to finesse into LHO (the non-preemptor) it is odds against. I'd say you won't make 3NT more often than 1 in 4.

How will you do in 4D? Even though there isn't a guaranteed diamond fit, you'll probably make that more often, maybe 50-60% of the time? I'm just guessing here, I think it is very hard to estimate these things. You'll make it more often than 3NT, but the upside is of course smaller than you make it?

What if you pass? I think you'll go plus most often, especially at these colors, so perhaps pass should be the coward's choice, the glass half empty? Perhaps not, because when you go minus it is a big minus.

I don't know what's right here. Most top players that I've asked bid 3NT but think pass is reasonable. They don't even mention 4D.

[Fluffy]

top players think of 3NT and pass, I only think of 4♦ and think 3NT is insanelly agressive, but don't even consider passing as an option.

I know I am not very agressive passing this things, but I really think passing 3♥ when opponents have 3-6 fit that could be 4-6 and that splits good is nearly ridicoulous, ♥K protects the lead in 3NT and 4♦, but in 3♥ it could easilly be offside.