[dkham]

This was a bidding problem I faced last night. It was aggregate scoring at a club night in Scotland.

You are West with the auction so far:

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1♠ is a five card major. For better or worse, you chose to double on the first round. North's 2♥ is natural, as is the 4♥ bid.

What do you bid now, if anything?

[Cyberyeti]

2♥ forcing or negative free bid ?

I'd double again, it's very possible 4♥ is cold and 5m is cheap particularly if partner has a diamond fit, or 5♣ could be cold opposite K9xxx and out if you can pick the trumps up.

[TylerE]

I don't like the initial double. Way too many losers to treat this a strong hand.

[ArtK78]

Hate the first double. I would have bid 2♦. Now I can double 4♥ without partner believing that I have strong hearts.

[Cyberyeti]

TylerE, on 2013-June-25, 08:38, said:

I don't like the initial double. Way too many losers to treat this a strong hand.

Well I guess it was being treated as a hand too strong for a 1N overcall, but don't like it much.

[TylerE]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-June-25, 08:59, said:

Well I guess it was being treated as a hand too strong for a 1N overcall, but don't like it much.

So overcall 2♦, WTP?

X just guarantees you'll never be able to describe your hand.

[dkham]

OK so no one likes the initial double - I should have known! But suppose you do double, what do you do next?

In answer to Cybereti's question, the 2♥ response was a forcing bid.

[ArtK78]

dkham, on 2013-June-25, 09:55, said:

OK so no one likes the initial double - I should have known! But suppose you do double, what do you do next?

I would double. But I would not be surprised to wind up -790.

[Cyberyeti]

TylerE, on 2013-June-25, 09:07, said:

So overcall 2♦, WTP?

X just guarantees you'll never be able to describe your hand.

Actually things have gone both badly and well in different ways, if partner had bid 2♥ and you bid 2N you're showing this hand adequately, when you double again on this auction, this is not silly, but as 2♥ was forcing, partner is unlikely to have much, but you have emphasised the minors, you are hoping partner has a real fit for one of them. It's entirely possible partner is very short in hearts here, in which case you'll probably get a chance to X 5♥ after he bids 4N/5m.

[ggwhiz]

Since 2♥ was forcing I think the joker on my right is at LEAST 5-5 in the majors.

I voted pass but on second thought would bid 4nt and I'm diving but maybe they bid 5?

[Codo]

Double looks plain silly. If we play some real bridge players s, they have about any missing HCP and some shape or less HCPS but even more shape... So the most we can get are our three aces and whatever is left in diamonds. The best thing would be -1 if there are two cashing diamonds....
I guess I pass for now. Partner is there and sees the bidding and the vul. too, he will defend if this is right.

[Cyberyeti]

Codo, on 2013-June-25, 14:06, said:

Double looks plain silly. If we play some real bridge players s, they have about any missing HCP and some shape or less HCPS but even more shape... So the most we can get are our three aces and whatever is left in diamonds. The best thing would be -1 if there are two cashing diamonds....
I guess I pass for now. Partner is there and sees the bidding and the vul. too, he will defend if this is right.

Do you expect partner to bid with xxxxx, void, xxxx, J9xx for example if you don't X ? he may think you've actually got a nasty 4 card surprise in the heart suit.

[wank]

double's not takeout of hearts. partner will pass it 99 times out of 99. once i've got myself into this pickle, i'll just pass and hope it goes off

[nige1]

dkham, on 2013-June-25, 07:37, said:

This was a bidding problem I faced last night. It was aggregate scoring at a club night in Scotland.
You are West with the auction so far:
1♠ is a five card major.
For better or worse, you chose to double on the first round.
North's 2♥ is natural, as is the 4♥ bid.
What do you bid now, if anything?

---

IMO

• Initially: 2♦ = 10, 1N = 9, Double = 8, 2N = 5.
• Now: Double = 10, Pass = 9, 4N = 7.

[Cyberyeti]

wank, on 2013-June-25, 15:32, said:

double's not takeout of hearts. partner will pass it 99 times out of 99. once i've got myself into this pickle, i'll just pass and hope it goes off

Maybe not for you, it is for us, usually 13(54). On this auction, it's pretty much impossible to be big enough and balanced to want to X.

[HeartA]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-June-25, 10:16, said:

Actually things have gone both badly and well in different ways, if partner had bid 2♥ and you bid 2N you're showing this hand adequately, when you double again on this auction, this is not silly, but as 2♥ was forcing, partner is unlikely to have much, but you have emphasised the minors, you are hoping partner has a real fit for one of them. It's entirely possible partner is very short in hearts here, in which case you'll probably get a chance to X 5♥ after he bids 4N/5m.

How short is "very short"? I think 2 cards is most possible. I have to pass and hope to beat it.

[Codo]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-June-25, 15:20, said:

Do you expect partner to bid with xxxxx, void, xxxx, J9xx for example if you don't X ? he may think you've actually got a nasty 4 card surprise in the heart suit.

So a double which- for the moment showed hearts more then anything else, followed by a double of 4 ♥ denies hearts, but passing now shows heart values? Well, sorry, not for me... I am with Wank, partner will pass my double.. But he will surely bid with your example hand if I pass now...

[Cyberyeti]

Codo, on 2013-June-26, 05:51, said:

So a double which- for the moment showed hearts more then anything else, followed by a double of 4 ♥ denies hearts, but passing now shows heart values? Well, sorry, not for me... I am with Wank, partner will pass my double.. But he will surely bid with your example hand if I pass now...

Are you saying X of 4♥ is pure penalties, if so not for us. What am I supposed to do with a minimum balanced ish ToX if I can't pass. I really want partner to bid with that hand opposite xx, AKQ, Qxxx, Qxxx don't I and 4♥ is cold /e facepalm.

[dkham]

OK here's what happened at the table.
I did pass 4♥, and the contract made. I wasn't sure whether to be glad or not, as if I do double and we get to 5♣ or 5♦ it's a good sacrifice.

Here's the full auction and deal:

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Notice South's wild 1♠ opening! ggwhiz was right that 'the joker on my right is at LEAST 5-5 in the majors'. He really hit the jackpot with partner's 2♥ reply.

[cloa513]

dkham, on 2013-June-25, 07:37, said:

This was a bidding problem I faced last night. It was aggregate scoring at a club night in Scotland.

You are West with the auction so far:

---

1♠ is a five card major. For better or worse, you chose to double on the first round. North's 2♥ is natural, as is the 4♥ bid.

What do you bid now, if anything?

Originally bid unusual 2NT over 1H would be OK. If partner gives a good positive 3H which is clubs or the preference bid 3C then you can bid 3NT or 3D suggesting the hand that you have. Hand is a little too strong for a 1NT response- if partner has KQxx of clubs and at least 3 hearts or AK of hearts and preferably 3 diamonds then a good chance of making 3NT would be missed.
The trouble with 2D overcall is it might be passed out with partner having the hand you need to make 3NT.