[gwnn]

4♣ showing hearts and a stronger hand than 4♥ by LHO, all red

4♣-4♥-X-?

xxx
xx
JTx
KQTxx

what should 4♥ be?
what do you bid?

[Free]

4♥ has to be a takeout Dbl. I'll bid 5♣, I have clear preference.

[joker_gib]

Free, on May 15 2008, 03:51 PM, said:

4♥ has to be a takeout Dbl. I'll bid 5♣, I have clear preference.

Agree

[helene_t]

Dbl would be a take-out dbl, 4♥ is Spades+minor. So 4♠.

Without having discussed this, I pass. Partner will save me. If he intended 4♥ as a take-out dbl, he will redouble (I hope).

[ArtK78]

Agree that there is no reason to take a position on the meaning of the 4♥ call at this time. Hopefully partner will do something intelligent.

[FrancesHinden]

If you've discussed this with partner, then you know what to do.
If you haven't then you have to guess... but best guess is probably that partner has spades and a minor.

I have discussed this with my partner, and I would pass which opposite spades-and-a minor means I prefer clubs, to spades, to diamonds. (redouble prefers diamond, to spades, to clubs; 4S prefers spades, 4NT is a mild slam try in a minor, 5C is pass-or-correct, pass then 5m over 4S is to play there)

[ArtK78]

FrancesHinden, on May 15 2008, 10:24 AM, said:

If you've discussed this with partner, then you know what to do.
If you haven't then you have to guess... but best guess is probably that partner has spades and a minor.

I have discussed this with my partner, and I would pass which opposite spades-and-a minor means I prefer clubs, to spades, to diamonds. (redouble prefers diamond, to spades, to clubs; 4S prefers spades, 4NT is a mild slam try in a minor, 5C is pass-or-correct, pass then 5m over 4S is to play there)

That is great that you have agreements on the meaning of your actions in this situation. I suspect that most partnerships have not had that discussion.

Still, we are fortunate enough to have a hand that can deal with any action by partner - 5♣ over a takeout redouble, pass over 4♠.

[andy_h]

Agree that the meaning of 4H is down to discussion. My partner and I have the same principles when it comes to transfer-preempt type bids. X of the opening bid would be t/o of their suit and bidding their suit is michaels-type of bid.

But without any agreements, I pass now and see what partner has to say what his 4♥ means.

[jdonn]

Wow surprised at the disagreements, it would never have occured to me that 4♥ was anything but Michaels. So I bid 4♠.

[FrancesHinden]

ArtK78, on May 15 2008, 04:26 PM, said:

FrancesHinden, on May 15 2008, 10:24 AM, said:

If you've discussed this with partner, then you know what to do.
If you haven't then you have to guess... but best guess is probably that partner has spades and a minor.

I have discussed this with my partner, and I would pass which opposite spades-and-a minor means I prefer clubs, to spades, to diamonds.  (redouble prefers diamond, to spades, to clubs; 4S prefers spades, 4NT is a mild slam try in a minor, 5C is pass-or-correct, pass then 5m over 4S is to play there)

That is great that you have agreements on the meaning of your actions in this situation. I suspect that most partnerships have not had that discussion.

I suspect that's the case too, but see no harm in suggesting agreements for serious partnerships. This is a special case of one of our general agreements:

If partner has shown two suits, and the next hand doubles, then one of two agreements applies:

i) If one of overcaller's suits is known
- bids by advancer show strong preference
- pass by advancer is neutral or preference for the lower unspecified suit or wants to pull to his own suit
- redouble is preference for the higher unspecified suit
- if both NT and clubs are available for 'pass or correct' then NT shows extra values in context

Redouble by overcaller opposite a neutral pass now shows extra length in the higher suit

ii) If overcaller's suits are both unknown
- redouble by advancer says he wants to play in his suit, please bid step 1
- bids are pass-or-correct
- pass is initially neutral, over a pass the original overcaller redoubles to show the highest unbid suit (exact suits can be worked out from the auction)

e.g. 1S p 2S 2NT (any two suiter) x P P
3C = minors
3D = diamonds & hearts
xx = clubs & hearts