[jtfanclub]

You have:

Scoring: MP

---

The bidding is currently at 3♥, the hearts first bid by you. Your partner has:
14 or 15 HCP, not counting distribution.
A singleton spade (not void).
Exactly 4 hearts.
4-6 diamonds.
And therefore 2-4 clubs.

Do you pass the 3♥ bid, or push on to game?

[pbleighton]

4H.

You have 23-24 hcp between you, you have a doubleton, pd has a singleton, and either
1) pd has a 5+ card suit, or
2) you have 8 clubs between you.

Nice to know scoring, vulnerability, and bidding, though!

Peter

[whereagles]

3H is the limit for me.

[1eyedjack]

4H

I just constructed a few random hands in my head consistent with the information and on each one I wanted to be in 4.

But I am not happy with the information provided.

There is a considerable difference in the playing strength between the three possible hand shapes:
1-4-4-4, or 1-4-5-3, or 1-4-6-2
for a given number of high card points.
I feel that partner should have done something to help you by narrowing the range of his total playing strength rather than just high card points.

I might prefer to try 3NT (partner can still convert to 4H if he prefers).

[keylime]

8 losers opposite a jump from pard of 3, that should be showing a 5 loser hand. Bid game, and enjoy the quality dummy.

[jtfanclub]

pbleighton, on Aug 20 2004, 07:18 PM, said:

Nice to know scoring, vulnerability, and bidding, though!

Peter

The scoring and vulnerability are listed.

The bidding was:
1♦ 1♥
3♥

Which is a Midrange Splinter, showing all the information I put down.

And no, I don't want your opinion on midrange splinters. It really doesn't make any difference...most systems you'll end up with about that much information at the point that you have to choose whether to go for game.

[jtfanclub]

1eyedjack, on Aug 20 2004, 08:24 PM, said:

There is a considerable difference in the playing strength between the three possible hand shapes:
1-4-4-4, or 1-4-5-3, or 1-4-6-2

Fair enough. Now tell me, if I told you the exact distribution, which ones would you want to be in game?

If it matters, the rare cases where you could have such a count and distribution have have 6 losers, he'd have found something else to bid. So he almost certainly has 5, with a tiny chance of 4. Of course, it would be a lot nicer if that KJ was in diamonds....

[1eyedjack]

jtfanclub, on Aug 21 2004, 12:27 AM, said:

1eyedjack, on Aug 20 2004, 08:24 PM, said:

There is a considerable difference in the playing strength between the three possible hand shapes:
1-4-4-4, or 1-4-5-3, or 1-4-6-2

Fair enough. Now tell me, if I told you the exact distribution, which ones would you want to be in game?

distribution have have 6 losers, he'd have found something else to bid. So he almost certainly has 5, with a tiny chance oIf it matters, the rare cases where you could have such a count and f 4. Of course, it would be a lot nicer if that KJ was in diamonds....

Strangely enough I think that the 1-4-5-3 shape is the least attractive. 3 card Club support for your 4 card Club suit exposes you to the greatest expected number of losers in the suit. If you went purely on LTC I MIGHT be tempted to pass 3H If I knew he had a 6 loser hand with this shape at MP (I would always go to game at IMP). Sure the total LTC would indicate game given your own 8 loser hand, but then you are giving up on all of the benefits of using splinters, that give you a chance to re-evaluate. KJx in Spades is wasted.

But if you say he should have a 5 loser hand I am going to 4 under all conditions.

[Free]

Clear pass imo, you have lost HCP in ♠, and only an 8-card fit between you. You're VERY far away from game imo.

And indeed the 1-4-5-3 is the least attractive, but even the other 2 possible distributions don't help me much imo.

PASS

[Gerben47]

PASS

I agree with Free

[paulhar]

1eyedjack, on Aug 20 2004, 08:24 PM, said:

4H

I just constructed a few random hands in my head consistent with the information and on each one I wanted to be in 4.

I wrote some sample hands with the constraints down and on some 4H has no play and others it's 50%. So, I think it's a pass.

Beginners would say that dummy has 17-18 counting the singleton and that should be enough. But your system has shown you that the singleton is not pulling its full weight across from your KJ7. Your trumps aren't that good, and you have no aces. With no diamond help and poor trumps, it might be hard to set up dummy even if it has six diamonds. Take advantage of your system and pass.