[bluecalm]

It's from bidding practice so no reads on the opponents. I am interested what is the best "vacuum" action here:

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1C was polish club although I think it doesn't matter here too much. Partner is 12-14 balanced or 4-4-1-4.
3C was mixed raise.
Our double was negative 4-5 hearts, if 5 hearts then 7-11 (stronger hands or hands with 6+hearts bid 2D as transfer instead of double).
Should we double now ? If not how close we are ? If yes how obvious is that ?

(For the record I passed and we missed laydown game)

[Codo]

What did partners pass show?

If he simply denied 4 hearts and the ability for a strong bid, I would double again.
If the pass shows a weak NT hand type, I would bid 3 ♥ to show the 7-11 HCP hand with 5 hearts.

[han]

3H is both insufficient and (in my opinion) a poor call. I would double again. If partner bids 4C, 4D or 4H I'm happy. If partner passes I don't know, and if partner bids 3NT we hopefully won't get doubled.

[MickyB]

Seems like odd methods. What's the worst that could happen if I bid 2H NF or 2D transfer on the first round?

[ArtK78]

MickyB, on 2012-May-11, 06:31, said:

Seems like odd methods. What's the worst that could happen if I bid 2H NF or 2D transfer on the first round?

Speaking of odd methods, both 2♥ nonforcing and 2♦ transfer are certainly not mainstream. However, if you are playing adjective bridge (in which you can add one adjective to any call), you can certainly bid "2♥ nonforcing" or "2♦ transfer."

I see that the OP does play 2♦ as a transfer to hearts, but the transfer promises 6 hearts or game forcing values.

[bluecalm]

I made a small mistake. We play dbl as either 4hearts or 5hearts and 7-10 (not 7-11) that is below invite. 2D is transfer and 2H is also tranfer but to opponents suit (while 2S is transfer to clubs).
This is idea of Martens and it usually works great. We are for sure better off than pairs not playing negative free bids and as sequences such as:
1C - 1S - d - p
1N - p - 2H - p
2N p p p

are now possible not forcing us to play in Q7542 - 62 suit it has some advantages (as well as narrowing range for negative free bid which is usually very wide and can cause missed 25hcp games).
Anyway... in standard you would have to double too, so what do you bid now ?

[MickyB]

ArtK78, on 2012-May-11, 07:09, said:

Speaking of odd methods, both 2♥ nonforcing and 2♦ transfer are certainly not mainstream. However, if you are playing adjective bridge (in which you can add one adjective to any call), you can certainly bid "2♥ nonforcing" or "2♦ transfer."

I see that the OP does play 2♦ as a transfer to hearts, but the transfer promises 6 hearts or game forcing values.

OP plays 2D as a transfer. Most Polish Club pairs play 1C (1S) 2H as NF. This is hardly "adjective bridge".

[bluecalm]

Quote

Most Polish Club pairs play 1C (1S) 2H as NF. This is hardly "adjective bridge".

Yes. Transfers are new fashion here though

[MickyB]

What hands can partner still have? It feels to me like he is overwhelmingly likely to have a weak NT without four hearts, and he won't know to bid 4H on three of them if I double again. Pass is clear.

[gnasher]

Bluecalm said:

1C was polish club although I think it doesn't matter here too much. Partner is 12-14 balanced or 4-4-1-4.

I think it matters. If partner could have an unbalanced hand with five clubs, that would make bidding rather more attractive.

MickyB said:

What hands can partner still have? It feels to me like he is overwhelmingly likely to have a weak NT without four hearts, and he won't know to bid 4H on three of them if I double again. Pass is clear.

I agree. Partner should usually bid 3♥ when he has four of them - the only time he might not is if he has a lot of spade cards. Even opposite a really good fit like xxx KJx Axx KQxx game is poor. In fact, I'm struggling to think of a hand that makes game laydown.

[JLOGIC]

I would pass, and I think it's pretty close.