[CSGibson]

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This was the position in a teams game yesterday, with east on lead. Is there a reason for him to get this right (ie, playing partner for the actual position, as opposed to 3 hearts and Qx of diamonds, for example)?

A note as to the bidding: This partnership has the agreement that a cue-bid in the pass-out seat would not be Michaels.

[ArtK78]

The fact that the missing card is the 10 and West did not play it is one clue.

Besides, are you really saying that, at IMPs, West would double 3♦ holding x JTx Qxxx Axxxx?

P.S. I am curious - what would a cue-bid be in passout seat? Surely it is not natural.

[CSGibson]

ArtK78, on 2012-October-22, 14:26, said:

P.S. I am curious - what would a cue-bid be in passout seat? Surely it is not natural.

The notes say "Any strong hand unwilling to double". I assume that covers strong single-suiters and the like, though I have not discussed it further; there have been other priorities thus far for discussion points.

[FrancesHinden]

If West started with J104 of hearts he should play the 10 on the second round. It's vital he give count here. That is easy.

If he had started with J10 doubleton you would still have had a guess, so...

In fact, to go back a trick or 2, with J104 of hearts on this particular deal he would have done well to switch to the 4 of hearts, again giving count at once (or at least when he plays the second one). On this deal, west is the one who knows that East probably has 5 hearts and they are only cashing 2 of them (if East were 5413 he would surely have doubled either 1D or 2D). But even if it weren't certain, playing 4 then Jack allowed East to know whether to overtake the second heart or not. (with, say, J84 west would here play 4 then 8).

You can't always afford to give a count switch (sometimes you have to play an honour to pick up a particular holding) but here you can.

[nigel_k]

If West had x Jx Axxx QJ98xx he would certainly have bid 2♣ rather than passing 1♠. So he must have three hearts and forgot to echo. Sometimes partners do forget these things - no need to hang him for it. Oh wait, never mind.