[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

 -     -     -     1NT
 4♥    Pass  Pass  Pass
 

Hi I was the only one to bid 4 hearts straight off, after a 8-13 opener from opps, what do you think I should have done?

[P_Marlowe]

Bid 4H, shrug shoulders,
march on.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pclayton]

8 - 13 NT?

Start with a double, then bid a lot of hearts.

[hotShot]

I think you made the best possible bid.
Your LHO will never find out if opener has 8 or 13, your partner knows whats on.

[mikestar]

I would double and follow up with a heart bid if they run (if they don't, they will lose a lot of blood). I don't care for the direct 4H as it might miss slam if partner has the right cards, but we are always going to bid 4H one way or another. So it's down one when the stiff King of trumps is offside. 4H makes on every 2-2 heart split and every 3-1 heart split except the one you got. That's almost 80%, you can't stay out of games like that.

[paulg]

I'd regard 4♥ as clearcut as the chances of bidding slam seem extreme and not enhanced by starting with double.

The concern about double is that the opposition may find a spade fit and a profitable sacrifice, which a direct 4♥ will make a lot more difficult.

paul

[han]

mikestar, on Apr 15 2005, 10:31 AM, said:

4H makes on every 2-2 heart split and every 3-1 heart split except the one you got. That's almost 80%, you can't stay out of games like that.

Isn't it safest to play the heart ace first and then lead towards the 10?

[luis]

I think 4h is automatic and other bids are probably horrible since they can quickly find a defense in 4s if your LHO has long spades and opener can support. Now if they are going to defend to 4s LHO has to bid 4s on his own without knowing if the 1NT opener has 2 spades, 3 or 4.
The vulnerability, your hand and the singleton spade make 4h a perfect bid IMHO.

Luis

[EricK]

4♥ looks fine on this hand.

If the vulnerability were different I might look to double the opps, but they usually have a place to play and I might end up bidding 4♥ anyway.

Eric

[Walddk]

I think 4♥ is fine, but I don't think it's fine to go down. Since you can afford to lose one trump trick, the percentage play is to cash the ace first, then enter dummy with a diamond and lead a heart up.

On this layout you will even make an ovetrick after say spade to the jack, club to the king and back to spades, ruffed. ♥A, voila!, and 11 tricks.

Roland

[keylime]

4H, very good.

The play, needs work. :-)

[jdulmage]

Doubling is silly, 1NT opening may have KJxx♥ and a 5-5 club fit between them, before you know it, they have 7 tricks scored up.

Just bid 4♥