[gwnn]

1♣-p-1♦-p
1♥-p-3♥-p
p-3♠

1♣ and 1♦ were both natural.

What shape and how many points does the 3♠ bidder have? If anyone gets in the ballpark of the actual hand, I will send them 10 BB$.

[nullve]

4405 shape and no heart wastage, together strongly suggesting that total tricks > total trumps (~ 16?).

The number of points shouldn't matter, since opps' bidding has made it clear to partner what the approximate distribution of points around the table is.

Possible hand (worth 10 BB$?):

KJxx
Axxx
---
JTxxx.

[gwnn]

nullve, on 2020-January-19, 13:42, said:

4405 shape and no heart wastage, together strongly suggesting that total tricks > total trumps (~ 16?).

The number of points shouldn't matter, since opps' bidding has made it clear to partner what the approximate distribution of points around the table is.

Possible hand (worth 10 BB$?):

KJxx
Axxx
---
JTxxx.

Sorry, no. (Not saying your hand doesn't make more sense than the actual one, but no it's not in the ballpark.) As the first guesser, you are allowed another go.

[helene_t]

15 points and 8 spades

[cherdano]

4045, too weak to make a takeout double of 3H.

[Tramticket]

Is this meant to be a call that makes some logical sense? Or a call made by some random nutter?

If the call is supposed to make sense then:
- He has clubs (to explain the initial pass). Also the spade suit is likely weak.
- He has chosen to compete over 3♥, but not 1♥, but it was still a forcing auction on the second round and he was hoping that his opponents would finish in a place where he has defence - i.e clubs and probably diamonds.
- He has chosen to protect at the three level over 3♥, which suggests little defence against a heart contract.

Maybe: JTXXX - AKQ AQT9X?

[gwnn]

Tramticket, on 2020-January-20, 05:32, said:

Is this meant to be a call that makes some logical sense? Or a call made by some random nutter?

It was made in a legit team competition IRL but I wouldn't rule out either extreme.

I would not have repeated the call, for what it's worth.

[FelicityR]

(Un)educated guess(timate) ♠Qxxxxx ♥xxxx (xx/x x/xx) Reluctantly passed on the first two rounds but now thinks that they have a fit for partner who has 14 to 15 points and was unable to bid or make a takeout double on round one. (Yes, it's ludicrous, I know )

[gwnn]

FelicityR, on 2020-January-20, 07:03, said:

(Un)educated guess(timate) ♠Qxxxxx ♥xxxx (xx/x x/xx) Reluctantly passed on the first two rounds but now thinks that they have a fit for partner who has 14 to 15 points and was unable to bid or make a takeout double on round one. (Yes, it's ludicrous, I know )

makes more sense than the actual hand.

[eagles123]

something like

kqj - Kqxx Qtxxxx gambling on partner having some spades

[nige1]

Gwnn "1♣ and 1♦ were both natural.
What shape and how many points does the 3♠ bidder have?
If anyone gets in the ballpark of the actual hand, I will send them 10 BB"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


My Guess

---

[StevenG]

I'm going to say five small hearts and defensive values outside. North is balancing against a partscore. If he had no defence to hearts he'd be relieved they'd stopped before game and be happy to leave them there. Therefore he must be trying to goad them into bidding 4♥ to take them off.

[gwnn]

I will announce the hand tomorrow morning. As of now, no one has gotten into the ballpark.

[pescetom]

He could be 4=2=5=3 15-17 with no clubs stopper, gambling that partner has probably spades support and diamonds shortage.

[helene_t]

pescetom, on 2020-January-22, 04:41, said:

He could be 4=2=5=3 15-17 with no clubs stopper, gambling that partner has probably spades support and diamonds shortage.

14 cards?

[Zelandakh]

Since all of the sensible suggestions have been taken and been nowhere close, I'll go for a slightly less sensible pick - a balanced hand, probably 4=3=3=3 or 4=(3-2)=4, just below the standards for a 1NT overcall (bad 15 or compromised ♣ stop, etc).

[gwnn]

Zelandakh, on 2020-January-22, 07:50, said:

Since all of the sensible suggestions have been taken and been nowhere close, I'll go for a slightly less sensible pick - a balanced hand, probably 4=3=3=3 or 4=(3-2)=4, just below the standards for a 1NT overcall (bad 15 or compromised ♣ stop, etc).

Yep 4333 (I suppose "what's his shape" is a bit misleading ). He said "from the bidding, I knew that responder had short spades and opener probably also. So basically I'm guaranteed to find a fit." He happened to have had 15 here and refused 1NT because that's Raptor for them, but I contend he would have done the same with a 14 count.

I asked him why he didn't double in the first round, he said "yea that's another approach I guess."

pescetom was in the ballpark but I think it's fair to say Zelandakh won this one. BB$ underway.

[Zelandakh]

w00t!

[Zelandakh]

Silly and obvious follow-up question - how many did you go for...?

[gwnn]

Zelandakh, on 2020-January-22, 08:01, said:

Silly and obvious follow-up question - how many did you go for...?

Well it went:

1♣-p-1♦-p
1♥-p-3♥-p
p-3♠-4♥-4♠
X-p-p-p

-500

which lost 3 IMPs when the other table was:
1♣-1NT-x-p
2♥-p-4♥-end

I would rather not show you the entire hand because it would raise more question than it answers.