[Jinksy]

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IMP pairs. What's your call?

No special agreements besides (theoretically) common sense.

[eagles123]

4H - not going for game here would be ridiculous, i'm more concerned that we could miss slam

[apollo1201]

4♥, even if it was MP and not IMPs. The bidding is (unfortunately) not over yet, and the tricky part will start when opener bids 4♠ and partner Xs...

[rmnka447]

At IMPS, you've got to bid your games, so 4 ♥. But fully expect opponents to bid 4 ♠. If partner has a "normal" T/O double, opponents may have 11 or 12 card fit. If 4 ♠ is passed back to me, I bid on to 5 ♥. If partner doubles 4 ♠, I sit.

[Hyperon]

4♥ but I wouldn't be surprised if partner has some strong NT like AJxx Kx AQJx KJx and tries for slam and we go down in 5♥

[mike777]

4h given OP

but I would have opened 2h nv in second seat and not have this problem.

[neilkaz]

Hyperon, on 2016-July-02, 20:37, said:

4♥ but I wouldn't be surprised if partner has some strong NT like AJxx Kx AQJx KJx and tries for slam and we go down in 5♥

If PD tries for slam with this 19 count with only two ♥ when I passed initially and one opp opened and was raised I will be looking for a new PD for sure.

[Phil]

3H - the auction will never end now.

You aren't buying this in 4H if you bid it now. You might if you walk it and you aren't overstating your hand.

[kenberg]

I voted 4H. I do see this as a matter of tactics, and perhaps the slower 3H would work. But I am skeptical.

My thinking: I am a passed hand, partner will realize 4H is on shape. Assuming they go on to 4S, the issue will be what to do about that. With more shape than I so far expect, partner might choose 5H. If, with no great shape, 5H seems excessive to him, then I think that my shape showing 4H might give him guidance as to whether to double 4S.

i doubt we are getting many heart ticks against 4S, and my hand will not be supplying defensive tricks at all. Maybe they can make 6S for all I know. So it seems to me we are not likely to be allowed to play 4H and the big issue is what we should do over 4S. I am hoping 4H clarifies the choice for partner.

As always, I am interested in the reasoning of others. For starters, as a passed hand then surely 4H shows at least some shape, right? But probably not this much shape. So it is still a bit of a guess for partner when my 4H is followed by 4S on my left. Tough for him, and I don't really plan to go on to 5H on my own. That seems excessive.

Another thought; I suppose partner, after 4S on my left, could reason that I never would have bid 4H unless I had some defense against 4S. Hmm. That would not go well if he doubles, expecting some defensive values from me.

[SteveMoe]

4♥

[Jinksy]

This probably would have been a more interesting problem had I posted it from my partner's perspective, but since after an excellent session his comment here was 'oh yeah, this is the hand where you flipped out', I couldn't resist

Anyway, this is the bidding challenge he faced:

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First question - do you agree with his initial double?

Second question - inasmuch as you can look at the hand in isolation, is it clear what he should do now?

Third question - if S had dealt, and the auction had proceeded 1♠ X 2♠ 4♥ / P, what should he do in this case?

[kuhchung]

1. yes
2. dunno
3. pass

[Phil]

1. Nothing is perfect. I can understand x and pass. It's pretty tough to ever convince partner you have shortness in an unbid major in these auctions. Had a situation last year where partner had a void in the major - 0454 with 1H on his right and somehow we got to this iffy 3N because the Opps were nice enough to bid and raise spades. My Qxx held up as a stop lol. I've come to think that doubling with hands like this is just a really bad idea.

2. What a mess but I'd let partner stew in 4H. In spite of a paucity of trump, we might be able to scramble a few tricks.

3. Makes no difference.

[nige1]

Jinksy, on 2016-July-02, 02:54, said:

IMP pairs. What's your call?
No special agreements besides (theoretically) common sense.

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I rank

• 4♥ = NAT.
• 3♠ = ART. G/F.
• 3♥ = NAT.
• 3N = UNT?
• Double = T/O (responsive).
• Pass.

[kuhchung]

Phil, on 2016-July-06, 14:35, said:

I've come to think that doubling with hands like this is just a really bad idea.

Hmm, would you bid 3D over 2S? And would you be more comfortable doubling with a doubleton heart?