[Fluffy]

IMPs, Round robin

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[ggwhiz]

Partners most likely shape is 4-3-4-2 all right.

If they have the 4-3-5-1 or some such I'll hear about it after I pass but I'm a firm believer that decisions like this belong to the pass out seat. This should be my shape (or reverse the round suits) if I bid directly.

If lho raises to 4♣ I'll re-evaluate and consider a balance with 4♦ over that in the context that our style includes chunky 4 card suit overcalls with doubles tending to be the real deal, not just the right shape.

[SteveMoe]

Pass shows I lack a 5th ♠.

[ahydra]

Pass seems clear - no real extras, duplicated shortness and we're vulnerable.

ahydra

[nullve]

Opps' bidding has revealed that partner has exactly 3 H and therefore most likely 4342 or 4351 distribution. With the latter he might be able to find another call (e.g. make an "action" double, if we play that) if I pass, so I'll assume he is 4342. Then there are 17 total trumps, but most likely only 16 total tricks due to mirror distribution. So Pass seems super-clear, at this and every other vulnerability.

This post has been edited by nullve: 2016-December-20, 07:47

[nige1]

Fluffy "IMPs, Round robin"

I rank
1. Pass = NAT. Total trick compliant.
2. 3♦ = NAT. Probable double fit.
3. 3♥ = CUE. Max in high cards. Better ♥ than ♣.
4. 3♠ = NAT. Partner had a support XX available, so has 4+ ♠s.

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[wank]

Partner isn't acting again. Our hand has the undisclosed extra suitability and max hcp.

Of course if you act you double and that's what i would do. It would be more awkward at matchpoints because of the risk of -200.

The best outcome is when partner's got something like 4333 14 or 15 and you collect a nice little penalty but obviously pushing them to 4 when partner's 4351 is good too.

As is usual on any competitive question on the forum i'm on my own and taking a more aggressive action than anyone else.

[Kaitlyn S]

Am I the only one who thinks East might be goofing around with three small hearts and a club fit? I think this decision is a lot closer than the rest of you do.

If that's the scenario, I'd like to defend 3C with a heart lead but that's not happening. It wouldn't shock me if we either give up a spade trick on the lead or let the opponents discard a heart loser on a spade we help set up for them.

[Winstonm]

There is no guarantee we have found our best fit as yet. Partner could be 4351. I think 3D must be right at this point.

[Trinidad]

Partner is 4342 or 4351 and has a minimum takeout double. That makes this a 20-20 hand with, for LAW lovers, 17 or 18 total trumps. At low levels the LAW underestimates the total number of tricks. There may be an indication that this is a case where there are more trumps than there are tricks: Partner may have e.g. ♥Jxx, a holding that is good on defense, but bad on offense. Nevertheless, I estimate the total number of tricks as 17 and I'll bid 3♠.

Rik

[nige1]

wank, on 2016-December-20, 21:11, said:

Partner isn't acting again. Our hand has the undisclosed extra suitability and max hcp. Of course if you act you double and that's what i would do. It would be more awkward at matchpoints because of the risk of -200. The best outcome is when partner's got something like 4333 14 or 15 and you collect a nice little penalty but obviously pushing them to 4 when partner's 4351 is good too. As is usual on any competitive question on the forum i'm on my own and taking a more aggressive action than anyone else.

If double is competitive then Wank seems correct. Our agreement, however is that, after we bid and raise a suit, double is penalty, unless there is no room for another forward move. I accept that understanding might be inappropriate in this context.

[Fluffy]

I was afraid of 3♦ being taken as some sort of game try, but anyway I ahted those hearts, but I was wrong, partner had ♠A10xx ♥AQX ♦Q10xxx ♣x, he passed out maybe because I tanked a bit, and of course spade lead blew a trick, but it was the 10th. In 3♠ with ♦J singleton they need an insane defence to beat, and will normally get 1♣, 1♦ and 2 spades with or without a ruff.

[Winstonm]

Fluffy, on 2016-December-23, 03:22, said:

I was afraid of 3♦ being taken as some sort of game try, but anyway I ahted those hearts, but I was wrong, partner had ♠A10xx ♥AQX ♦Q10xxx ♣x, he passed out maybe because I tanked a bit, and of course spade lead blew a trick, but it was the 10th. In 3♠ with ♦J singleton they need an insane defence to beat, and will normally get 1♣, 1♦ and 2 spades with or without a ruff.

With a known double fit, don't be afraid to bid.

[ggwhiz]

Fluffy, on 2016-December-23, 03:22, said:

partner had ♠A10xx ♥AQX ♦Q10xxx ♣x, he passed out maybe because I tanked a bit,

Just a matter of style position wise. My partner would never pass it out (without a tank of course) but strategically it's been discussed in depth. Nothing wrong with either choosing to play it differently or guessing with no agreement.

[Fluffy]

The first question would be for what to expect for the voluntary raise to 2♠. I know some people who take it as invitational, others just competitive, but perhaps balanced hands with 4 spades should pass.