[jillybean]

Dealer: East Vul: EW Scoring: IMP

♠ T7 ♥ 9875 ♦ 87 ♣ AKJ87

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  Pass
 1♣    1♦    Dbl   Pass
 1♥    2♦    Pass  Pass
 2♠    Pass  Pass  ? 

I passed here but thought 3♦ could be ok too, comments please?

[FrancesHinden]

LHO is either 4414 (you probably don't want to bid) or 4423 (you do).

As we are NV I think 3D is a good bid, if you are playing weak jump overcalls, as partner has shown a good hand.

[skjaeran]

Partner is more or less marked with 3163 distribution. I think LHO is more probable to be 4414 than 4423. I expect partner to have sound values for his overcall and rebid, so I'm inclined to bid now.

I'd try 2NT - it should show ♣'s and ♦ tolerance.

[pclayton]

This is a very revealing auction.

Pard is probably 3=1=6=3 or 3=1=7=2 (although a moderate hand since better hands try 3♦ here). 3=0=6=4 is unlikely (RHO doesn't pass 2♦ with 5♥). LHO sounds like 4414 or 4423, but could be 4405.

Lets say pard is 3=1=6=3 with a high spade and AK♦:

If LHO is 4423, we are getting 2♣, 2♦ and a ♠. 3♦ loses a trick in each suit if pard doesn't have the ♣Q.

If LHO is 4414, we are getting only 3 tricks off the top, but we are probably due for one more, depending on the heart spots and entries to the closed hand for the club ruffs. 3♦ is -1 I think.

Its close. Bidding wins a lot of small swings - 2-6 IMPs, but occasionally risks an 8-9 IMP loss when diamonds are Hawaii or pard's suit is less than hoped-for.

I don't think we are in a plus position defending 2♠. I'm taking the push to 3♦.

Harald's 2N is interesting, but only caters to the possibility of pard having 4 clubs, which seems doubtful to me.

[jdonn]

I would have bid 3♦ last round. There is actually more info not to now since LHO seems short in diamonds, but I still would.

[mike777]

3d last round but 3d ok now. I think the opp are in an 8 card spade fit. Cannot let them play in an 8 card fit at the two level if at all possible.

[jillybean]

Thanks for the replies, here is the full hand.

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  Pass
 1♣    1♦    Dbl   Pass
 1♥    2♦    Pass  Pass
 2♠    Pass  Pass  Pass
 

2♠-2

[TimG]

Does anyone like 1NT over the double?

[skjaeran]

TimG, on Sep 14 2007, 08:31 PM, said:

Does anyone like 1NT over the double?

I don't like 1NT missing a stopper in both majors, but I can't stand east's double. In standard methods it shows 4-4 in the majors. I've got no clue why people can't learn to just bid 1♠ with that hand.

[Echognome]

skaeran, on Sep 14 2007, 12:14 PM, said:

TimG, on Sep 14 2007, 08:31 PM, said:

Does anyone like 1NT over the double?

I don't like 1NT missing a stopper in both majors, but I can't stand east's double. In standard methods it shows 4-4 in the majors. I've got no clue why people can't learn to just bid 1♠ with that hand.

Apparently I can't learn either because I play transfers here starting with double.

[joshs]

jillybean2, on Sep 14 2007, 12:46 PM, said:

Thanks for the replies, here is the full hand.

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  Pass
 1♣    1♦    Dbl   Pass
 1♥    2♦    Pass  Pass
 2♠    Pass  Pass  Pass
 

2♠-2

Hmm, there were 2 non alerts, since 1C was bid on 2, and the x of 1D did not have 4-4 in the majors....

In the real world, partner is 3163 or 3172 (both opps are 4-4 in the majors) or possibly has 1 less major suit card and one more card in the minors if the x was a 5-4 in the majors hand.

Further partner, by bidding twice with no encouragement has shown a good hand. 3D is really clear here since your clubs are pulling there weight....

[jtfanclub]

joshs, on Sep 14 2007, 04:55 PM, said:

Hmm, there were 2 non alerts, since 1C was bid on 2, and the x of 1D did not have 4-4 in the majors....

In the ACBL, the 1 club may require an announcement or an alert (if they bid 1 club with 2 only with 4432, it's supposed to be an announcement, although I disagree with thr rule). As long as the X 'promises' at least 1 4 card major, it is not alertable in ACBL-land.

[kenberg]

It seems pretty clear that EW do not have really close agreements. If they allow 1C-(1D)-X on 4-3 shape then it seems clear that W's first rebid should be 1S, at least if he plans to show both suits. Later he can rebid 2H showing 4-4 and letting E show which suit he has four of. Bidding hearts first and then spades is not so good if doubler could hold three spades and four hearts. If doubler shows 4-4 then the auction is (sort of) OK so I suppose W figured E showed 4-4. If doubler promises four spades always but maybe only three hearts, then it seems still that W should start with 1S.

So I am guessing that they have no close agreements and so needn't alert much. The "could be short" 1C would require an alert if it is an agreement.

Anyway, I had a totally wrong picture. I favored passing on the theory that lho had at most a stiff D, rho had at most a stiff C, and they may very well be missing a game and I was thinking that we should let them miss it. KJx of diamonds in W and 2S down 2 did not enter my mind.

Of course had I known how the cards lay I would have bid 3NT taking six diamonds, two clubs and a spade. Or doubled 2S which, given the vul, works out a little better.

We all see things in our own perspective, making bridge such an interesting game.

[skjaeran]

Echognome, on Sep 14 2007, 10:18 PM, said:

skaeran, on Sep 14 2007, 12:14 PM, said:

TimG, on Sep 14 2007, 08:31 PM, said:

Does anyone like 1NT over the double?

I don't like 1NT missing a stopper in both majors, but I can't stand east's double. In standard methods it shows 4-4 in the majors. I've got no clue why people can't learn to just bid 1♠ with that hand.

Apparently I can't learn either because I play transfers here starting with double.

As do I.
Playing standard methods I implied.