[mike777]

Apollo81, on Dec 28 2007, 09:47 AM, said:

none vul, IMPs

♠98xx
♥Axx
♦10xx
♣Kxx

1♥-(2♦)-2♥-(3♦)
Dbl-(pass)-???

It's a maximal (game invitational) double.

Yes

I got 13 cards and it is imps.
With less I might pass.

Will not be the first zero % imp game ever bid.

[rogerclee]

I feel like accepting here is being too pushy. I dislike 4333 intensely. This might be pretty much the best 4333 7-count I can have, but that doesn't mean it's not a 4333 7-count.

[BillHiggin]

I bid game with pard's hand, and reject a trial with the flat hand. I reject because pard cannot have the 5 loser hand he actually held - he would bid the game rather than invite it. (I absolutely loathe 4-3-3-3)

[kenrexford]

pclayton, on Dec 28 2007, 12:15 PM, said:

Picture a few hands:

1. AQx, KQxxxx, x, Axx (game is decent. We need the spade hook (maybe 3:1 on your left or 3-3 spades or a remote endplay. The ♠7 gives us additional chances, although we might need a key trump pip for another entry)

I think on balance its right to pass, although I'd be tempted if we were vul.

I agree.

Plus, I'd bid 4♥ myself with Hand #1. An overbid, perhaps, but heck do I overbid in this situation.

[pclayton]

BillHiggin, on Dec 28 2007, 04:36 PM, said:

I bid game with pard's hand, and reject a trial with the flat hand. I reject because pard cannot have the 5 loser hand he actually held - he would bid the game rather than invite it. (I absolutely loathe 4-3-3-3)

I used to be a big fan of LTC in fit auctions a long time ago, but it tends to break down miserably when we have only an 8 card fit. While calling this a 5 loser hand for the purposes of evaluation is correct per Klinger, it is far from an automatic game bid.

[dburn]

jdonn, on Dec 28 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

I pass. It's sort of a shot in the dark since game will sometimes make and sometimes not, but I think the nots will too far outnumber the makes.

Pass? That certainly is a shot - how will we beat 3♦ doubled?

In another thread, the question was asked: with a 4-3-3-3 hand including three hearts to the ace, would you raise to 2♥ with no other card above a ten? Those who said they would should - nay, must - accept a game try here, else constructive bidding becomes impossible for them. Since I would raise in the other thread, I have a full king more than I might have in this one, so of course I will bid game.

[jdonn]

dburn, on Dec 30 2007, 02:19 AM, said:

jdonn, on Dec 28 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

I pass. It's sort of a shot in the dark since game will sometimes make and sometimes not, but I think the nots will too far outnumber the makes.

Pass? That certainly is a shot - how will we beat 3♦ doubled?

Oops. Don't know if it's evident or not, but I meant sign off, not pass.

[jdeegan]

3♥. Not the worst 2♥ bid I've ever seen, but certainly not an acceptance.

[dake50]

Two tricks at most! Even hoping they fill just the right holes, this can't be 50%. 3H.

[cherdano]

What does everyone think of partner's double? I am used to play that with a distributional hand, you guess to bid 3H or 4H as opener, so that double promises more willingness to defend than this hand, and responder can pass the double more often.

P.S.: I would just bid 3H with partner's hand.

[mcphee]

Bid game and let them beat us, which may well be the case here but I like my A and K. I could have held less. I'd like it more if I was vulnerable.

After looking at the hand I do not feel this is the sort of hand to make a maximal dble but I suppose I can live with it. 5-5 bid games and do not invite IMHO.