[matmat]

playing pretty much standard,
matchpoints, all white, you hear:

1♦-(2♥)-?

you hold QJxxx QT 98xxx x

what call do you choose?

(fit jumps were not discussed, in case you're leaning that way)

[helene_t]

I lead my singleton club if p doesn't reopen.

[mikeh]

Give partner a mediocre hand such as A10xx x AKxx Jxxx and we have a good play for 4♠, and when 4♠ fails, 4♥ will make. Heck, our stiff club lead will let 4♥ make even when dummy has Kx in spades and a doubleton diamond.

The main point is that when partner has a reopening hand, the opps aren't playing 2♥.. they are in 3 or 4 hearts before he gets another turn, and we may be forever jammed out of the auction.

So I ain't passing: put me down for double... I would never do this without my fifth diamond.

[kenrexford]

mikeh, on Apr 24 2008, 06:15 PM, said:

Give partner a mediocre hand such as A10xx x AKxx Jxxx and we have a good play for 4♠, and when 4♠ fails, 4♥ will make. Heck, our stiff club lead will let 4♥ make even when dummy has Kx in spades and a doubleton diamond.

The main point is that when partner has a reopening hand, the opps aren't playing 2♥.. they are in 3 or 4 hearts before he gets another turn, and we may be forever jammed out of the auction.

So I ain't passing: put me down for double... I would never do this without my fifth diamond.

Although a sound point, I think I do this the other way. I pass, and then I bid whatever number of spades I must if 3♥ or 4♥ comes back at me.

[jdonn]

I think this is an easy pass. It's unfortunate that they hand may be passed out when we could do better in diamonds, but any action seems a clear overstatement of values.

[inquiry]

This is a horrible hand, and is clearly not up to "snuff" for a negative double. Having said that, I strongly agree with Mikeh.... it is time to mix it up. Partner may scream and shout when he sees how weak i am, but so be it. I will double with hand, with diamonds as the landing spot if partner bids clubs. Yes, it might go dbl all pass (glup), that is a necessary risk.

[the hog]

Agree with Helen. Clear pass - very poor hand.

[neilkaz]

Do I have adequate playing strength to force PD to 2♠ or 3♦...well probably at MP's I'll mix it up.

Do I have adequate defensive strength should PD want to get head hunting at some level of ♥, most likely not, but PF should have something cards in ♥ and then my QT may be useful. (likely a garbage overcallwas made).

OK I lean toward negX at MP's white vs white, negX for sure white vs red, pass for sure if red.

Imps, I pass no matter what, unless white vs red and expecting to need a swing as the risk of going for a big number when PD overcompetes (expecting me to have more) or makes a penalty double that I likely can't risk leaving in at Imps is too great for me.

[Codo]

I agree with Mike and don't think that the hand is as weak as it looks.

Double shows around 8 HCPs and 4 Spades here, so this hand is surely not much weaker then a hand like:
Kxxx,x,Qxxx,Kxxx

Even here, where the double normaly shows some clubs besides the spades, I have no problem with the offshape double. If Pd bids x Clubs, I can bid x Diamonds without much problems. IF he had opened 1 Club and my minors had been reversed too, the problem had been much bigger.

[andy_h]

I think I X, but not liking it. Only will I do this in MP and white, anything else and I pass.

[helene_t]

kenrexford, on Apr 25 2008, 12:21 AM, said:

Although a sound point, I think I do this the other way. I pass, and then I bid whatever number of spades I must if 3♥ or 4♥ comes back at me.

I don't think this shows spades+diamonds. P probably reads it as a weak hand with lots of spades.

But I don't care for double. P will take me for more values than I have and double a making 5♥ or bid 3NT. Or maybe convert my double. Or bid clubs and then go for slam when I convert to diamonds. Besides the dbl doesn't show my fifth spade.

If a direct fit-showing 3♠ is available, at least that gives an idea of my shape. But I don't think I have grown sufficient synapses to do that either.

[kenrexford]

helene_t, on Apr 25 2008, 05:56 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 25 2008, 12:21 AM, said:

Although a sound point, I think I do this the other way.  I pass, and then I bid whatever number of spades I must if 3♥ or 4♥ comes back at me.

I don't think this shows spades+diamonds. P probably reads it as a weak hand with lots of spades.

But I don't care for double. P will take me for more values than I have and double a making 5♥ or bid 3NT. Or maybe convert my double. Or bid clubs and then go for slam when I convert to diamonds. Besides the dbl doesn't show my fifth spade.

If a direct fit-showing 3♠ is available, at least that gives an idea of my shape. But I don't think I have grown sufficient synapses to do that either.

My partner will understand. Any bid that sounds too strong for prior decisions must be based on a fit. Thus, passing 2♥ when I could have bid or shown spades, and then backing in with spades, must show diamonds. As I could have shown diamonds earlier, I must be unbalanced with a second suit. Not only \do the odds favor my having the suit I bid as the second suit, but majors are preferred, especially spades over hearts.

[Apollo81]

I'd pass. This hand will be great when we have a spade fit, but not so good otherwise. I don't want to get partner too excited.

[gnasher]

I'd bid 3D, which I don't think shows more than competitive values. Maybe it will go (3H) pass (pass), and I can get my spades in without overstatement.

If partner bids 3NT over 3D, he probably has a strong balanced hand. I'll bid 4S, which may provoke a look of puzzlement, but will probably get the dummy on the grounds that no other interpretation makes sense. How else do you bid these hands?

[pclayton]

I'm doubling and I think its fairly clear. We have safety in diamonds and if pard bids 4♠ over 4♥, there are many ways it can win.

Yes I have a piece of garbage. But its fitting garbage.

[dcvetkov]

pclayton, on Apr 25 2008, 08:50 AM, said:

I'm doubling and I think its fairly clear. We have safety in diamonds and if pard bids 4♠ over 4♥, there are many ways it can win.

Yes I have a piece of garbage. But its fitting garbage.

I agree with this. But problem is partner will play you for more values and I expect bidding will escalate. What is you bid then they bid 4H and partners doubles? Do you like your chances defending or you run to 5♦?

[helene_t]

dcvetkov, on Apr 25 2008, 03:37 PM, said:

What is you bid then they bid 4H and partners doubles? Do you like your chances defending or you run to 5♦?

5♦ pretty clear here. Partner's double shows values, it is not a unilateral penalty double. My only concern would be whether p would bid 6/7 and/or redouble the final diamond contract, or double 5♥.

[mikeh]

If partner doubles 4♥, I pass.

He almost surely won't be doubling when they can make 5, and I have an easy, and obvious to partner, stiff club lead. I am NOT pulling. They've made doubled games against me in the past and will do so again in the future.

Passing over the overcall out of fear that partner will double a cold 4♥ is not an enjoyable way to play the game.

I am often a glass half empty kind of player, but I think this is a glass almost completely dry approach.

Look at it this way: they make and win 5 imps. On hands where you pass, you may miss a double game swing. How many imps is that?

[jdonn]

What do doublers do if partner rebids 3NT? Pass, or pull and pretend that shows a 3 count?

[ArtK78]

mikeh, on Apr 25 2008, 10:16 AM, said:

If partner doubles 4♥, I pass.

He almost surely won't be doubling when they can make 5, and I have an easy, and obvious to partner, stiff club lead. I am NOT pulling. They've made doubled games against me in the past and will do so again in the future.

Passing over the overcall out of fear that partner will double a cold 4♥ is not an enjoyable way to play the game.

I am often a glass half empty kind of player, but I think this is a glass almost completely dry approach.

Look at it this way: they make and win 5 imps. On hands where you pass, you may miss a double game swing. How many imps is that?

You may lose a lot more than 5 IMPs. Partner will assume that you have some values and at least 4 spades. He will not assume that you hold 5 diamonds, jeopardizing some of his defensive tricks. He will also not assume that your values are so minimal (sub-minimal?). He may be doubling a cold game not realizing that you have a game in diamonds.

Passing partner's double of 4♥ after making a negative double may be compouding the original overbid (the negative double).