[OleBerg]

(4♠) - X - All Pass

Scoring: IMP

---

11 tricks easily raked in.

[matmat]

i guess west didn't pull the double because of their trump stack. understandable.

[Vilgan]

Blame depends on system.

Double makes no sense given a normal system. Why isn't east bidding 4NT over 4♠?

Assuming some alternate meaning for 4NT, and the X is takeout, then the fault must be with west. With no points and a long club suit, a pull to 5♣ is fairly trivial.

My assumption is that fault probably lies with communication rather than an actual error. I suspect East thought X was takeout and west thought it was penalty. Nothing else really makes any sense.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

if East does not want West to pass the t/o,
East can bid 4NT.

West may or may not bid 5C, both actions are
reasonable.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[OleBerg]

Vilgan, on Dec 13 2008, 10:31 PM, said:

Blame depends on system.

Double makes no sense given a normal system. Why isn't east bidding 4NT over 4♠?

Assuming some alternate meaning for 4NT, and the X is takeout, then the fault must be with west. With no points and a long club suit, a pull to 5♣ is fairly trivial.

My assumption is that fault probably lies with communication rather than an actual error. I suspect East thought X was takeout and west thought it was penalty. Nothing else really makes any sense.

Double was takeout.

[mtvesuvius]

Since the X was takeout (As you just noted), the blame lies with West. If we are beating 4♠, there is a decent chance we are making 5♣. Since West has absolutely no defense and partner probably has 1 spade at most, 5♣ seems like a logical call here.

[maggieb]

Vilgan, on Dec 13 2008, 03:31 PM, said:

Double makes no sense given a normal system. Why isn't east bidding 4NT over 4♠?

I object to this being called "normal," most American experts play 4N is two-suited and double is just takeout (but could be based on a strong NT type hand without too much in spades). Yes, there are tradeoffs.

I would pull with the west hand, probably a good save if it's not making.

[han]

East has a clear double, west has a close call, tough. Not clear to me that 5C is right.

[Codo]

yes the double was clear cut take out and a good bid.
I see no merrits in sit for the double. We have 1 trick in defence, no trump tricks and a 6 card side suit, I think pulling is correct.

[rogerclee]

Codo, on Dec 13 2008, 03:59 PM, said:

I see no merrits in sit for the double. We have 1 trick in defence, no trump tricks and a 6 card side suit, I think pulling is correct.

I would pull, but wow, this is such an overbid! Our 6 card suit is horrible, and with bad breaks, we could easily go for a number here when we were beating 4♠. Calling this hand 1 trick in defense is also just wrong, our JTx is worth a trick opposite any spade honor, not to mention the possibility that we score a ruff.

[whereagles]

Richard is to blame

[benlessard]

West has a 100% pass. Not even close. You should never pull a 4 level double in a contract you have little hope to make. East has a double but hes minimum for the action and if he hand a 5530 shape ill prefer 4Nt to double.


4Sx making +1 is a normal result here

[gnasher]

I'd bid 5♣ with the West hand, but that's because my "takeout" doubles are for takeout. Make East's hand the much less suitable x Qxxx AKJ10x Axx and I'm probably going one down against nothing, but even opposite this hand it could still be right to be in 5♣, either to make or as a save.

[EricK]

That's very unlucky, but no method will avoid all bad results. This was a bad result of the methods chosen. There ought to be plenty of good results to compensate.

[655321]

I think West should bid 5♣. Change one of the clubs into a diamond and I would pass, but a 6 card suit opposite a takeout double should be bidding, it seems to me.

[Fluffy]

Not sre what I'd do at the table, but East's double is perfect, so hard to put any blame there.