[Codo]

Josh, what do you think a slow pass implies?

I think:

1. A hand with one suit but slightly too weak to bid it?
2. A hand with two suits, but just too weak to bid?
3. A hand close to a 3 NT bid?

I think all these hands are possible. And with all this hands a double will win over 4 Heart.

[jdonn]

Codo, on Jun 4 2009, 09:36 AM, said:

Josh, what do you think a slow pass implies?

I think:

1. A hand with one suit but slightly too weak to bid it?
2. A hand with two suits, but just too weak to bid?
3. A hand close to a 3 NT bid?

I think all these hands are possible. And with all this hands a double will win over 4 Heart.

Maybe that's because double is obviously a far superior bid to 4♥, and also wins opposite most of the hands partner didn't imply?

[Codo]

I guess you have a reason why you did not answer the question: There are no hands, where the slow pass suggested 4 Heart over double.

So the only way to get a good score by doubling is knowing that nearly all peers would do the same.

Luckily your peers are Justin, Arend, Han et al, so you have no problem with doubling. But I would be surprised if this would be the most popular vote on our Tuesday evening club game.

I must admit that I am not so sure about my peers. Especially opposite a TD who asks which other bids they did consider.... I guess I had chosen X without the BIT and 4 Heart with.

[jdonn]

I'll have to take your word for it on the Tuesday night club game. But double is so obvious that I would be insulted if they even bothered to ask my peers.

[helene_t]

Some hands p couldn't have since he tanked:
- A trap pass (as he actually had, lol). Not sure if we want to double opposite that. Depends how many hearts he has I think.
- Some weak hand. We can bid 4♥ over his 3♦ bid, in which case it won't matter. If he responds 3♠ we will probably try 4♣ and then pass 4♠, which I think on average will be a little better than 4♥. I might be wrong.
- Some boring 9-11 points. Again, if he bids 4♠ and we go for a spade slam I think we are slightly better off than if we had bid 4♥ and he then either passed or tried for 6♥ which we accept of course.

I may be wrong but I don't think 4♥ would be particularly attractive opposite and easy initial pass by p.

[hanp]

Codo, on Jun 4 2009, 10:08 AM, said:

Luckily your peers are Justin, Arend, Han et al.

Going to print this out and show it to all my bridge friends. Now it is a matter of time before there is a appeal against Justin and the director comes and asks me what I would have done. That will be the day!

[cloa513]

There is some risk that partner might go for penalty when you have a slam in hearts-

♣KQxxxx
♦x
♥Kxx
♠QJx

[marcD]

As mch as I do not like to dbl with a void , here the extra power + the MP format makes the dbl clearcut.

I think the most likely explanation for the hesitation is that partner cannot remember where he parked his car. In any case , no one but a complete beginner would tank for 30s wsith a penalty dbl of clubs

[hanp]

well said Marc, the comment that partner is "very good" made it clear that partner did not have this hand.

[TheoKole]

This is a clear Double. You can always act with your natural bid, inspite of partners hesitations as long as your own hand describes your bid even if partner had not hesitated. Overbidding by taking into account partner's hesitation (ie points - distribution) would be construed as UI.

Cheers, Theo