[pescetom]

MP

---

South is a beginner and was clearly very uncomfortable about 3♦, next round took the plunge to 3NT.
How do you read partner's double and what is your call?

[jillybean]

The double is convertible and I am in a tough spot.

[P_Marlowe]

Assuming you think East is experienced, what are your options?

Bidding 4H, a contract both of you rejected or Pass.

I would Pass.

If the beginner did the right thing, i.e. counting to 8-9
tricks (6 being provided by the diamond suit, 1 by the heart
stopper he showed, and 1-2 rest of his hand), congratulate him (*),
ask him to play with you next time he is av., if on the other
hand 4H is a disaster, you owe your p at least one drink for
insulting him, you may loose a future partner.

(*) 8 ticks translating to 100 vs. 140, assuming you got the colors right,
if it is 200, still invite him, but point out that -1X beats all part scores.

[mike777]

seems Pass is clear, what am I missing?

[WasWinM]

If partner was willing to play 3H, then he or she is on their own with this double. I have nothing left to say, at least in the bidding.

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2026-July-10, 10:02, said:

The double is convertible and I am in a tough spot.

That's what my partner was thinking too: they chose 4♥.

P_Marlowe, on 2026-July-10, 10:10, said:

Assuming you think East is experienced, what are your options?

Bidding 4H, a contract both of you rejected or Pass.

I would Pass.
....

mike777, on 2026-July-10, 12:27, said:

seems Pass is clear, what am I missing?

WasWinM, on 2026-July-10, 12:36, said:

If partner was willing to play 3H, then he or she is on their own with this double. I have nothing left to say, at least in the bidding.

That's what I expected partner to think.
We both already said no to 4♥.
But partner saw it differently so I desired a sanity check.

[pescetom]

Here is the full board.

MP

---

Not surprisingly, 4♥-1 scored badly although not a real disaster.
But 3NTx-3 on a heart lead would have been a national top.

[DavidKok]

How would 3NT-3 have scored?

[jillybean]

I hope south joins bbf

[bluenikki]

pescetom, on 2026-July-10, 09:50, said:

MP

---

South is a beginner and was clearly very uncomfortable about 3♦, next round took the plunge to 3NT.
How do you read partner's double and what is your call?

Why would this not be the classic "they're bluffing. Pass and lead a heart?"

The important part is the lead direction.

[pescetom]

DavidKok, on 2026-July-12, 10:06, said:

How would 3NT-3 have scored?

Somewhere between 69% (-140) and 85% (-170), at national level.
But I had no reason that I can see to expect -3.

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2026-July-12, 10:08, said:

I hope south joins bbf

Sometimes I suspect south already posts as @jillybean

But FWIW south is regularly informed about bbf and other forums and just grunts and goes back to watching tennis.
In any case I prefer to have independent judgement of what is right, it's all too easy to convince each other or give in today because tomorrow.

[jillybean]

How do I get bbo extractor to extract 3nt contracts from my team games for the last 4 months?