tzigesh

I agree... If opponents haven't ask, the UI would be still because of hesitation. But I really think E has no logical alternatives, he can not pass 4H after his 3H bid, it should be game forsing. If S passes 3H, and let's say W shows no stopper H with 3S... will now E bid 4C, or 5C? I think that's the question that should be investigated by the poll, and according to the poll made the decision. I would bid 5C, that's why I would leave the 5C made by E, regardless of his partner hesitation and bad explanation.

Dear avoscill, I think your partner made a mess of it, but still you have all the rights to bid 5C. Bid 3H is pretty strange, but I find it very very good, showing at least 8 tricks in NT, showing (possible) all other stoppers except H stopper and asking partner for the stopper, something like 'Gambling 3NT' but a little bit stronger because of opponent opening. I think that after 3H, you have only two way forward... either to leave the partner in 3NT if he has H stopper, or to bid 5C, so partner's hesitation doesn't influence at all your natural bidding flow, it's clear cut that after 3H you will play the game, either 3NT or 5C. Your opponents made by themselves a problem here by asking your partner what 3H means, because it's pretty obvious that here is a case of logical bid, not agreement bid. If they would have not ask, then here will be no problem. Your partner hesitation is quite normal, I would say quite expected after your 3H, and opponent 4H immediately after, he is in strange situation after totally normal opening 1H.

http://www.pohrani.com/f/r/rN/1TswOvxy/image2.jpg Another bidding problem from our last night club tournament. W opened 1♦, N intervened 1♥, E followed with 1NT, and S raised to 2♥. W now said 2♠ showing strong hand with 5+♦ and 4♠, 16-19 HCP following by two passes, and 3♥ by S. W is now again on turn, and he hesitated for about 10 seconds and passes. N passes and now E said 3♠ which is our questionable call, no matter that now W followed with 4♠. Is it legal for E to raise to 3♠ after partner hesitation, even though he already showed strong hand with diamonds and spades? Thanks again. :)

http://www.pohrani.com/f/w/H8/3xZg4bRk/image1.jpg * - not alerted, NS play Michaels in defense so this 2♦ was meant like real 2♠ Michaels, but with possibility to stay in 2♥ if partner is weak. N meant to bid Michaels, S understood overcall in diamonds, because 1♦ was only better minor... After the auction, W asked what was 2♦, and S responded that it was diamonds, not Michaels. Maybe N should of empty the S seat and and ask N what it was, or this should me made by N and then explain to the opponents what he meant by 2♦ bid. But with his hand (and the dummy-s hand) E has an idea what it was 2♦ bid (especially after the lead and the ♦Q holding). However, lead was singleton ♦, small from the dummy, and Q♦ taken by S. S now returns (singleton) ♥, and declarer takes ♥A, making 3 round of spades, and playing K of diamonds. When S took A♦, W starts repeatedly yelling at S, calling him a cheater, calling him a liar, telling to him and his partner that they cheat all the time, behaving like a mad man for much more than a few seconds. That all happened when he is set to go down one because at this point the ♣ return is inevitable. S could not believe what was happening on the table, but instead of stopping the play and calling TD (we played small club tournament, 4 tables, no TD), he now doesn’t see anything because of the yelling, didn't see that his partner is void in ♦ because of this mad man and returns ♦ instead of inevitable ♣. Now W instantly calmed down because he now sees 2♣ discards on 2 high ♦ making the contract, after this huge verbal excess. Is it possible to continue with the play after such an excess? What to do with this board? What to do with this mad man? Thanks for your opinions.