Apollo81

I'd bid 5♣ also because both could be making. However I think it's a lot more likely that both are down.

If the doubling pair is good enough to make a stripe tailed ape double on purpose, then they should also be good enough to know not to do it in a weak field. Same thing goes for some sacrifices that are right in theory. In a weak field, if it's the opps' hand and they get a plus score, you're probably getting a bad score. You're definitely getting a bad score if they didn't screw up, even if the hand was easy. At the same time, when it's your hand, unclear, or when the defense is difficult you shouldn't have to work as hard to get a good score, which should more than offset the previous factor.

I would either bid 2♠ or 3♥ as North at the third call -- where the values are.

♠Axxx ♥AKxx ♦QJxx ♣x favorable, MPs 1♦-(2♣)-X-(2NT) ??

I'd bid 2♠. I would tend to interpret this double as takeout if undiscussed, and although that is less likely here, it's certainly not a lock that pard has a penalty double and I think there's a small chance 2♥ may make even if this is the case.

I don't like a 3♦ bid here. The suit is good but it's not solid, and we have length in RHO's suit. Hearts could also be our best strain. I'd bid 3♦ if you forced me to choose between that and pass.

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I would bid at any other colors.

5N pick a slam? Not clear to me whether pass should be forcing or not on previous round.

If asked, I would have said that there are 3.5 possible calls here: 2NT, 3♣, 3♥, and 3NT. I wouldn't have said 3♣ is a possible call since I think I could bid this on an 8 count, but apparently this isn't a universal view..?

Unfavorable, IMPs ♠KJ10x ♥AQ10xxx ♦--- ♣Kxx 1♦-(p)-1♥-(p) 2♦-(p)-2♠*-(4♣) 4♥-(p)-?? *game forcing

Oh wow, I just looked at the poll results. 11 doubles!!!!

Either that or they missorted their hand and had some hearts in with their diamonds. I actually saw this once. The guy had seven hearts and a diamond void but he had his hand sorted spades-hearts-clubs-hearts on the first round (thats what he claimed at least) Given the nonzero number of people who said they would double here, maybe I should try this tactic next time I have like 8 hearts.

Welcome to the forums One convenient way to format auctions is to put the opponents' bids in parentheses. Thus the auction you posed would be written: 1♦-(1♥)-1♠ Typically at most four calls would go on a line, for example 1♦-(1♥)-1♠-(p) 2♦-(p)-2♥-(p) 2NT-(p)-3NT-all pass This is commonly used and makes it clear who bid what in a competitive auction. You could write a similar non-competitive auction like 1♦-1♠ 2♦-2♥ 2NT-3NT pass

Is this really true? That would be the first time I have ever heard someone say this. Do you open 1 with these?

That 15% is IF partner has a small singleton and IF we declare notrump (or some minor contracts), and this is a bidding question so 15% is a lot different in this context than if we said "you know partner has a singleton diamond, what contract would you want to be in" where yes 15% would be huge.

Hmm, it looks pretty hopeless to me on a heart lead (assuming responder doesn't have an ace). Am I looking at the hand wrong? As long as responder doesnt have like Axxx of diamonds then it has decent chances on heart honor leads which is what will happen a lot of the time. Certainly not hopeless

Keep in mind that you need a 3-2 break with AKQxxxx which is only about 15% better than picking up AKJxxxxx

For the record, I think double says they made a mistake.

IMPs none vul ♠AQxx ♥Qxx ♦Axx ♣xxx 1♣-(p)-1♠-(p) 2♣-(2♥)-??

It doesn't look hopeless. What was the lead?

If I bid 2♠ and got doubled and went for too much and partner had 5 of them I would be really, really, really shocked.

I would settle for 2♠. I don't think 3♠X will go very well, even at favorable.

4♥, I wouldn't bid 5 over 4

1. 9-12 2. 2NT, especially considering the good minor honor positioning that is likely here. Just picture like A9xx of clubs or AJxx diamonds in partner's hand, mmmm 3. 3NT