lrussell

Very sound advise.

I was directing an ACBL speedball on Sunday when this hand came up. BBO player atriald was sitting west. Declarer proceeded with a excellent line of play. Atriald found the winning defense at trick 10. [hv=pc=n&s=st753haqt874d8cak&w=skj82h9dq63cj5432&n=sa94hk653dak7c976&e=sq6hj2djt9542cqt8&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=p1cp1hp2hp4np5hp6hppp&p=c2c6cqcahah9h3h2h4c4hkhjc7c8ckc3s3s2sas6c9cth7c5d8d3dad2dkd4std6d7d5hqdqs5sks4sqsjs9d9]399|300|[/hv] Nicely done atriald. This rare defensive play has a name.

Caitlynne is correct: "in the absence of discussion is unequivocally penalty" In a BBO ACBL tournament however, absent any discussion, it's quite likely partner's double of 2♥ is a transfer to spades.

I (ACBL_07) direct many BBO ACBL tournaments. I believe BBO players do not pay money and intentionally delay on purpose. The overwhelming majority of hesitations in online bridge are due to software/computer/internet/connectivity issues. Some players may also have physical handicaps which hiders their ability to play. Perhaps we should all exercise a little more patience when players are slower than we we wish they were. As Joyce Meyer said "Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting."

3♥ works for me. Be nice to have a 4th spade but life isn't perfect. When we have a fit I've found it best to let partner know. 2♦ might work too.

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Two considerations: 1. If you play the sequence 1♠ - 2♦ - 3♣ shows extras then minimum 5♠/5♣ hands should be opened 1♣ 2. The quality of suits might come in to play as well. With ♠Jxxxx/♣AQJxx I'd open 1♣ and with ♠AQJxx/♣Jxxxx I bid 1♠ The example hand I'd open 1♠

I duck the spade because 1. Not everyone is in 6NT so making should be a decent score. I don't care about those in 7NT. 2. Not everyone got a spade lead. Those that didn't can just play on clubs. So it must be a better chance to hope to tie them when clubs are not 3-3 (64.5%) than hope to tie them when clubs are 3-3 (35.5%)

Personally I like a negative double as it keeps 3NT in play. Partner had ♠KQ9 ♥K87 ♦KJ763 ♣AQ They found the spade ruff in 5♦

Match Points You Vul - they Not ♠J 2 ♥Q 5 4 ♦A Q 10 8 5 2 ♣5 2 Partner opens 1♦(better minor) - RHO overcalls 3♠ Your call? (Double is negative. If you double what do you do if partner bids 4♥?)

I guess I forgot reason #4. They might bid 7♣. Silly me, I never considered that.

You pass for 3 reasons: 1. You don't want to tell them how to play the clubs. For example: ♣Q2 ♣A1087654 There are two equally good (72%) ways to play clubs for one loser: a) Low to ♣Q b) ♣2 from dummy inserting the ♣10 There are other combinations where a double will help declarer play the suit. 2. A weird auction for sure. 6♣ down is likely the same MP as 6♣-X down. Why bother? 3. You don't want them to run to anything. Take your top.

Agree with nige1 6♦ = 10, Pass = 9, 4♥ = 8, 4N = 6, 3N = 5.

3rd seat, none other.

2♦ - agree with 1eyedjack 110% (especially the comment about wrong-siding the NT)