Double !

[han]

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=sahk10xxxdk9xxcaxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

I went for a big number with the above hand. The auction was 1S-p-2S to me, and I bid 3H, ouch!

 

Pretty clear now to me that I should have doubled instead. How clear do you think that is? How much would the heart suit need to change before you would bid 3H?

 

btw, My partner was trying to help as much as possible, even his name said Double !

[Elianna]

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=sahk10xxxdk9xxcaxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

I went for a big number with the above hand. The auction was 1S-p-2S to me, and I bid 3H, ouch!

 

Pretty clear now to me that I should have doubled instead. How clear do you think that is? How much would the heart suit need to change before you would bid 3H?

 

btw, My partner was trying to help as much as possible, even his name said Double !

I think that you'd have to make my heart heart suit something like AKTxxx to bid 3H instead of doubling.

[mike777]

KQT9xx, AKxxxx, etc for me.

 

but these things are always easier away from the table.

[Guest Jlall]

Agree X is clear. I think I'd X with any hand that had this shape.

[Winstonm]

With this shape and HCP range, I can't come up with a hand that I'd bid 3H unless maybe x, AKQJx, xxxx, Axx. Even with x, AKQxx, Jxxx, Axx I prefer the double.

 

Winston

[000002]

3suiters here , not ♥only

[joker_gib]

Yes, ♥ suit is awful for that position and you have support for all other suits so Dbl is clearly better, imho

 

Alain

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

if you bid, and bidding is not clear cut,

double is better, 3H should show a fairly

solid 6 card suit and something on the side,

because they will kill you, if it is right.

 

... Depending on the strength of your

opponents you do not even disturb there

constructive bidding, because they will have

maximal doubles to invite.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

 

PS: You should also ask the oppoenents, if they

play constructive raises, which would make bidding

even more dangerous.

[whereagles]

Do you have to bid NOW? Yes, because pard, with lenght in spades and weakish hand, will never dare to reopen.

 

What to bid? Double is probably better because it doesn't put the eggs all in one basket, like 3♥ does. Besides, if pard has a minor suit to run to, he'll have to bid it at the FOUR level.

[inquiry]

Bidding is clear, or they will steal you blind. But the bid should be double (of course). And, no equal level conversion. If partner doesn't bid ♥, they maybe lost. That is harsh, but introducitong hearts with your sides first bid at the three level vul on King-ten empty fifth at imps is, as Martha Stewart would say if she played bridged... "(not) a good thing."

[P_Marlowe]

Do you have to bid NOW? Yes, because pard, with lenght in spades and weakish hand, will never dare to reopen.

 

What to bid? Double is probably better because it doesn't put the eggs all in one basket, like 3♥ does. Besides, if pard has a minor suit to run to, he'll have to bid it at the FOUR level.

If you want to bid, do it, but accept 800-1100.

 

How high are the chance, that you have game?

If you believe the risk is worth it, go ahead,

but I would pass.

Of course if you do it regular, ask the opponent

to have merci with you, and that they do not double

you at the 3 level.

 

I may be tempted, if the Ace of spades would be

the Ace of hearts / diamonds, but it is not clear,

switch the mayors and double is clear,

but then ... I have the chance to play on the 2 level.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[han]

I would never dare,

to pass on this hand,

as I would be afraid that,

I would be known as somebody of whom,

you can easily steal. :)

 

As a side question, if I do double, what should partner's 2NT call be? Should it be lebensohl (G/B 2NT), or should it show 2 different places to play?

 

I prefer the second treatment, so that you can double more often with less than perfect shape and still land on your feet. My honorable partner prefers to play 2NT as lebensohl here, and I can certainly see the merits of that treatment. What do you prefer?

[P_Marlowe]

I would never dare,

to pass on this hand,

as I would be afraid that,

I would be known as somebody of whom,

you can easily steal. :)

 

As a side question, if I do double, what should partner's 2NT call be? Should it be lebensohl (G/B 2NT), or should it show 2 different places to play?

 

I prefer the second treatment, so that you can double more often with less than perfect shape and still land on your feet. My honorable partner prefers to play 2NT as lebensohl here, and I can certainly see the merits of that treatment. What do you prefer?

Hi,

 

I would suggest, to play 2NT as kind of scrambling,

i.e. the 2NT bidder asks for the better minor.

If you go in, at least you should have a safety net.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

 

PS: S.J. Simon wrote in his famous book once,

"The Poker player who never gets bluffed, is a losing

player, similar, If you dont allow the opponents to rob

you once, you will loose more in the end."

 

This statement was meant with regards to how to handle

psych bids, but it easily fits here".

[pclayton]

Its tougher at MPs where -1400 is just another zero. A 5-3 heart fit can make all the difference.

 

At Imps - we should be able to find our best fit with a scrambling 2N by pard.

 

Yeah I pre-balance with this hand. In spite of my anti-OBAR mentality, I don't expect pard to reopen on his balanced 6 count.

[Guest Jlall]

2N scrambling for sure. It's more important to get to the right suit than the right level (which you can guess with some accuracy) especially after theyve opened and responded.

[cherdano]

Double! was 100% clear. I would even be tempted to double with 2=5=3=3 and would most likely do so with 2=3=(53). What is everybody else's default bid with these shapes (assuming you are strong enough to take action)?

 

Arend

[Guest Jlall]

5332 with 2S my default action is X.

[luke warm]

klinger: SITES TOXIC

 

Short

In

The

Enemy's

Suit?

 

Take

Out

X

Is

Correct

 

and he does it with less than perfect shape, though with more strength for off shape hands

[Fluffy]

I need a 6th ♥ or maybe KQJ10 althou that is close and maybe will double as well.

[000002]

W~~~~~N~~~~~~E~~~~~S

1♠-----PASS------2♠----DBL

PASS-----2NT？

 

GB2NT HERE:

1)north (only )40% has a 4cards longest suit;and 1/4 is ♥,1/4 is ♠

2)opps 16 hcp(total) is likely

3)too hard to penalize me unless openner redbl,but u can bid pass to show a flat hand now

 

good regards

[P_Marlowe]

W~~~~~N~~~~~~E~~~~~S

1♠-----PASS------2♠----DBL

PASS-----2NT？

<snip>

3)too hard to penalize me unless openner redbl,but u can bid pass to show a flat hand now

 

good regards

Another option is, that responder doubles showing

some defensive values, and after that ... game over.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[whereagles]

Do you have to bid NOW? Yes, because pard, with lenght in spades and weakish hand, will never dare to reopen.

If you want to bid, do it, but accept 800-1100.

 

How high are the chance, that you have game?

If you believe the risk is worth it, go ahead,

but I would pass.

Of course if you do it regular, ask the opponent

to have merci with you, and that they do not double

you at the 3 level.

Bridge is an attacking game, where being bold and aggressive usually grants you better rewards than acting passively and letting fate decide your score. I learned this from experience, not from books. The only risk of bidding here is tipping off a few keycards if opps end up in 4♠.

 

But, of course, butting-in doesn't mean you don't have to be careful. In this case, being careful means bringing the three open suits to play, not just hearts. Bidding 3♥ is probably too risky, yes. But doubling rates to be just fine.

[Blofeld]

I think it's a little unreasonable to say that that's the only risk, whereagles. I'm certainly going to double, but I accept that once in a while my doubling will result in us going for a number at the three level.

[whereagles]

Look, obviously things can go wrong every now and then. But to think about worst-case-scenarios every time one has a non-clear-cut decision is a quick and unpleasant way to be jerked off.