Tactical or constructive?

[HeartA]

You pick up AKQJxxx Jx KQ Kx. white/white at imps it goes p p 1H to you. Opps are the type who might open light. What is your plan?

Since my LHO opened, my CK could be wasted, Besides, my DKQ doubleton doesn't look good. But still, I have 19 HCP and 8 playing tricks, I would double anyway.

[Guest Jlall]

At the table I Xed, which you will know is very against my grain if you know me at all B) I like to bid 4S heavy and I like to bid 1S. Here X seemed best to me. My hand has very decent defense, and pretty low offense all things considered. 3S might well be the limit of this hand, and I am unlikely to need to shut out a 5 level save by my opponents. I rejected 1S because if I later bid 3S partner will have the wrong idea about my hand (he will be thinking more shape and less HCP and defense). I thought doubling and then bidding the appropriate number of spades described my overall hand strength well as well as meeting the defensive requirements of the bid and would get partner into play. Partner bid 2C, RHO bid 2H and I now bid 3S which I thought was a good auction. With an ace and out partner would definitely bid game on this auction. Anyways, thought it was kind of interesting since I am usually a 1S or 4S bidder in this type of situation.

[awm]

Actually this particular hand was pretty interesting. Take a look at the opponents hands:

 

[hv=n=sxhakxxxxdajcqjxx&s=sxxhqdxxxxxcaxxxx]133|200|[/hv]

 

At my table, playing against Justin, 1♥ was opened and he doubled. I was opener's partner, and with no clear bid I passed.

 

Now Justin's partner bid 2♦, my partner bid 2♥, and Justin bid 3♠. Again I have no clear call. The 2♥ bid seemed fairly normal on partner's cards, but it doesn't promise a great hand. And of course I have no real heart fit and an ace, with Justin showing a huge hand. I passed again, Justin's partner raised to 4♠ and they played there, going down.

 

At the other table, Justin's hand bid 4♠. Now opener decided to balance with a double (perhaps aggressive but not unreasonable) and my hand bid 4NT for minors. Opener picked clubs, and the player with Justin's hand did well not to double since 5♣ was making.

 

Strange that the cheaper call (double) kept us from finding our club fit whereas the "more preemptive call that makes us guess" (4♠) actually allowed the club fit to be found.

[brianshark]

I hate 4♠, so so much. Punts have their place, but this one is done for all the wrong reasons.

 

The 2 reasons you take up loads of bidding space by pre-empting or punting are:

1. If you can't find out scientifically whether game makes, but the odds favour it, then punt it.

2. If opps 'own the hand' and you want to take away their bidding space, then you pre-empt and force them to guess.

 

Now look at this situation (in post 1):

 

Sitting with your stack of points, and defensive values, it's a fair assumption that your partnership 'own the hand'. If you jump to 4!s, you are doing the opps work for them... you are forcing yourself to guess (between partial, game or slam / or between declaring or defending over a sac) without them having to lift a finger.

 

By way of analogy: Consider if you are in 1st seat with 17 pts and 6 good spades... the odds are that 4S is the best contract, probabilistically. But you don't just punt 4!s with that "just in case opps find a good sac or learn what to lead" and the like, you are likely to own the hand so you bid slowly, preserve bidding space, and find the optimal spot... and hope the opps don't get in your way as they will do the opposite.

 

You definately don't want to pre-empt your partner, as he could be broke, or have enough for slam and there is a fairly easy way to find out. Plus, you want to find out about his hand to make the "bid on or double their sacrafice" decision... or better yet, describe your hand and let him make the call.

 

I will involve partner in this auction by doubling then bidding 3♠. I also have respect for 3♥ if it asks for a stopper for 3NT in your methods. In fact, I almost think it's better now that I think about it more.