the mystery of 3 hearts

[jim420]

:huh: This was the most puzzling play of a hand i've ever met so far

 

I was north holding ♠53 ♥AK8542 ♦942 ♣Q4 and I was the dealer.

I preempted 2♥ and the bidding went on

West North East South

- 2♥ P P

Dbl P 3♣ P

3♥ P P P

 

When it comes to the second round for west to bid, he bid 3♥. I thought it was some kind of convention that I dunno, and passed, until east thought for an exceedingly long time, and then also passed (!). South obviously passed.

 

At this moment, the contract was displayed... 3♥ West

Everyone went into confusion

In the chat, West said "????"

East doesn't respond, he was dumbstruck

I also said "????"

 

Amid the confusion, the computer asked me for the opening lead. I couldn't hink of anything better to do, so I drew trumps and led the ♥A

Dummy only has 2 hearts...and declarer played ♥7 from dummy, and then left out of fury

 

East said "What was that 3♥ about?"

 

Further investigation revealed this was what the full hand was

 

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=s53hak8542d942cq4&w=sak86hq9dakj5ck93&e=st97hj7dqt6ct8752&s=sqj42ht63d873caj6]399|300|Scoring: IMP

Contract: 3♥W

Opening lead: ♥A[/hv]

 

Anyone knows what's happening at and after the 3♥ opening? I haven't got a clue!

[Badmonster]

Ok, I'm an intermediate so please do not give the following undo weight.

 

When p does something odd and inprobable, it's important to stop and think. Don't pass p in an unplayable hand. 3h cannot be to play as you were holding more trump than the 3h bidder. West's bid was strange. Strange bids are usually forcing. Cue bids are forcing.

 

 

Here, I believe most people would play the cue as asking for a heart stopper for nt. Seeing the hand, I think west was saying, I have a huge hand.

[jim420]

Thanks for the fast reply...

Being a beginner, I didn't know this kind of forcing bid before :P That should explain what's happening...

 

p.s. This hand was never completed. After the declarer left, two ppl have entered the table and both left after seeing the hand for 2 seconds. Then my p (south) asked for a redeal.

 

Although I wasn't the pair playing that 3♥, this hand troubled all 3 of us for some time afterwards...

[jtfanclub]

West North East South

- 2♥ P P

Dbl P 3♣ P

3♥ P P P

Standard meaning would be asking for a heart stopper.

[SoTired]

I think the first question to ask yourself when partner makes a confusing bid is: "Can I pass?"

 

As you saw, many players' first instinct is to pass when partner makes a bewildering bid. But that is a terrible habit to get into. I think it would only take a few seconds thought for East to realize that West could not possibly want to play in 3H when the opps open a preemptive bid in hearts.

 

OK... So East can't pass... So what could 3H possible mean? Well, West is forcing East to bid again when East has promised nothing, so West must have a big hand. How big? Unknown, but big enough that West is forcing East to bid again even with zero points. West can't want East to bid a 3-card spade suit. If West had 5♠, West could bid that by themself. So 3S is out. East does not have a stopper in hearts, so 3N does not sound prudent, since if West had a big hand and a heart stopper, West could bid 3N themself. Nothing left to do but bid the only suit East has, pitiful as it is.

 

Final conclusion: East should have bid 4C.

 

Many players play a q-bid like that shows either a stronger raise than simply raising or jump raising OR a request for a stopper for 3N.

 

At the very least, 3H says, "Do something intelligent, partner." And "Pass" was not very intelligent.