bid or double?

[jillybean]

Dealer: South Vul: NS Scoring: IMP ♠ T6 ♥ J63 ♦ AJ642 ♣ J94

 

West North East South

 

 -     -     -     Pass

 Pass  1♠    2♥    ?

 

 

 

Hi,

 

I can double or bid my ♦ here, i don't think pass in an option!

If I double I’d be happy to pass a ♣ or a ♦ bid from my partner, if I bid ♦ and partner cant pass or support ♦ Im likely forcing the auction too high.

 

What do the experts do here?

[Guest Jlall]

Jilly,

 

You are right that you cannot bid 3D. A freebid at the 3 level should show more values since it risks getting to such a high level.

 

You should just pass with this hand, I'm not sure why you don't feel that is an option. While you just need 6 points to respond at the 1 level, to make a negative X at the 2 level you need a little more (in either shape or HCP). Your heart holding is terrible and you may have a misfit. If partner passes out 2H I would be happy with that, and if he has short hearts he'll balance back in for you.

[awm]

Hmm why is pass not an option? I'd probably pass. Some points in favor of passing:

 

(1) You have three hearts. If partner also has three hearts and a fairly minimum hand, you probably can't make much but opponents may have trouble in 2♥. If partner has less than 3♥ he will often balance. It is more tempting to make a "pushy" double when you have the short hearts.

 

(2) Double might lead to a 4-3 club fit at the three level, probably not a happy contract, or to partner bidding 2NT on some balanced 12-13 count (also not happy).

 

(3) Your hand won't produce game unless partner has a lot extra, in which case partner will not pass 2♥. But if partner has a little extra, then doubling could easily get to a lousy game.

[HeartA]

pass, wtp?

[inquiry]

Neither

[jillybean]

Good grief, here I was thinking I am getting much better at passing, still some way to go. :P Ive got a 5 card suit, an ‘undervalued’ Ace and I hate passing.

If my p has opened weak the opps are going to bid again, I'm just competing thinking Im making it difficult for them, not us.

 

Swap a ♦J for a ♦Q and is this now enough?

[Guest Jlall]

I would still pass with the AQ of diamonds though the risk is higher. At some point your hand will become too strong to pass, and then you would usually take your chances with a X.

[EricK]

Good grief, here I was thinking I am getting much better at passing, still some way to go. :P Ive got a 5 card suit, an ‘undervalued’ Ace and I hate passing.

If my p has opened weak the opps are going to bid again, I'm just competing thinking Im making it difficult for them, not us.

 

Swap a ♦J for a ♦Q and is this now enough?

Doubling might make it easier for the opps not harder. For one thing it gives LHO an extra bid (redouble). Also, passing might put LHO in an awkward position if has a nice, but not great, hand without a ♥ fit.

 

I have found that it pays to pass on a lot of hands with 3 cards in RHO's suit and no fit for partner's suit. When it is our hand, partner usually competes and when it is theirs, they are often in the wrong contract. Obviously with a strong enough hand you have to make some positive sounding noise as letting them declare a bad part score undoubled won't compensate for our possible game.

[bid_em_up]

Good grief, here I was thinking I am getting much better at passing, still some way to go. :P Ive got a 5 card suit, an ‘undervalued’ Ace and I hate passing.

If my p has opened weak the opps are going to bid again, I'm just competing thinking Im making it difficult for them, not us.

 

Swap a ♦J for a ♦Q and is this now enough?

Pass is always an option.

 

This time it's a good one.

 

Good reasons for pass:

 

1) No real fit for partner.

2) Ratty suit.

3) Weak hand.

4) Partner may not have diamond fit.

5) Bidding will encourage partner (Do you really want partner bidding 3N?)

6) Partner may have 6+ spades and can bid 2S if LHO passes.

7) If it is our hand, partner will reopen with a double or bid again.

8) The 3 small hearts are a discouraging factor.

 

Good reasons for 3D:

 

1) Lead directional.

 

I cant think of any others. :)

 

Pass. Adding the diamond Q still isn't enough.

[jtfanclub]

There's one other thing (I know you asked what the experts did, so I didn't answer at first).

 

Let's suppose there's two passes, and partner wants to reopen. What is he going to expect you to have?

 

Well, if he has about a 14 count (which is average), he'll figure the overcaller for about 12, that leaves 14 points unaccounted for- 7 apiece for the two passes. You have 7. The other 3 hands have 8 spades, and the three hands other than the overcaller have 8 hearts. 16/3=about 5 cards in the majors. You have 5 cards in the majors. In fact, with 3 card support and a 7 count, you'd probably raise...so you probably have 3 hearts and 2 spades.

 

My point isn't that your partner should be psychic. It's that, because you have almsot exactly the hand that your partner should expect, there's really no point in sticking your neck out to confirm what he'd probably guess.