What is this double?

[Walddk]

With optimal defense, 4♥ goes for 500 which is not surprising and not worth as a possible phantom sacrifice. Who says dummy has ♠K?

Please tell how 4♥X goes 3 down (500) non vulnerable on any defence? EW can take a spade ruff, but then they won't get a diamond trick, or they can set up a diamond trick and the spade ruff vanishes.

 

Down 2.

 

Roland

[helene_t]

Oh yes, after the spade ruff there's one free spade for a diamond discard.

 

Maybe I should stop trying to do double dummy analysis, I always get it wrong.

[kenberg]

As I get it, the opening 2H showed some unspecified length in hearts (5+) and some unspecified strength (weak or maybe intermediate) and the double was designed to clarify the situation after which you were supposed to have the correct holding, draw the correct inferences, and make the correct call. Maybe next time.

[MFA]

It makes no sense at all to bid like the actual north.

[HeartA]

This is all sheer nonsense in my view.

Completely agree.

[helene_t]

Unlike most others, I don't think North's bidding was completely insane. If partner is known to open light in first seat and favorable vuln, 2♥ is probably a good contract. His hope is either to be allowed to play 2♥, or to push OW into an unmakeable contract. If he had doubled 2NT, or 3NT after a t/o double by East, I would have sympathy for him.

 

But after a direct 3NT overcall, his double is too speculative. East would normaly have a running minor and a single heart stop. Looking at North's holding it's probably an almost-running minor suit and a double heart stop. Now it's time to realize that the 2♥-strategy failed, EW are probably in the right contract. No big deal, if 3NT is right, our teammates will bid it as well.

[kenberg]

Unlike most others, I don't think North's bidding was completely insane. If partner is known to open light in first seat and favorable vuln, 2♥ is probably a good contract. His hope is either to be allowed to play 2♥, or to push OW into an unmakeable contract. If he had doubled 2NT, or 3NT after a t/o double by East, I would have sympathy for him.

 

But after a direct 3NT overcall, his double is too speculative. East would normaly have a running minor and a single heart stop. Looking at North's holding it's probably an almost-running minor suit and a double heart stop. Now it's time to realize that the 2♥-strategy failed, EW are probably in the right contract. No big deal, if 3NT is right, our teammates will bid it as well.

Perhaps you have a point about his bidding, but what do you think of his after the hand explanation of how his partner was supposed to work it all out and pull the double to 4H?

 

I played once, exactly once, with a guy like that. His bidding and play might suck but when it came to conjuring up explanations of why the bad results were all my fault he was an absolute genius.

[helene_t]

Perhaps you have a point about his bidding, but what do you think of his after the hand explanation of how his partner was supposed to work it all out and pull the double to 4H?

He took a gamble and it failed. Then it's time to say "sorry, partner" even if the gamle was reasonable. Which I doubt that it was, although it may depend on the style of the 3NT-bidder.

 

I don't see how South can be supposed to figure out that 3NT makes and that 4♥ is less of a disaster than 3NTx. Besides, if 3NT by agreement shows a solid minor, there's still the chance that West will run to 4♣.

 

But "it's always partner's fault" seems to be a law in bridge psychology.