take a position

[Apollo81]

All Red MPs.

 

♠J10xx

♥Qx

♦xx

♣AKJxx

 

(1♦)-3♥-(3NT)-?

[iggygork]

All Red MPs.

 

♠J10xx

♥Qx

♦xx

♣AKJxx

 

(1♦)-3♥-(3NT)-?

I am torn. I convinced myself that pass, double, and 4♥ could all be right, depending on who pard is and who the opps are. I will bid 4♥, expecting it to be a good sac against 3NT (lose 1-2 spades, 2 diamonds, 1 heart).

[pbleighton]

Tough problem.

 

I think they can probably make 3NT, and we are probably only down 2 in 4H, so I bid 4H.

 

But two "probables" = no clue.

 

Peter

[kenrexford]

The one call I would never consider is 4♥.

 

If I bid over 3NT, 4♣ is my call. We can defend diamonds, or even spades, much better with a club lead, undoubtedly. So, if the opponents bid above our 4♥ contract, partner will know what to lead.

[whereagles]

What he said :P

[mikeh]

unless partner has a stiff ♣, 4♥ cannot logically be down more than 500... red partners don't bid 3♥ on 6 card suits when lacking our Q and RHO's A or K.

 

so if they make 3N, we have to bid.

 

if they compete to 5♦ over 4♥, we need to bring the ♣ lead into play, so if we bid, 4♣ seems clear. While 4♣ will not be a dream contract if it ends the auction, it rates to make some tricks :P And when it gets doubled, we run to 4♥.

 

And, oddly enough, if both opps have really stretched, maybe we can make game!

 

LHO Qxx x AKQxxx xxx RHO Axx Axx Jxxx Qxx Partner K9x KJ10xxxx x xx

 

Add to this the choice of leads problem (do we lead ♣s hoping for a quick set which is needed because they have 9 top winners outside of ♣s, or do we lead ♥s because a low ♣ either surrenders the 9th trick immediately, or costs us a tempo, or loses us the suit entirely when partner has a stiff), and I think the decision to bid is clear.

[Apollo81]

Pard actually held 9 AJ10xxxx xxxx xx

 

4♥ and 3NT go 1 down each.

 

I bid over 3NT, they doubled and then misdefended.

[kenrexford]

Those fourteen-card hands sure are hard to play. :)

 

I'm rather surprised that 3NT went down, even assuming that partner's hand was actually 1-7-3-2. The opps should be fairly-well placed to take one heart, three spades, and as many diamonds as they can cash. I would certianly not expect diamonds to split 4-4 on most days.

[HeartA]

Dbl is NOT an option for me. I would choose pass with 4H as a close alternative.

[Apollo81]

Those fourteen-card hands sure are hard to play.

1-7-4-1

[kenrexford]

Those fourteen-card hands sure are hard to play.

1-7-4-1

Now this gets more interesting. I did not expect the opponents to have missed a 4-4 spade fit and to have bid 3NT on such weak hands and such a poor heart stop without running diamonds.

 

The only justification for this seems to be that Responder has four lousy spades, suggesting the a spade double-finesse will work. That makes four spades by power, plus four diamonds (4-3). Add in the heart King for a ninth trick and, I assume, a club if the queen is in hand, and 4♠ makes.

 

Unless, of course, partner leads a club on opening lead or after winning his heart Ace, if that survives. If partner had held KJ10xxxx in hearts, a club lead off the rip might be necessary (club-club-club-trumppromo or such).