Close call?

[paulg]

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=sxxhaxdatxxxcj9xx]133|100|Scoring: IMP

(3♠) 4♥ (4♠) ?

You are sitting South

Competent players in every seat - is this tough or easy? [/hv]

[helene_t]

5♥ could be right but I double. No, it isn't a close decision.

[kenberg]

Double could be right but I bid 5H. It's a close decision.

 

I couldn't resist the mirror response. Of course Helene may be right. I am guessing that she and I agree that the decision is mine, not partner's. Double is not "Do something intelligent" he already hopes that he has. Passing is not forcing. I am to choose where this plays, and I choose 5H. Could be wrong.

[zasanya]

I voted other .Although I want to be in 5 ♥,why not tell P that I have ♦ A?This is a tough decision as at the given vul, simply collecting penalty may be a good idea.

[pbleighton]

5H. Yes, it's close.

 

Peter

[skjaeran]

I double. 5♥ might be right, of cource, but IMO it's not close.

[jdonn]

I double but even this could backfire. Partner's 4♥ can be made very light for an overcall at a high level, since if he has 6 hearts then someone has to be able to bid it. In any case it is close between double and pass, 5♥ will make partner never want to overcall again.

[temp3600]

Pass, but X is tempting. I really dislike 5♥.

[goobers]

Double... it's not that close for me.

[the hog]

X. Not close.

[SoTired]

Dbl... not close...

[mr1303]

Double. Surely on this bidding it's going to be a few high cards and no clear-cut bid rather than a trump stack.

 

Partner can pull to 5H with the right hand.

[paulg]

Partner held

 

♠ Kx

♥ KQxxxx

♦ Jxx

♣ Ax

 

The hearts are 4-1 so there were nine tricks in both spades and hearts. I think jdonn has it right when the decision should be between double and pass, and that double is fairly clear.

 

p

[jchiu]

I actually held the companion hand at the other table, where they let me play 4♥.

 

Personally, I don't think it's close between double and pass on one end, and 5♥ on the other. However, I'm surprised with all the posters who choose double, nobody explicitly indicates that this double was responsive in nature. This certainly covers the case where partner strained to overcall, but double also gives him an easier decision about bidding again when he has a sound overcall.

[helene_t]

However, I'm surprised with all the posters who choose double, nobody explicitly indicates that this double was responsive in nature. This certainly covers the case where partner strained to overcall, but double also gives him an easier decision about bidding again when he has a sound overcall.

Interesting point. I thought it was more like penalty. Partner will probably remove it with zero defense, but he will have some defense most of the times. Not sure where to draw the line.

[Guest Jlall]

seems like a textbook X

[mike777]

Partner held

 

♠ Kx

♥ KQxxxx

♦ Jxx

♣ Ax

 

The hearts are 4-1 so there were nine tricks in both spades and hearts. I think jdonn has it right when the decision should be between double and pass, and that double is fairly clear.

 

p

Hmm the opp are at unfav vul yes and only have 9 spades but bid to the 4 level? I am reading this correctly? You said they were competent. If I knew they bid this way I would x but not knowing that I think this is very tough. They have fewer spades and we have fewer hearts than I expected for the bidding so far.

[whereagles]

dbl, regardless of it being pen, resp or takeout :blink:

[skjaeran]

As said earlier I double. And I don't think it's close.

To me this double just say that I believe this to be our hand. Partner will pass it most often, but take it out with an exceptional hand.

[pclayton]

Double.

 

Funny; I don't think its that close, but change an Ace to a Q and I pass. So its close in a sense I guess.

 

5♥ boggles me mind.

[kenberg]

Not only am I heavily outvoted, it also turns out I am wrong. Well!

[ucrman]

I used Bridge Buff to generate hands for the above auction, and these were the results for 20 deals.

 

13 had both 5H and 4S making

2 had 5H down and 4S making

3 had 5H making and 4S down

2 had both 5H and 4S down

 

I voted for 5H.

[mike777]

As a nonexpert here, just what am I allowed to know about the opp agreements and understandings in how they preempt when unfav vul? What questions should I ask or is it just clear to double here and not say a thing?

 

In this deal the opp had only 9 spades and 5 hearts at unfav, is this common enough, twice in a year, to be told that is how they preempt?

[jdonn]

I used Bridge Buff to generate hands for the above auction, and these were the results for 20 deals.

 

13 had both 5H and 4S making

2 had 5H down and 4S making

3 had 5H making and 4S down

2 had both 5H and 4S down

 

I voted for 5H.

I have a very strong feeling you made the conditions for the 4♥ bid too stringent. What were your constraints?

[ucrman]

I had no constraints. I actually used Visual Deal which is part of Bridge Buff. I just gave the auction and inserted the hand above as East. Bridge Buff decided the other hands.

 

In a recent team event, I held QJ,AJ98,AJ10764,7

None Vul

The bidding went 1C-3S-5C - I doubled and it made. 5S goes down 1 or 2.