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Bidding after a takeout double-2


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Pass

 

Partner had several choices to describe his hand:

 

The double and single raise shows a good hand: worth about a King more (maybe in playing strength as much as hcp) than a normal, minimum-range double. However, it is weaker than a cue-bid and is definitely not forcing.

 

 

These 2/1 non-jump advances of takeout doubles are a problem area in standard bidding, because jumping to the 3-level is risky on a 4 card suit even with a good 9-10 hcp, so our range for 2 is much wider than the range shown by, for example, an advance of 1 to a takeout double of a lower 1 level suit opening.

 

But regardless of the range shown, the single raise is typically played as range-asking: pass if you are in the lower half of the range, make an intelligent bid if you are mid-range or higher.

 

(I know that there are some fine players who espouse a raise of partner's advance of 1 major with all doubling hands holding 4 card fit, but that is not the traditional standard, and I think it is still (deservedly, in my view) a minority position... but I don't think that approach applies here... )

 

So the question is how do we feel about this hand?

 

Frankly, I feel pessimistic.

 

We have short, weak trumps. Our stopper, altho assured, is slow, and we lack any Aces or Kings. We have a lot of spades to get rid of in 5s, and East may be in a position to overruff unless we pull trump, which of course means we can't ruff as many s anyway.

 

It is difficult, for me anyway, to picture a hand that makes game good.

 

x AJ10x AKxx AQxx would work, but I think that is a bit rich: I'd bid 2, not 3. x AJxx AJxx AQxx is more like it, and while game has chances, I'd rather not be there.

 

So I pass.. but I consider my hand near max for the call.

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3. Bid my card for partner.

 

I have two cards for partner. I don't care whether they are Aces, Kings, or Queens. Whatever I have is what partner is missing.

 

I also have a stiff. That's four covers. What the heck does partner need? My four covers add up to 11 tricks if partner has 7. If he actually raised to 3 with a 7-loser hand (very strange), then he can bid 4 and we will play it there.

 

Maybe partner has the hand I jumped to 3NT on, not expecting that clubs would be so friggin' wide open? Something like Ax-AKxx-AK10xx-xx? Five losers. We end up winning five diamonds on power, three hearts, and a spade, for nice tricks on power. We surely take a 10th with a club ruff. If hearts are not 3-3 and diamonds are not 2-2, we probably still make this, using an established spade for a heart pitch.

 

Passing is sick.

 

Counting points is silliness. You have four covers. Partner did not explore 3NT; he raised diamonds. You don't raise 2 to 3 because you like your chance at 3NT. If this is a "low-end" hand, then I suppose the "much better" Axx-xxx-Axxx-xxx looks more appealing? That eight-count is trash in comparison to the actual hand.

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This is very close IMO, between pass and 3.

At the table I think I'd pass - see Mike's post.

 

I guess this is the same hand as shown in another thread, where partner's got Ax AKxx AKxxx xx, and 5 is a good contract, but not laydown.

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How does 2 Q's and a stiff equal 4 cover cards?

 

I could buy 3; assuming pd has length & values where I have Q's and length w/o values where I have a stiff.

 

But how do you count 4 cover cards?

I'll grant that a stiff and two queens probably is three, but may be four. That was a tad hyperbolic. I have that tendency sometimes.

 

Nonetheless, I made up for it with an absurd construction of a plausible 7-loser 3 call. The reality is that 3 should show something extra, usually 5-6 losers, 6 being questionable. Three covers, even, is enough.

 

If I bid 3, showing a card, partner will know if a slow heart value is working.

 

If he replies 3, I'll bid 4, denying a spade honor value and denying a club honor value (why not bid 4?), which will imply (because I must have something) diamond honor value(s) and/or club distribution values.

 

If he bids 3NT, I have a decision to make. If I decide to move that contract out, 4 has to be shortness.

 

In sum, then, I have three assured covers, and sometimes four.

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This is very close IMO, between pass and 3.

At the table I think I'd pass - see Mike's post.

 

I guess this is the same hand as shown in another thread, where partner's got Ax AKxx AKxxx xx, and 5 is a good contract, but not laydown.

Also a very close decision for me, but I pass as well.

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