In competition...

[miguelm]

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=sxhjxxxxdaqxxckxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Your LHO deals and it goes:

 

 

1♠ - 2♣ - 2♠ - ?

 

 

You have the following options, please rate them 3; 2; 1; 0:

 

1 - Double.

 

2 - 3♣

 

3 - 3♥

 

4 - 3♠

 

 

Thx in advance :)

[ArtK78]

Assuming that double is responsive (which is, in my opinion, the majority view), this hand appears perfect for a double. You have both unbid suits and support for partner's suit.

 

The hand is not good enough to force to game (or, at the very least, 4♣) via a 3♠ call.

 

The heart suit is not good enough nor the hand strong enough to merit a bid of 3♥.

 

All in all, double seems exactly right.

 

Second choice - 3♣.

 

I don't like 3♠ or 3♥ at all.

[pclayton]

For me a responsive double has nothing to do with support, as a matter of fact it tends to deny support.

 

If I'm playing transfer advances and can show a good raise of partner's suit, I would bid 2N. This hand looks a little funny for a 3♠ call to me.

 

Not playing transfers I think I would double to see if hearts are in the game, and raise clubs later if pard does something else. This all may be moot if LHO bounces in spades.

[Apollo81]

Double. If partner can bid a red suit, then I want to be in game.

[Halo]

We are in game investigation zone.

 

Double = 10

 

Everything else fails to score at all (not even 0).

[655321]

Double seems normal.

The hand is way too good for 3♣, which could be very weak on this auction.

Bidding 3♥ looks more likely to attract a ♥ lead against a final ♠ contract than to get us to 4♥.

3♠ is too much.

I would rank them (best to worst):

Double, daylight, 3♥, 3♠, 3♣.

[jdonn]

We are in game investigation zone.

 

Double = 10

 

Everything else fails to score at all (not even 0).

Agree 100%. How can this not be a double?

[Codo]

We are in game investigation zone.

 

Double = 10

 

Everything else fails to score at all (not even 0).

Agree 100%. How can this not be a double?

Double has a risk: IF LHO jumps to 4 Spade, things ar muddier for your partnership then after a sign of fit.

So there is at least a reason for 3 Spade or 3 Club, because I am with Phil that a responsive double tend to deny a fit.

 

But as both alternatives have flaws, I still hope that double will bring us to the right track.

 

SO X, 3 Cllub, 3 Spade, 3 HEart

[gwnn]

double is nice, 3♠ is almost good but my values are a bit too thin, 3♣ is very very very weak compared to what i've got.

[Guest Jlall]

Double is obvious, if I raised clubs it's a clear 3♠ bid. 3♣ is one of the alltime underbids I have seen. If the queen of diamonds was another spade, making a much worse xx Jxxxx Axx Kxx it would be more than is needed for 3♣.

[Finch]

We are in game investigation zone.

 

Double = 10

 

Everything else fails to score at all (not even 0).

Agree 100%. How can this not be a double?

Double has a risk: IF LHO jumps to 4 Spade, things ar muddier for your partnership then after a sign of fit.

So there is at least a reason for 3 Spade or 3 Club, because I am with Phil that a responsive double tend to deny a fit.

 

But as both alternatives have flaws, I still hope that double will bring us to the right track.

 

SO X, 3 Cllub, 3 Spade, 3 HEart

If it continues x 4S P P I shall bid 5C. pas de probleme (add grave accent).

[Fluffy]

Double 3

3♠ 2

3♣ 1 (but close to 3♠)

3♥ 0

 

 

 

But if I was a passed hand things would be pretty different

 

3♠ 3

3♥ 2

Double 1

3♣ 0

[miguelm]

First of all, thx all for your contributions :)

 

That hand came up during an Imps game some time ago while playing with an Expert, or a so called....

 

The hand I posted was his hand actually, and I was astonished when he argued that 3H was clear and mandatory.

 

So I was the 2C overcaller, and I am usually a partner you can trust, especially when it comes to 2nd level overcalls.

My hand was:

 

Ax

K

Jxxx

AQxxxx

 

After 3H from partner, which IMHO is absolutely game forcing, fearing we didn't have nine tricks on top (if I only knew about partner's C King) I came up with the strang idea of trusting partner's bid and went for 4H.

 

I am also for the double (coz' its the only way to bring the Heart suit in), but I believe it is very close to 3S.... that Club King worths more than an Ace after partner's 2C :)