epic hand

[gwnn]

favorable MP's

 

Ax

KQJx

Qx

AQT9x

 

p-p-1♦-X

1♠-p-2♦-?

 

if you x partner bids 2♥. what does the second x show? what do you do over 2♥?

[goodwintr]

Did you say "You bid one diamond? I double one diamond," to make sure partner would understand that this was a penalty double?

[gwnn]

ARGH sorry messed up the minors, lol./

[bill1157]

I think I would overcall 1N in the first place. X of 2D shows hearts and clubs. Now pass 2H.

 

Bill

[kenrexford]

I think I would have overcalled 2♣ (but I understand 1NT).

[goodwintr]

Second double (now that diamonds have become clubs :( ) just means the original double was very good, certainly with hearts and clubs, and probably with spades as well. Partner's two hearts, when he couldn't act over one spade, says he hasn't got much, and maybe hasn't got anything. Pass and hope for the best.

[Guest Jlall]

X now then pass 2H is easy. The first X was questionable but paid off.

[mikeh]

1. The second double showed the same hand, more or less, as the first double, but with extra values: I'd expect a decent 16 with 4=4=1=4 as the prototypical second double. It is NOT just hearts and clubs, because the initial double showed the other 3 suits OR a very strong hand. A strong one-suiter wouldn't double 2♦, it would bid its suit (including spades... otherwise the opps get to psych with profit). And powerful 2-suiters have two-suited overcalls available.

 

So the second double is another takeout of diamonds. We can even play 2♠ if that is partner's choice.. he has, say, Jxxxx xx xxx xxx, what else should he bid? Of course, we'd hate that on this hand, which is one reason the first double was suspect, and the second one also.

 

2♥ by partner is natural (surprise!) and WEAK.

 

A good player would not wait for 7 or 8 points to bid 2♥ over 1♠.. certainly not for a GOOD 7 or 8 points, and I think most would bid 2♥ on a 4 or 5 count with a 5 card suit.

 

So the pass then 2♥ is a weakness bid, and our hand is not exactly 'epic'. It is an easy pass of 2♥.. we rate to lose 2♦ and a spade early, and making game thereafter requires a lot of luck, not to mention that even if both round Kings are onside, we may not be able to get to partner's hand to take a finesse.

 

Finally, I would not have doubled. Just exactly what call were you making over partner's 1♠?

 

Yes, this is a good hand, but it isn't good enough (nor is the suit) to double then bid clubs. I would overcall and then either go quietly or make a call that gets hearts back into the picture.