hi-level decision

[mikeh]

You hold 5 10842 Q93 AK1043

 

You are red v white, playing with an expert, aggressive partner at imps against moderate opps, in a short swiss match.

 

Partner deals and opens 1♠. RHO overcalls 2N, for the minors.

 

You methods are that double is shows defence against at least one suit, and invites partner to participate in the auction... the drawback being that it establishes a forcing pass, such that if LHO bids 3♦, which is what you expect, and partner passes, you have to make a bid.

 

So, right or wrong, you pass.

 

LHO surprises you by bidding 4♦ and partner bids 4♥. RHO bids 5♦.

 

Your call. (BTW, pass would not be forcing in your agreements)

[jdonn]

I rarely abstain, but it's unfathomable to me that I didn't double 2NT. If 3♦ came back to me I would happily have doubled that.

 

Ok I still won't abstain. I bid 6♥. I have very high hopes for this hand, and the opponents are on a total guess that they could have a very cheap sacrifice, or that I might not even be making my slam. Additionally even if I am down off the top they may have to guess which minor to lead. Obviously partner has a very strong and distributional hand so I like my chances.

[pclayton]

Agree with Stewie here. 3♦ doubled should be a bloodbath on repeated trump leads if partner passes 3♦ and leaves the double in. Neither of these is compulsory.

 

But, I will check for key cards along the way. I'm not going to hang pard for being a little light with a 6-5.

[TimG]

But, I will check for key cards along the way. I'm not going to hang pard for being a little light with a 6-5.

How do you do that over the opponents' 5♦?

[kfay]

I bid 5♥.

 

 

Short swiss match going down in slam on known bad distributions could be very bad.

 

If I feel strongly that the other table will be in slam then I will bid slam.

[skjaeran]

I bid 5♥.

 

 

Short swiss match going down in slam on known bad distributions could be very bad.

 

If I feel strongly that the other table will be in slam then I will bid slam.

Missing a cold slam is almost equally bad if they bid it at the other table.

 

How can you have any strong feelings regarding the other table on this sort of hands?

 

I'll bid 6♥ for the same reasons Josh do.

[whereagles]

Slam is possible, but iffy to me (bad breaks lurking). Agree to 5♥ and to the initial pass over 2NT (though db is ok too).

[Mosene]

I bid 6 ♥ - apologize to partner if wrong - as far as partner knows, you have nothing. I also would double 2NT (although the singleton ♠ makes it a bit uncomfortable).

[Codo]

6 ♥ and I don't apologize. After all, Partner knows the pressure and that this is a difficult descission.

[brianshark]

Double of 2NT is clear. Why bother play penalty-oriented doubles if you aren't going to use it on a hand like this. I'm going to bid 5♥ after 5♦. I'm just not going to chance 6 because I think it likely pard will have a loser in each Major. Also tempted to double 5♦ because 5♥ may not make.

[nige1]

You hold 5 10842 Q93 AK1043

You are red v white, playing with an expert, aggressive partner at imps against moderate opps, in a short swiss match.

Partner deals and opens 1♠. RHO overcalls 2N, for the minors.

You methods are that double is shows defence against at least one suit, and invites partner to participate in the auction... the drawback being that it establishes a forcing pass, such that if LHO bids 3♦, which is what you expect, and partner passes, you have to make a bid.

So, right or wrong, you pass.

LHO surprises you by bidding 4♦ and partner bids 4♥. RHO bids 5♦.

Your call. (BTW, pass would not be forcing in your agreements)

• Over RHO's unusual 2N, I would _X.
  
• Now, _X = 10, 5♥ = 9, 6♥ = 8
  The partner of Josh, PClayton, Codo or Mosene will turn up with ♠ AKxxx ♥ KQJxx ♦A ♣ Qx
  My aggressive partner holds ♠AKQxxx ♥ Axxx ♦ K ♣ Jx
  

[jdonn]

You hold 5 10842 Q93 AK1043

You are red v white, playing with an expert, aggressive partner at imps against moderate opps, in a short swiss match.

Partner deals and opens 1♠. RHO overcalls 2N, for the minors.

You methods are that double is shows defence against at least one suit, and invites partner to participate in the auction... the drawback being that it establishes a forcing pass, such that if LHO bids 3♦, which is what you expect, and partner passes, you have to make a bid.

So, right or wrong, you pass.

LHO surprises you by bidding 4♦ and partner bids 4♥. RHO bids 5♦.

Your call. (BTW, pass would not be forcing in your agreements)

• 
   
   
  
• Over RHO's unusual 2N, I would _X.
   
   
  
• Now, _X = 10, 5♥ = 9, 6♥ = 8
  The partner of Josh, PClayton, Codo or Mosene will turn up with ♠ AKxxx ♥ KQJxx ♦A ♣ Qx
  My aggressive partner holds ♠AKQxxx ♥ Axxx ♦ K ♣ Jx
   
   
  

Your aggressive partner is also a misbidder. Why do you think all our partners have an honor in each minor anyway, or have any diamonds at all?