Interesting Call

[ASkolnick]

You have the following hand:

 

Q

Qxxxx

QTxxx

xx

 

The auction goes:

1♣-Dbl-P-1♥ (Some argument for 2)

3♣-3♥-P-4♥ (Possible 4 Diamonds might be better)

4♠-P-P-???

 

Your call?

[whereagles]

5♥. This is a double fit deal.

[Hanoi5]

4♠ is such a weird bid that I'll just let them play there. Partner might have 4 and it can be a misunderstanding or mechanical mistake.

[skjaeran]

I'm passing this. Strange auction, and I've done enough, I think.

[mtvesuvius]

Pass, partner has 4♠ and LHO is at least 6-5... If not we are headed for a good board. Bidding 5♥ is asking for too much.

[jdonn]

Pass, partner has 4♠ and LHO is at least 6-5... If not we are headed for a good board. Bidding 5♥ is asking for too much.

6-5 and rebid 3♣? I'd bet cash he is 4-7, I can't think of any other shape that makes sense. But I'll pass, too bad partner couldn't double.

[jdeegan]

♥ :) 5♥ is most circumstances

It would help to know the vul and type of scoring, but recall that partner bid 3♥ facing, for all he knew, four small hearts and out. Then he did not double 4♠ which means he isn't sure of beating either 4♠ or 5♣ or, perhaps, both.

Now at MP's there is a premium on guessing exactly right, so 4♠ down one might be a BIG winner. It would be a bid worth considering depending on one's feel of the table. In most other forms of contest, though, 5♥ will be, at worst, insurance. Plus, I think it might make.

Jdonn thinks LHO is 4-7 in the black suits, and this sounds about right. According to LOTT they have 8 or 9 spades and 9 or 10 clubs. We have 9+ ♥ and 8+♦. There is probably one negative adjustment in the spade suit. Considering the strong bidding by both W and N, I would guess 19+ tricks.

Bidding 5♥ figures to win when pard has a stiff club or only three spades. Bidding 3♥ and passing 4♠ is consistent with this. If he has the stiff club, then two aces and two red kings make 5♥ odds on. If he is 3-4-4-2, then they likely have 4♠.

[ASkolnick]

Sorry, for those who want to know, you are Vul they are not.

[Finch]

I had voted for bidding (in fact, I'd voted for bidding 5D), but now we're vul against not I'm having a slight rethink.

 

If partner couldn't double 4S, I expect it's making. It's possible that partner's take-out double is more like a 3=4=5=1 than a 4=4=3=2, and opener has hit 5-card support in dummy.

 

The problem with my save is that it might be 500, which would be a disaster at matchpoints. I'd quite like to see a simulation, because off the top of my head I can think of partner having this hand:

 

xxx

AK109

AKxxx

x

 

where 5H makes (unless declarer underleads a black suit to get a diamond ruff), and declarer is making 5S

 

or this hand

 

10xxx

AKxx

KJx

Ax

 

on which we should be defending 4S, possibly doubled (it's not obvious that partner would double with that)

[jdonn]

or this hand

 

10xxx

AKxx

KJx

Ax

 

on which we should be defending 4S, possibly doubled (it's not obvious that partner would double with that)

It's quite obvious partner would not double with that.