jdonn Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Yes, the insane degree of more than a stopperless 4 count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnasher Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Over 4♦, one of 4♥ and 4♠ ought to show a flexible hand such as partner had. I'm not sure what's normal, but I think 4♠ should show this hand, with 4♥ being a slam try for diamonds. That leaves no way to show a very strong one-suiter at the four level, but I think it's right on frequency grounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenrexford Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Strange that the discussion never seems to involve comparison issues. The issue is not what your result will be as far as hundreds of points lost. The issue will be what your result will be compared with the other person or people with this issue. If any action will propel you into the stratisphere, then the question is which is least likely to do so or which allows you to exit earlier at the lowest level. If 3NT, for example, will be assumed to show a safe X HCP, X-a being in hearts, then partner will (a.) devalue his shortness value in hearts and (b.) need roughly 32-X to pursue slam. If he doesn't have that, he passes 3NT. If 3♠ will be assumed to show a safe Y HCP, then partner will assume that he needs 32-Y total points to pursue slam. His total point will be whatever he has in HCP that would be relevant to slam consideration in notrump PLUS whatever he has in distributional values. So, one question is whether the safe expectation as to X is more than the safe expectation of Y plus his distributional value. Another question, though, is which option will allow the best escape. If 3♠ will yield a call like 4NT as RKCB, you are playing 5♠. If 3NT yields a 4NT bid, you might play 5♦. If 3NT yields a minor call (4♣ or 4♦) meant as forcing, you can pass and play there (or correct a doubled 4♣ to 4♦). So, a call that allows more chances to run to the best strain at the lowest level is better than a call that will also propel us into the stratosphere but one level higher or in an inferior strain. What my call actually should show is completely irrelevant, as we are not remotely shooting for a plus. What my call should show is only relevant as a prediction of how partner will react and how much space that reaction and how many necessary calls it will take to get to a pass from partner. I'd much rather show even a slammish hand despite having a 4-count with no stoppers than 0-8 with spade preference if on the first I end up in 4♦X but on the second route I end up in 5♠X. I mean, if I could actually bid 4♣ Gerber and expect partner to show four Aces with a 4♦ call, I might do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whereagles Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I think that dbl 4♦4♠ is perfectly ok. Pard cannot have a pure 1-suiter, otherwise he could have bid a direct 4♠ over the pree, despite the risk of burying slam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.