Now what?

[awm]

♠AJx ♥AJ9xx ♦Axx ♣Ax.

 

Playing 2/1 at IMP teams, you open 1♥ in third seat vulnerable versus not. LHO overcalls 2♣, which passes back to you.

 

You balance with a double, LHO passes, and partner bids 2♦. This comes back to your side of the table. Now what?

[mikestar13]

You've shown this hand with your reopening X--pass now. Partner may have a 0-count.

[the hog]

Well you haven't shown this hand with a reopening double. I would double if you took an Ace away, of course.

However I still pass.

[mohitz]

What game? Pass.

[gwnn]

Now what? pass.

 

Is game possible? yes.

[Fluffy]

What Ron said, if we had a sure fit I'd raise but as it is, no thanks.

[andy_h]

No way am I passing this 18 count with 4 bullets, imps at red. Yes sure partner can have a zero count but I can also exaggerate that he can also have a 9 count with say 3154/3253/2254 (etc) shape unsuitable for a negative double. Give partner ♦KJxxx ♣Jxx and LHO may just give our ninth trick on the lead or ♥Qx ♦Q10xxx ♣Qxx or basically a scattered 6 count with a potential second club stopper (♣10xxx would do) which make game reasonable. Basically we are red at imps and I don't want to stop at a measly partscore without even attempting for a game bonus - maybe on a bad day partner removes our 2NT bid to 3♦ and we rest there which isn't the end of the world. I'm sure most people would balance with a dbl with a reasonable 11 count and short club and our hand has way more than that.

[Fluffy]

Andy if partner had 9 HCP don't you think he would not bid 2♦ like if he had zero?

[Siegmund]

I can't see much hope for 5D, and I am not volunteering 3NT with only 1 club stopper. Looks like a very clear pass to me, though I wouldn't be shocked if some game is makeable 1/4 or 1/3 of the time.

[andy_h]

Andy if partner had 9 HCP don't you think he would not bid 2♦ like if he had zero?

I was only trying to exaggerate to make a point. Say a nine count with 3244 or possibly a seven count with 5 card diamond that is full of queens or say the perfect hand would be a ♦KJxxxx and out etc. Would you bid 2D over 2C with xxx Qx Q10xxx Qxx? or xxx xx KJ10xx Qxx? or xx xx KQxxx Jxxx? Basically a range of 5-7 counts that make game reasonable is good enough for me to search for one. I don't want to cater for this exact case where 2D is just making whilst 3D is down one. I would hate to not have tried for game if NT makes an easy 9 tricks - who knows, they might find the wrong lead, they might misdefend etc. To me, all of this suggests trying for game especially red at imps.

[inquiry]

Game is barely possible. Partner is short in ♥'s, singleton is likely. With 3♥'s he would bid 2♥ -- also with most hands with 2♥s. On the other hand, partner could have free bid 2♦ last round or jump to 3♦ with good diamonds. I suspect that partner has both minors. So 3NT is possible, but no way to reasonably investigate.

 

I pass without any regrets.

[mtvesuvius]

I would pass, however I am sure that I'll miss game occasionally. It seems like taking a bit of a view to try for game with this hand... Partner needs a pretty good hand. I don't see any real good way to make a try either.

[Fluffy]

I don't want to cater for this exact case where 2D is just making whilst 3D is down one. I would hate to not have tried for game if NT makes an easy 9 tricks - who knows, they might find the wrong lead, they might misdefend etc. To me, all of this suggests trying for game especially red at imps.

I admit that playing 2NT red at imps when we can make only 4 tricks scares the hell out of me, also playing in a 4-3 fit at the 3 level. But thinking of it you have a point that when we hold the 4 aces, nobody is gonna double us so its not that scary. Did you say if you plan on bidding 2NT or 3♦?

[pooltuna]

You've shown this hand with your reopening X--pass now. Partner may have a 0-count.

 

Not IMO have you shown this much but you probably don't believe in protection doubles. I would try 2NT