Lefty opens 3D - are you protecting?

[jules101]

Match pointed pairs

 

[hv=pc=n&n=s865hakq4dj3cq863&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=3dpp]133|200[/hv]

 

Yuck!

 

What's it going to be?

 

Please explain your choice. Thanks.

[mr1303]

I must... stop.... bidding on these hands. No good can come of it....!

 

I'd probably double and concede -300 against nothing. I do this far too often.

[ArtK78]

Clear double. I would balance with less.

 

Partner should not act in direct seat over 3♦ without a sound hand - an above average opening bid. So you must act in balancing seat with anything close to an opening hand unless you have a good reason not to.

 

I would not be the least surprised to make a game on this hand.

[billw55]

I definitely double at matchpoints, I'm not getting rich selling out to 3♦. Tougher question at IMPs.

[Phil]

I must... stop.... passing these hands. No good can come of it....!

 

 

fyp

[aguahombre]

Having seen what BBO posters would have taken direct action on, the main hope of a balancing double is +800. That would be a good thing, to be weighed against the minuses when we get too high or are already too high.

 

It is a close call.

[kenrexford]

Double. My problem would be tempo, in that I would be afraid of revealing to partner accidentally how clear this double is by doubling too quickly.

[quiddity]

I think it's close. Just because partner can have a 14-count doesn't mean that he's at all likely to have one, and the three little spades are ominous. Say partner has a 9-count with 4 spades. That's a very likely hand for him to hold and he'll probably bid 3S and could easily end up down 2 which would be a disaster.

 

Consider your expectations when you picked this hand up - a balanced 11-12 r/r at matchpoints where the opponents have a diamond fit, what's likely to happen? Sure some of the time we might have a game or we might double them or whatever, but imo what usually happens is the opponents compete to 3D and we sell. Bidding past 3D r/r is no joke!