Six-level decision

[gnasher]

[hv=pc=n&s=sk854hatda964c876&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1s2s(H%20+%20minor)3h(Inv+%2C%204+%20spades)5h5s6h]133|200[/hv]

Matchpoints

 

2♠ was Michaels.

3♥ showed 4+ spades and invitational or better values.

Over 5♥, pass would have been forcing.

 

What would you do?

 

(If you recognise this hand, please don't pollute the thread by discussing partner's hand.)

[jillybean]

I will double and take the sure +, ready to be proven wrong.

[han]

Partner did not make a slam try, we are minimal with a dubious ace of hearts. I admit that the king of spades and the ace of diamonds are good honors for 6S, but I can't imagine that we have a slam on. I would double.

 

If my ace of hearts was the ace of clubs I would pass.

[MrAce]

Partner did not make a slam try,

 

How was he supposed to make a slam try when 3♥ can be only an invitation hand ? In order for him to be able to make slam try we need to assume his pass would be forcing, which is not for many people. LHO may look like preempting but we have no idea how strong is RHO. Otoh i am not advocating to bid slam, i think pd with ♥ shortness is guessing the hcps we have to be working, tuff hand.

[han]

Read the OP:

 

pass would have been forcing.

[MrAce]

Read the OP:

 

I must have missed that, sorry. :(

[rhm]

If pass was forcing (as it should be when somebody bids 5♥), I expect pass then pull would have been a stronger action.

I think with ♠AJxxxx,♥x,♦KQxxx,♣x , partner should have passed

 

So I double.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[paulg]

I pass inviting partner to do the wrong thing. Three key-cards are more than he can expect, even though I'd prefer a club honour for this action.

[dake50]

Would 4D instead of 3H have shown a D-control with a GF-raise?

I much prefer that start.

Now it's a guess about C-control as partner's 5S should be

close to enough tricks.

I think no forcing pass denies 2XA, so the easy slam is off.

I'm sure double scores poorly, as it's a posted problem.

I choose double anyway.

[billw55]

Holding ♣xxx I barely consider 6♠. Clear double for me.

 

And yes, as a forum problem double must have failed at the table.

[gnasher]

I'm sure double scores poorly, as it's a posted problem.

And yes, as a forum problem double must have failed at the table.

Has it occurred to either of you that this might simply be a problem that I faced at the table and thought was interesting?

 

In fact, we'd had a misunderstanding earlier in the auction, so the actual result isn't very relevant.

[Hanoi5]

And yes, as a forum problem double must have failed at the table.

 

Or partner is VERY stubborn. I'd also double. Is this hand from Lille?

[TimG]

I will double and take the sure +, ready to be proven wrong.

 

The only sure thing here is that my King of Spades will be useless on defense. Still, my two Aces say to me "defensive in light of the bidding", so I double.

[billw55]

Has it occurred to either of you that this might simply be a problem that I faced at the table and thought was interesting?

I guess I would call that a logical alternative :)

 

Just going with the odds. If I had checked who the OP is I might have been less confident. No offense intended ;)

[ArtK78]

I cannot imagine doing anything other than double. I expect to beat 6♥, and bidding slam is speculative at best.

 

At IMPs, there is more to be said for bidding 6♠.

[phil_20686]

My first instinct was to double. Now I have almost talked myself into bidding. There is also a question of what am I giving up, it seems likely that they are bidding 6H to make, in which case its likely only one or two off, in which case I should bid at imps, even if its only 30% to make slam.

 

Ill double as its MP, but I am now pretty sure that I should make a FP at imps.

[jogs]

Has it occurred to either of you that this might simply be a problem that I faced at the table and thought was interesting?

 

In fact, we'd had a misunderstanding earlier in the auction, so the actual result isn't very relevant.

 

I hate the 3♥ bid. Now we know very little about opener's hand. Don't know RHO's minor. It is just a guessing game. Rather bid 3♦. Show partner my side suit. Then he would be better placed to bid over 6♥.

Double 6♥. They are sacing. Doubt if 6♠ is much better than 50/50.

[Phil]

Think about the 'useful minimums' pard rates to have in a FP situation here:

 

AQJxxx

void

Axxx

xxx

 

AQJxxx

void

Qxx

Kxxx

 

etc..

 

I'm a doubler, but I can see them making 6♥ if LHO has the spade void and RHO has a void minor.

[jogs]

The frequency of key voids is very low. The frequency of opponents bidding as if they held them is relatively high. 6♥X may made. Just like my chances of beating 6♥.

[helene_t]

I hate the 3♥ bid.

What's the alternative? 4♥ (don't you play that as a splinter?) Playing 3♥ as a gf?

[lalldonn]

My first instinct was a forcing pass, but reading the comments and thinking a bit longer I like double. It's definitely true that the ace of hearts is more a card for defense than offense even if partner has a heart.

[jogs]

What's the alternative? 4♥ (don't you play that as a splinter?) Playing 3♥ as a gf?

 

I have already suggested an alternative. 2♠ was hearts and a minor. 3 of a minor by us should be 4+ of that minor and 4+ spades.

[Phil]

My first instinct was a forcing pass, but reading the comments and thinking a bit longer I like double. It's definitely true that the ace of hearts is more a card for defense than offense even if partner has a heart.

 

Watch and learn n00bs.

 

This is the art of presenting a reasonable minority viewpoint without placing your 175 lbs on a 2" limb.

 

(I considered, and rejected pass too).

[billw55]

It's definitely true that the ace of hearts is more a card for defense than offense even if partner has a heart.

I didn't see how big the difference is. Then I looked back at Phil's example hands in post 18, and realized that changing a minor suit spot to a heart would not alter declarer's prospects in 6♠ at all. Whereas on defense it is of course a certain trick. I learned something here.

[jogs]

1. ♠ AQJxxx ♥ x ♦ KQxxx ♣ x

2. ♠ AQJxxx ♥ x ♦ x ♣ KQxxx

 

If opener has hand 1, you want to be in 6♠.

If opener has hand 2, you want to defend 6♥X.

 

If you had bid 3♦ on your first turn, opener would know whether to bid 6♠ or double 6♥.

 

With 6=1=4=2, you usually want to defend.