Pard preempt and opps butt-in

[whereagles]

Here's another one. National team trials, IMPs.

[hv=pc=n&s=st732ha2d4caqt764&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=3hd4h4spp]133|200[/hv]

Preempt is classic style, so for once no junky suit :)

What now?

[Jinksy]

Pass. Things are breaking badly for them, so we might set 4S, and we're likely to be at least -3 in 5♥. Plus after all this bidding, there's little chance we'll bounce them.

 

(ETA) -3 is clearly drivel.

[eagles123]

I don't agree that 5h is likely to be 3 off at least. We know p has at most 1 spade and x kqxxxx xxx Kxx 5h is virtually cold.

[Jinksy]

Yeah, my arithmetic broke there.

[mikeh]

why don't we have a way to bid clubs over the double, as lead-directing? Surely nobody plays 4♣ as an offer to play?

 

Anyway, pass seems clear....we have a good chance of going plus here, and expecting 5♥ to make seems optimistic.

 

As for partner having only a stiff spade....has no-one here ever doubled on 3=2=4=4 shape?

[gszes]

5c

 

Yes I see the reasonable chance we will set 4s for a probable

tiny plus score. I am more than willing to trade that for a

chance at a making 5h or a much better lead if the opps continue

to 5s where I would be happier trying for a much larger plus via x.

[whereagles]

Thx all. Full hand:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=st732ha3d4caqt764&w=saj54hjt52dq98cj2&n=skhkq98764dt32c95&e=sq986hdakj765ck83&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=3hd4h4spp]399|300[/hv]

 

 

This has no "solution"... 4♠ makes, but single-dummy it is likely to fail. In the same way, 5♥ can either go 1 or 2 down depending on how it goes.

I think I would have passed with South's hand. Likely 3 tricks (RHO's double makes him a fav for ♣K) and the stacked spades can make it hard for declarer. Plus LHO was under pressure, so he might have taken a leap of faith. Which, looking at his hand, he has.