What should I bid?

[xbabarx]

Playing TM on bbo I come up with this hand,sitting N Dealer W scoring IMPs

 

Axx xx KQx QJ9xx

 

(1c) - P - (1d) - P

(1nt)- p - (p) -2h

(X) - p - (3d) - p

(P) - p

 

After hand I check p (south) was holding

Qxxx KQxxx Ax xx

[manudude03]

I agree with passing all the way. Your partner should have overcalled 1H the first time, now you might be able to penalise the final contract.

[rmnka447]

I don't have any problem with passing throughout either. It looks like you're on track to take 5-6 tricks against 3 ♦. At IMPs, any positive in a part score should be considered par.

 

OTOH, any contract you bid over 3 ♦ looks pretty iffy at best. Missing six to the AJ10 in a heart contract, you look to be losing 2+ ♥ tricks unless you get a very favorable lie of the cards. It also looks like 2 possible ♣ losers and a ♠ loser.

 

As for penalizing 3 ♦ at IMPs, you have to be sure it will go down if you double, else you've given away a big swing. Neither you nor partner can know whether it will make or not. So passing it out is OK.

[billw55]

I agree with passing all the way. Your partner should have overcalled 1H the first time,

Or double. Just not pass.

[zillahandp]

My choice would be to dble and lead trums as you have the balance of points. Does it work? Cant see if you keep leadn trumps how they can make nine they have no good suits of length

[miamijd]

What else can you do but pass throughout? Partner has shown a hand that wasn't good enough to overcall 1h over 1d but has a 2h bid after the opponents stop in 1nt. Probably he has a so-so- hand with a weak six-card heart suit. Maybe something like:

 

KQx xxxxxx Ax xx

 

I wouldn't overcall 1h in sandwich seat with this, but when the opponents stop in 1NT after bidding clubs and diamonds, it seems right to balance with 2h. Yes, that could backfire, but it will gain more often than not (and when opener, who is the one who could penalize you, doubles, much of the time responder will remove to 3 of a minor, anyway).

 

As it happens, your partner had a pretty easy 1h overcall on this hand and chose to pass. C'est la vie.