A tough one from yesterday

[apollo1201]

All red you deal and open 1D with this very nice collection

 

Jx

KQx

AKQTxx

QT

 

LHO bids 3C and while the tray is on the otehr side of the screen, you wonder whether you'll be bold enough to balance with 3NT faking a Qxx stopper and hoping for some quick tricks in front of you (actually, both NS and EW can make 3NT on this deal...provided they are on lead).

 

But partner Xed for a major-oriented take out... what now? 3NT seemed further away now so I tried 4H hoping she was 45, and I quickly lost 5 tricks after she tabled a (subminimal? well if you read my previous post you know she had eaten lion for breakfast) hand with an onside SK and only 4H with a 42 break...

 

KTxxx

Axxx

xx

xx

 

Do you agree with her X? What should I do after that?

 

And if she had passed, what could be my call (the other room quietly balanced with 3D for 110)?

 

Thanks again!

[Phil]

Double is crazy. I would cuebid and give up if partner passed 5♦.

[Kaitlyn S]

Preempts are meant to get you. In theory your partner showed 10+ so 4H seems like a good shot to me. Looks like too many losers for 5D and 3NT opposite majors is just silly.

 

I think partner overbid a bit but I don't think her bid was terrible. You wouldn't be asking about her bid at all if you had held Axxx, Kx, AJxxx, xx, on which you would have defended 3C if she passes. It's no picnic for her if she passes either. Suppose she passes and you reopen with a double (on a different hand.) Is she supposed to bid 3S or 4S now? I think it's a tossup and on the hands that she makes 4S, you might not bid it over 3S since she could have far less.

 

If it went 1D (3C) P (P) to me I would just bid 3D. Since you probably wouldn't bid 3D on a minimum with six diamonds, I think you've almost shown your hand.

[rmnka447]

Partner's double was a huge overbid. A simple pass seems right to me.

 

Then opener follows with a 3 ♦ rebid.

[pstansbu]

Do you play 5 card Majors and strong NT, and what was the strength of the overcall?

 

Playing 4 card Majors I think this is a clear pass as I think that increases the odds of you holding a hand like you did (particularly if you agree to bid the Major over the minor when looking to rebid a strong NT hand) . With 5 card Majors there is a better chance of a lurking 4 card Major in your hand. If the jump overcall weak this increases the problem for partner and exactly the scenario the overcaller would hope to create!

 

I would pass regardless but not without sweating over missed opportunities. In your position I agree with your ♥ bid after the double and likewise would balance in ♦s if partner passed.

[MrAce]

Pd's double is aggressive.

 

I would bid what I have over the double and that is 4♦. My hand is no longer 17 hcp in a suit contract. It is more like 15 and many soft values. Only thing I have good is my diamonds and I will mention this to pd.

[rmnka447]

+1 for Kaitlyn S.

 

♣ Q10 is virtually worthless in front of preemptor. You've lots of ♦ and LHO has lots of ♣. So, RHO is big favorite to have majors with partner. Playing a potential 4-3 fit under these circumstance seems a bit over-hopeful. Bid what you have, 3 ♦. If partner finds another call, you might reconsider what to do.