A Pesky Preempt

[pescetom]

So some preferences for 3♥ by West and 3♦ by East over double are emerging, no surprise.

Let's give it another morning when all are back at their desks :)

 

I confess I was also curious if people play some exotic gadget that would enable them to show 5-5 in West, or a game force ask by East. I have one partner who in West would probably pretend that 3NT must be 5-5, as wishing to play with a clubs stop he could have doubled then rebid 3NT. I can also imagine someone cue bidding 4♣ in East over double, hoping to hear 4♥. Both bids could be conventionalised more precisely by an ambitious partnership, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are others.

[dsLawsd]

Negative double over 3C.

At matchpoints I bid 4♥ and at Imps 3♦but those choices will be influenced by the relative aggressiveness of partner.

 

The opponents might take a phantom save over 4♥and it figures to make fairly often since partner should hold either an unbalanced hand or latent support for spades.

[cleveritis]

Double is mandatory on the 2551 hand, were my hearts more concentrated kx, KQT9x,Qxxxx,x I would bid 3H (although even then, double could be much better)... what to do over 3D, 3H, or 3S is trickier.. I would bid 4D or 4H... 3S might be a hand stuck for a bid 5233 which doesnt fancy 3D - I would pass that I think.

 

On the other hand a reopening double isn't marvelous - but you sort of have to do it playing take out doubles.

 

Double in both cases keeps all contracts - ESP including 3Cx, 3N, 3S, and 4D as possible contracts, 3H can get a disgusting result (esp if pard 5152 and does not have the values for 4 forcing diamonds)

[pescetom]

Here is the full hand and actual bidding:

 

[hv=pc=n&w=sk6hk7543dkj432c2&n=sa85hj985dt85cq85&e=sqjt74haq2da976ck&s=s932htdqcajt97643&d=e&v=e&b=10&a=1s3cxp4dp5dppp]400|300[/hv]

 

 

The scores (including ours) were:

4 x 4♥=

1 x 5♦=

1 x 3♠+1

1 x 3♦+2

1 x 5♣!-1

1 x 5♣-1

 

I was surprised that almost half the field had beaten us by finding 4♥, hence the topic.

I guess some Wests bid 3♥ and others found ♥ after North raised to 4♣.

[Cyberyeti]

Here is the full hand and actual bidding:

 

[hv=pc=n&w=sk6hk7543dkj432c2&n=sa85hj985dt85cq85&e=sqjt74haq2da976ck&s=s932htdqcajt97643&d=e&v=e&b=10&a=1s3cxp4dp5dppp]400|300[/hv]

 

 

The scores (including ours) were:

4 x 4♥=

1 x 5♦=

1 x 3♠+1

1 x 3♦+2

1 x 5♣!-1

1 x 5♣-1

 

I was surprised that almost half the field had beaten us by finding 4♥, hence the topic.

I guess some Wests bid 3♥ and others found ♥ after North raised to 4♣.

 

If you bid 4♥ over 4♦ aren't you saying "I'm bidding 5♦ but I have a 5th heart" on the principle of game before slam ?

 

Also shouldn't S bid 4♣ and N raise to 5 at these colours

[pescetom]

If you bid 4♥ over 4♦ aren't you saying "I'm bidding 5♦ but I have a 5th heart" on the principle of game before slam ?

 

Also shouldn't S bid 4♣ and N raise to 5 at these colours

 

The way West bids, 4♥ over 4♦ would show a hand that wanted to bid ♥ on the first round but was too strong to do so - technically non forcing, but still enough to tempt East into a disastrous slam investigation.

 

South's natural bid would be 4♣, but I can see why some might prefer 3♣ here. It's North's silence that is really mysterious.

[Cyberyeti]

The way West bids, 4♥ over 4♦ would show a hand that wanted to bid ♥ on the first round but was too strong to do so - technically non forcing, but still enough to tempt East into a disastrous slam investigation.

 

Really ? with a forcing 3♥ also available, and 4♥ also

[pescetom]

Really ? with a forcing 3♥ also available, and 4♥ also

 

4♥ would be interdictive, particularly at this vulnerability.