biddable 4 card suit

[oldoc]

I'd like an explanation from one of our experts why ROBOT bid a 4 card heart suit 9XXX in response to a double of opponents opening bid of 1 club when holding a five card diamond suit Q10XXX??????? I'm waiting.

[helene_t]

I'd like an explanation from one of our experts why ROBOT bid a 4 card heart suit 9XXX in response to a double of opponents opening bid of 1 club when holding a five card diamond suit Q10XXX??????? I'm waiting.

This is normal. Bidding 1M in response to a t/o double and then later 2m if given the chance, would show 4M and 4+m (maybe sometimes 5+ m depending on the concrete auction).

 

With a stronger hand you might bid 1m first, planning to reverse if given the chance, but a hand that is strong enough to reverse is maybe always too strong for 1♦.

 

So basically, 1♦ denies a 4-card major. You might make an exception with four poor hearts if vulnerable, especially if the diamonds are good or a six-card suit, but it wouldn't surprise if the robots always bid a 4-card major.

 

It might also be different over a 1♠ opening where you are bidding at the 2-level so it's a bit riskyer (and 2♥ is more likely to end the auction than 1♥).

[pescetom]

This is normal. Bidding 1M in response to a t/o double and then later 2m if given the chance, would show 4M and 4+m (maybe sometimes 5+ m depending on the concrete auction).

 

With a stronger hand you might bid 1m first, planning to reverse if given the chance, but a hand that is strong enough to reverse is maybe always too strong for 1♦.

 

So basically, 1♦ denies a 4-card major.

 

Looks like an overbid to me. What you describe is a valid convention, maybe dominant in part of the world, but far from automatic. The essence of a takeout is to bid the longest suit, with two suits of equal length but different rank favour the major (maybe taking into account honours).

[johnu]

I'd like an explanation from one of our experts why ROBOT bid a 4 card heart suit 9XXX in response to a double of opponents opening bid of 1 club when holding a five card diamond suit Q10XXX??????? I'm waiting.

Is 9xxx a biddable suit? I have my standards and I never bid a suit worse than 5432 so 9xxx looks pretty good to me.

[helene_t]

maybe dominant in part of the world, but far from automatic

Point taken, I have probably been brainwashed with North American style after 22 years on BBF :)

[pescetom]

Point taken, I have probably been brainwashed with North American style after 22 years on BBF :)

I'm not even sure there is one dominant North American style here... BWS2017 coyly steps around how the advance of a takeout double is chosen and most internet sources are fairly conservative.

I can only tell you that around here you would catch an earful if you bid 1♥ holding stronger and longer diamonds B-)