Q98 
xx 
98xxx 
xxx
| LHO | CHO | RHO | You |
| Dbl | | Pass |
| Pass | Dbl | Pass | ? |
- BARRY
-
5 . Elsewhere I've gone in print to say that removing [takeout] doubles of4 has been my best IMP-gainer ever. I'll stick with that! - ROBB
-
5 . I have saved a lot of partnership stress over the years by letting partner know I always bid with these hands. Would pass (of course) with <4 spades and no 5 card minor. - DAVIDW
-
5 , following Kaplan's rule. This hand appears more likely to have value on offense than on defense. - KENT
- [
5 .] What's partner supposed to do with the moose of all time and 4054 distribution? If he has that hand, we should be beating4 a couple of tricks while cold for7 . This is not a fun hand. Partner said to bid something. I'll try5 and hope for the best. - LEN
- Pass. Pard has a good hand and we should set
4 x. If I knew pard pard held 4=1=5=3, bidding5 still wouldn't be clear, and4 might fall apart after heart forces. - LYNN
- I'd pass, with no confidence. The right action depends on partner's relative minor suit holdings, and I don't have a crystal ball.
- MIKE
-
5 . I've come around to bidding when holding a 5 card suit even with a bad hand when partner makes a takeout double at the four level.4 is reasonable, since I can pitch on the second round of hearts and then take the tap in the short hand, but it has other dangers. If something goes wrong in4 (especially a 5-1 trump break), it is easy to imagine losing control and going off several tricks, whereas we rate to have enough trumps to maintain control in5 . Additionally, since we only have seven spades, I don't expect that either opponent will take the push to5 over4 , but it is easy to imagine that the4 bidder, holding something like5 if we bid diamonds, thinking it a 2-way shot. - DAVIDC
- Unless
2 was a strong two bid, I would pass at any form of the game and any vulnerability. I don't even think it is close. As someone would undoubtedly say in [the Master Solvers Club], "a unanimous panel". [And, as typical of such predictions in the MSC, is very far off. --Jeff] I am guessing this is here because I lose a double game swing by passing. So what. - MARK
- Pass. I can't imagine anyone's pulling with this
flat hand. [Another prognosticator...they never learn. --Jeff]
Admittedly 10% of the time, it will be wrong to pass. We might have been
better off in some of those situations if partner had bid a forcing
4 /4 Roman jump instead of doubling. [Partner was 4144...it'd be a very off-beat Roman jump. --Jeff] - JOEL
- Pass. I hope partner has some defense, 'cause I got a lotta nada.
- MARSHALL
- Pass. I’d pass at IMPs also, but with less confidence.
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
5 - WINNING ACTION
-
5 . Partner has4 is cold. - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes 5 6 Pass 6 - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- I've learned to take out partner's
takeout doubles. I am surprised so many of the panelists
choose to do it on this balanced garbage. I was pretty
surprised my choice worked out at the table; it would not
have taken much tinkering to make it a disaster. 2-2
diamonds with the
A10 x QJ107x KQ98x
| RHO | You | LHO | CHO |
| Pass | | | Dbl |
| ? |
- BARRY
- Pass. Would I be surprised if
5 were laydown or we had a slam making here? No. Yes partner might misjudge with a void in spades—but the opponents have not passed out6 yet. - ROBB
- Pass. Forcing, I hope. Close to a double anyway as my spade ace may be wasted. [I don't think it's forcing, but maybe it should be. RHO obviously thinks you can make something and is saving. --Jeff]
- DAVIDW
-
6 . We might make it, or they might take the push to6 . Two plausible ways to win, so worth the risk. - KENT
-
6 . I think they're stealing. [I don't know about that, but it's clear that they think they're stealing! --Jeff] - LEN
- Double. Pard set up a forcing situation and my hand
isn't good enough to invite a slam. We might miss
6 , but that's unlucky. - LYNN
- If partner's double is defined as penalties,
I'd pass. I think I have slightly subminimum defense,
given the opponents' likely secondary fit in hearts.
If we should be defending, partner will double again,
and I'll pass. He might, however, bid 5NT with minor suit length.
[It's negative, but there's really no difference at this level. --Jeff]
If partner's double is defined as negative, so he rates to have at least four hearts, I'll double, which shows some convertible values. I just don't have enough controls to venture to the six level myself. He can still bid 5NT on the right hands—I hope.
- MIKE
- Pass. Seems we are playing poker. RHO thinks we can make a slam, but LHO may still have some defense. For slam to be good, partner needs excellent controls, and even if slam is normally a good bet, a ruff may be lurking (against that, the opponents may fail to lead a spade when it is necessary, if they are going for a ruff). I'd just pass (forcing) and let partner judge. Surely I'd double with a balanced hand, so partner will be able to bid with some hands where we want to be in slam.
- DAVIDC
- First issue. Is a pass by me forcing? Several
thoughts. Not because RHO is a passed hand, not because we are vul vs.
not. Kantar says "forcing passes after negative doubles at the five
level or higher". I confess that I did not have that agreement in my
regular partnership. Our forcing passes required invitational strength
bids, negative doubles were not so defined. Admittedly there is a
difference in the strength of the double between
1 -(1 )-x-(5 ) and the auction given, but I never got that sophisticated for such a low frequency situation. (Kantar doesn't even address it until three pages from the end of his book.) Does that mean we are likely to sell out? No, I doubt we ever will. I have an opening hand and partner was willing to commit to a five level contract or play4 doubled. (I know that sounds inconsistent with whether a pass is agreed as forcing, it is just that I have a limited number of defined forcing pass situations and "sound of the auction" isn't really one of them.) So, the question for me becomes "do I have an offensive or defensive hand?" In spite of the 5-5, I think that I have the latter. I am doubling. Partner could have, for example, - MARK
- Double. Although Pass would clearly be forcing in this auction, I have too many losers to invite partner to bid on. There are a lot of hands partner can hold where getting to the 6-level would be a disaster.
- JOEL
- Pass (forcing). My opponents are retarded for bidding
5 . - MARSHALL
- Dbl. Surely I can’t gamble that partner will have
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
6 - WINNING ACTION
-
6 . Maybe. Partner had - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes 6 3 Double 5 Pass 4 - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- Well, is pass forcing or not?
It seems obvious that it is, but careful consideration
suggests otherwise to me. First, let's answer, "does
partner's double of
4 create a force at all levels?" I think the answer is "no." This auction
should not create a force. There is no reason to believe it's our hand; you've shown a very offensive hand and partner's needn't be very defensive. No one has any clue who can make what, so we generally don't want a force on. Also, since we've shown little interest in slam, forcing us to bid it or double them can't be right. Assuming this result, then the actual auction oughtn't be a force, because RHO chose it instead of the possible auction above. I don't believe we should allow our opponents' bidding strategy to determine whether or not we are in a force. Therefore, we still are not. On the other hand, suggesting we are is that RHO seems to think we can make something. He's unlikely to be bluffing, but I'm just not willing to let a clever opponent create a force for us. Despite this argument, I can't imagine ever letting them play undoubled, so while theoretically we may not be in a force, practically we are.RHO You LHO CHO Pass 1 4 Dbl Pass 5 Pass Pass 5 Regardless of whether we are or aren't in a force, passing, bidding, and doubling are all reasonable options anyway. I have no idea which will be right on balance, but it's a bidder's game, so I bid, which was lucky this time. With a balanced vote, it's a close guess.
| Dummy |
| KQ9x |
| Declarer |
| Axx |
How do you play the suit?
-
[This is what I think is the right answer: --Jeff]
- MIKE
- Low at trick one. If RHO plays the 8, then cash another high honor hoping to drop the ten or jack. If RHO plays the 6, it is probably from 6-7, so finesse the 9. If RHO plays the 7, guess well. This suggests playing the 8 from 7-8 doubleton is a good falsecard. If so, they got me.
- BARRY
- I'll assume we do not have as much as the 7 between us—
you'd have given us that! Depends on my opponents. Since even a
world class opponent with J3 may not know when I duck in dummy
that his partner has 10872 as opposed to A872 I'll play small smoothly.
My subsequent percentage calculations suggest that RHO has xx as opposed to Jx/10x 6 times in 15. Might I play low from dummy and double-finesse the next time? I'd need to see the spots before deciding.
[RHO puts up the 8.]
Lead to the 9. We are measuring 108 (J8) against 3 small doubletons.
- ROBB
- I play low. Obviously if an honor comes up, I can cash one
of dummy's honors and then finesse. If not, I double hook the
second time.
People are reluctant to lead from Jxxx and sometimes lead high from Txxx.
- DAVIDW
- Jxxx or 10xxx is more likely than J10xx, so I win the first trick wherever I would like to be and eventually take a third-round finesse if RHO drops an honor. I suppose they get me if the lead was from xxx, but otherwise I am taking what I was dealt rather than hoping for a gift.
- KENT
- Play low from the dummy at trick one and if nothing higher than the 7 appears on the right, to play LHO for JTxx. Otherwise, play RHO for honor doubleton.
- LEN
- K, then A, then low to dummy and cover. This picks up [RHO's] xxx, Jxx, Txx, J, T, Jx, Tx, and JT. If LHO plays 2,T,3 you still play for the drop.
- LYNN
- Well, you play low at trick one, and see what happens.
If RHO plays the jack, I'll finesse the nine later (he's
very likely to play the J from Jx, possibly even J8,
because he thinks he might win the trick). If RHO plays
the 8, I guess it's right to play him for honor-8 doubleton.
If he plays low without a problem, I think I'd also finesse
the nine next, unless he is an expert. Isn't the technical
play low from dummy at trick one, then cash a high honor,
then finesse the nine? That is, isn't Jx or 10x very slightly
more likely than xx in RHO's hand? [Yes, in a vacuum. --Jeff]
Dale says it is silly to ask about this suit in a vacuum. You almost always can draw inferences from the play in other suits, and make your decision later.
- DAVIDC
- I think this question was way too open-ended. The "x's" are extremely important. Also, is the contract 1NT, 3NT or 6NT? Could opening leader have Ahxx(x)? How strong a player is RHO? Did he play in tempo? Can declarer have a doubleton? I went round and round on this one. The simplest situation to analyze was when all cards are known, that is LHO leads the 5 and between dummy and declarer you hold A, 2, 3, and 4. In that situation, RHO is 7 to 3 to hold the J or T. I believe the proper play is to duck from dummy (RHO has a problem if LHO can hold Ahxx and if his second spot is "small", e.g., the 6 or 7), win A, but to play K second round.
- MARK
- Hx with RHO if LHO is a weak player.
xx with RHO if LHO is a strong player.
Obviously you should have given us more information. [I suspect that if a statement is prefaced by "obviously," it's wrong over 75% of the time! --Jeff] The contract level and the specific auction are important (not to mention the strength of the opponents). I will assume a contract and an auction where opening leader would not lead from honor third (i.e. he has chosen an unbid suit to "attack" holding exactly 4 cards in the suit). Clearly I will play low from dummy in case RHO makes a mistake at trick 1. Obviously the specific card RHO plays will give me added information (the 6 or 7 from RHO is relevant missing the J108762). Thereafter, one's first impression is that it is 4-3 in favor of honor doubleton on the right; but, these odds change based upon the strength of LHO. I have found that weak players often lead 4th best from bad suits; thus, I will play for Hx with RHO. A strong LHO will usually lead 2nd highest from a weak holdings like 10872 (and possibly 10862 and J872...depends upon the auction and HCPs distributed between the opponent's hands). This changes the odds in favor of RHO's holding xx. - JOEL
- Assuming I don't have the 7 in either hand, I'll insert the 9 at trick 1.
- MARSHALL
- I assume the question is how to take 4 tricks in the suit. [Even I can take three tricks in that suit on a good day! --Jeff] Take 2 top cards and finesse 3rd round (playing RHO for a doubleton honor.
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
- small, then cash a winner from dummy playing RHO for Jx or 10x after RHO inserted the 8. I planned to hook if RHO played a lower card in reasonable tempo.
- WINNING ACTION
- insert the 9. This lead was from J1072.
- CONSENSUS
-
Plan Votes Low then cash an honor 5 Depends on RHO's spot 3 Low and hook the 9 2 Look Left 1 Insert the 9 1 - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- Without any information
from the opponents' plays, the suit is straightforward.
Cash K and A and finesse if RHO drops an honor. That's
in a vacuum. Here we know the suit is probably 4-2.
What about RHO's card? They have between them J108762.
If RHO plays the 6, he has 76 doubleton, so hook the 9
with confidence. If he plays the 7, judge how good
he is. It's an easy play from 87 tight, but tough
from 107 or J7. If he plays the 8, he has either
86, 108, or J8, none of which are particularly hard
plays. Therefore, it's 2-1 in favor of dropping a
doubleton honor. Except that they can falsecard.
It is a completely new falsecard situation for me.
Anyone ever heard of it before?
I spent about 3 minutes thinking about this suit when it was just an overtrick in a KO match. OK, I admit I'm twisted, but I found it interesting.
| xxx 10x AJ109xxx J | ||
|
A10 AKQ KQxx 10xxx |  | |
| You | LHO | CHO | RHO | ||
| Pass | | | ||
| Dbl | | Pass | Pass | ||
| Dbl | All Pass | ||||
T1: A
Plan the defense
- BARRY
- I'd have led the
- ROBB
-
- DAVIDW
- I cash the heart queen before the mice get at it.
If partner plays high on this, I will lead the diamond king
for a ruff. Otherwise I will try to kill dummy by playing
a third heart. I do not want to risk blowing a trump trick
or a tempo by playing a trump. I don't think I have to beat
this hand a lot —
4 doesn't look like a favorite, so I want to take the best chance for a set. - KENT
- Ace and another trump. This will probably drop partner's stiff king.
- LEN
- Was X a 3 cards raise? [Yes. --Jeff] There's no alert,
so I assume it's cards. I would have led the
- LYNN
- It must be wrong or this problem wouldn't be here, but
I'd play trump, trump. When declarer later leads a diamond
from hand, I won't split. I think partner is supposed to do
something exciting at trick one if he has a diamond void,
so I expect declarer to have only one, if any. Partner
also has to have something good in clubs, so I think declarer
is unlikely to find more than nine tricks on the trump shift.
[My reasoning exactly and very wrong at the table. --Jeff]
I can see some holdings on which it's right to continue hearts to tap the dummy, but I think they are much less likely.
Any other defense strikes me as weird, whether it would work or not.
- MIKE
- There isn't a specific rush to play two rounds of trump,
and it could be a disaster if we need an uppercut on the second
round of diamonds. I would be a little worried about declarer's
pitching a heart on a club (surely partner has something though...
I know he doesn't) but it may still be tough to handle. I'll try
the
- DAVIDC
- I need a little explanation. The
first double was 3 trump or a strong NT? [Yes. --Jeff]
What is the
5 . - MARK
- I will play the
- JOEL
- I'll play the
- MARSHALL
- Don’t I need to know whether we are playing UDCA?
[One can infer that standard signals are in use, since obviously
partner is discouraging, right? What would he have have to say anyway?
--Jeff] Probably cash another top heart (I would have led the
queen originally) and shift to the
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
- WINNING ACTION
- cash a heart and play anything
but a spade. Partner has
- CONSENSUS
-
(
Action Votes 5 6 1 - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- It never occurred to me that declarer would have a club pitch for dummy's heart. Partner probably has nothing in spades, and we know he has nothing in the red suits. That means he has to have something in clubs. Therefore, where is the heart going? On the other hand, we have to win the 2nd heart, so is there any reason not to cash it before playing ace and another spade? I don't see one. I don't see why partner's cards should be in spades instead of clubs; rather the opposite seems more likely. A spade still looks right. It could have been worse. Partner's spades might have been Q98. Managing to take one trump trick with that holding is quite impressive. Eddie Kantar, move over!
J9xx AKJ87x Jxx —
| LHO | CHO | RHO | You |
| Pass | | ? |
- BARRY
- Pass; don't have to be a hero on every deal.
- ROBB
- Pass.
- DAVIDW
- Now that I'm a senior, I pass. If RHO bid this with diamonds, then partner, who is short in their suit, didn't have enough to come in. On the other hand, if RHO bid this with high cards, we may get killed if I bid. The most likely location of partner's values is the club suit.
- KENT
-
5 . On a good day, partner is short in diamonds and isn't 6-1 in the majors. - LEN
- Pass. It wouldn't surprise me if
5 were right. If you've discussed that X is Lightner here, that would be nice. [It's not. It's takeout. --Jeff] - LYNN
- This time you got me—I'll try
5 . I can make a game opposite a perfect 6 count (My second choice is double, hoping partner is brilliant enough to find the club lead.
- MIKE
-
5 . Partner is short in diamonds and didn't act, ergo also short in HCP. So RHO thinks he is making. Yet he didn't bid 3NT, so he must have a flaw in his hand — that is obviously in hearts.5 has some chance to make but rates to go down one or two tricks, depending on RHO's club holding.5 may or may not make, depending on the converse (if RHO is bidding5 on...5 ? Not4 key card? --Jeff] that would leave partner with - DAVIDC
- You gave this one to me. I am going for a
number. But I said "
5 was ok." If you tell me that RHO was Hamman and he tanked before bidding5 , then5 isn't so clear. But in the abstract, I rely on the strength of my suit and the good pattern to bid. - MARK
- Pass. Partner passed with diamond shortness, and we have at most
half the deck. Sure it could be right to bid some percentage of the
time, but I would expect to go for a number more often than not. It
seems that we have a decent chance to defeat
5 (possibly with a club ruff). I think it is a clear-cut Pass. - JOEL
- Double. Hopefully partner won't come up with the
horrid
6 call. [He does, of course. Partners can be trusted about that sort of thing! --Jeff] - MARSHALL
-
5 . - JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
5 - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes 5 6 Pass 5 Double 1 - WINNING ACTION
- Hard to say. Partner has
5 , you beat it one. Otherwise, it makes. If you bid5 , you have lots of guesswork to go down 1, 2, or 3 doubled. - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- DavidW's reasoning convinces
me. Either partner is short in diamonds, in which
case he has no hand and
5 could get creamed, or he's not short in diamonds, in which case, RHO has a very good hand and is itching for me to bid. Then again, Mike's construction makes5 even when partner has no hand. OK, I don't know what to do. Yes, LHO was Soloway and RHO was Hamman. The panel vote sure didn't clear anything up!
Ax QJx x AKQ9xxx
| You | LHO | CHO | RHO |
| Pass | | Dbl |
| Pass | | | |
| ? |
a) what would you have done on your 2nd turn?
- BARRY
-
3 —support xx or no. Then raise hearts. - ROBB
- I would have redoubled to show support. Lacking that
I would have redoubled to show a good hand. Wouldn't
bid
3 as I don't want to shut out hearts. But I would never pass. How do I catch up? - DAVIDW
- I would have redoubled, as forced by system. If my system didn't call for that, I would have rebid clubs since mine are pretty good. [I don't like systems which force me to do something like that. --Jeff]
- KENT
- Even I wouldn't pass.
3 seems about right. - LEN
- Redouble.
- LYNN
- Probably would have tried
3 , planning to support hearts later at the 3 or 4 level (I don't know about 5). - MIKE
- Passing seems a little twisted, but it worked great.
- DAVIDC
-
3 auto-splinter? I don't think so but it would be nice for this hand. [It's heart support, of course. --Jeff] Rothian passes are not for me. My Goren for Beginners says "16-18 HCP and a good suit rebids at the three level". That sounds about right. I bid3 . I don't think redouble is this hand (and I don't play it to be a three card raise). On this hand3 would have the effect of shutting out LHO's - MARK
- I would Redouble showing 3 hearts. Then I would have an easy double this round. ["Easy" isn't the same as "effective," having buried a solid seven-card suit! --Jeff]
- JOEL
- Support redouble.
- MARSHALL
- Redouble. Aren’t we playing support doubles and redoubles?
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
- Pass
- CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes Pass 1 Rdbl 7 3 4 - WINNING ACTION
- hard to say
- JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- I think pass is clearly best.
Your hand is too complex to describe to partner, and
a redouble isn't starting in the right direction. On
the other hand, finding out if he has self-sufficient
hearts or club support or the like rates to be very good.
We are, of course, planning to force game (
5 is on a hook vs.Of the alternatives,
3 is an underbid, perhaps a severe one. If RHO had overcalled1 , I surely would have tried 3NT. If2 and2 were stopper-showing, I might try2 , but they aren't. Nor are3 and3 ; those are splinters. Since one basic plan on the hand is to see if partner has a diamond stopper, passing also allows LHO to bid spades. If it comes around to you, you can then jump to 3NT and partner will maybe guess you don't have diamonds well stopped. Or if LHO bids diamonds, you can cue bid them and get partner to bid 3NT with a diamond stopper. None of this works if you start with a redouble.Even ignoring 3NT issues, redouble still seems poorly-judged. You are going to have to overrule partner's trump choice (presumably hearts) at least once. Since a cue bid will sound like a game force in hearts, you'll end up making him choose between
5 and5 without ever really getting a firm grip on the auction.Twisted or not, I think pass is the best call. I don't think it's even remotely close. And it worked out great this time, too. If we had redoubled, (b) would be a total guess.
b) what now?
- BARRY
-
5 ...no idea but this guess seems as good as anything. - ROBB
- I just bid
5 . They will probably have to push me to 6. - DAVIDW
-
5 . I must admit that my reticence has not left me badly placed. Partner's voluntary2 bid suggests that5 will be a playable spot, probably a good save. Since RHO didn't know that I have a massive offensive hand, his5 bid was intended as a make. So no slam for me; I expect to lose a diamond on the opening lead, and to watch them cash a spade when they win their heart trick. Down one will be OK, and I suppose it is possible that I've misjudged and we'll make5 . - KENT
- Now that I have found the extra ace and queen I
concealed at my second turn, I'll bid
6 . - LEN
-
6 . I play RHO for something like6 might be cold. In a non-forcing pass situation, X shows extra values and does not discourage partner from bidding, but my hand seems too offensive for that. I would not try 5NT (pick a slam), because RHO might have a heart ruff coming and be too sly to make a Lightner double. - LYNN
- I think I can make
6 , so I'll bid it.6 probably should show this hand, and thus would be a superior bid, but experience tells me that these bids are never as clear to partner as they are to me. The pass over the X seems to have worked brilliantly here. [Thanks! --Jeff] - MIKE
- Now
6 . If course, I already know the point of the hand. It is remarkable that you worked that out at the table. - DAVIDC
- I guess to bid
5 with no real conviction. Too much offense but I am not blasting 6 — all partner did was rebid 2. - MARK
- [Double.] Who knows? It's a guess. You've screwed yourself
by not redoubling or bidding
3 the 2nd round. RHO sounds like 4261 distribution. Partner could have - JOEL
- I trust my opponents about as far as I can
throw them. However, I still bid
5 . - MARSHALL
-
6 . It seems inconsistent, and this is just a guess. - JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
6 - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes 5 5 6 6 Double 1 - WINNING ACTION
- double. Partner had
6 and5 is the same. Most who were in similar situations bid5 , got doubled, and went -200.6 didn't get doubled. - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- I like my choice. Against a heart
contract, RHO will lead a diamond and shift to spades.
Unless partner has a spade honor, he'll need to avoid
a trump loser to make 11 tricks. If he does that, he'll
probably make 12 tricks, so this is probably a 4 or 6 hand.
Also, a confident jump to
6 is less likely to be doubled than a5 "save." As an added bonus, a possible heart finesse is into the takeout doubler, who, since he's short in hearts, is not too likely to have theI'm amazed that the panel supported
6 at all. No one considered it when I showed the problem around at the tournament. Most thought I was nuts even to discuss it.
97xx Ax Kxxxx K9
| RHO | You | LHO | CHO |
| 1NT | Pass | Pass | |
| Pass | | 2NT | Pass |
| Pass | ? |
- BARRY
- Pass and lead spades. Pushing them up a level may be all we need to do to score ave+.
- ROBB
- Pass. If they are going down at all, they are probably going down 2. Don't need to double.
- DAVIDW
- Pass. I expect to beat the vulnerable opponents in 2NT, perhaps a couple on a spade lead. 200 or more on a part-score hand will be fine, and a fitting reward for partner's brave balance. I do not double, because I expect they have a suitable escape hatch in clubs, which I do not dare to double. It's even possible that LHO intended his bid as minor-suit takeout, so let's not give him another chance.
- KENT
- Pass. I think they belong in
3 , and I don't want to let them get there. My first response was to double, but upon reflecting what my options were over3 , I'll pass and hope for plus 200. Partner's call appears to get us off to a better lead than a diamond, the opponents are a level higher than they wanted to be—this looks like the time to defend. - LEN
-
3 . Both partscores might make. - LYNN
- The longer I look at this, the more I think it's right
to pass, LOTT or not. LHO has minors, RHO has good spades,
and the axe is ready to fall if bidding is wrong. If partner
shares my philosophy, he'd bid
2 on trash likeMy second choice is X, which ought to suggest that I have a good hand for both offense and defense. On this auction, though, I think we have little chance of getting out for -100—if we are down, they are going to X us.
- MIKE
- Pass. Something weird is going on here, but I'm not
prepared to double them. If partner has agressively balanced,
great, that ought to help the defense and they are one level
higher. If they did something strange, then we are getting
200 or more and that's all we need.
I would have bid
2 over2 , intending to bid2 over2 or3 over2 to show a good hand with game interest. However, once I start on the low road, the opponents showing values does not make me re-evaluate. - DAVIDC
- Pass. Assuming that the 1NT bid was strong,
partner did not promise values. (If 1NT was weak, then I am smashing 2NT
because we have more than half the deck; but then again I would have bid
3 the first time.) Partner bounced them out of their comfortable 1NT. My monkey could be3 . - MARK
- Pass. Assuming a strong 1NT and partner's possibly having 4-5 in the majors, I would pass since the opponents are vulnerable. One of my Kings is probably wasted on offense, but a trick on defense. A natural 2NT by LHO makes it more likely that partner has only 4 spades on this auction. Additionally, the opponents might be having a misunderstanding in regards to lebensohl.
- JOEL
- Pass. I'm no hero.
- MARSHALL
- Pass.
- JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
3 - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes Pass 10 3 2 - WINNING ACTION
- Double. Partner held
- JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- Bidding
3 was a blunder. LHO's 2NT was takeout for the minors. RHO passed it, so unless he's a madman (in real life, he is known to be one) either they have no fit or he's done something foolish. If they have no fit, ours isn't wonderful, so we should defend. If he's done something foolish, we should defend.On the other hand, red/red is the vulnerability in which partner is LEAST likely to perpetrate a "brave" balance. If they double and nip us one, it's a disaster. If they don't and just beat it, and we were holding 1NT to one, it's -100 vs. -90. That's still bad. If we are making, they are sometimes going down two, so even then when the operation succeeds, sometimes the patient dies anyway. Since partner rates to have something, we should be making
3 , probably doubled. Upon reflection, I probably ought to have made a game try directly via2 ...2 . We'd've probably bought it there.
xxx AKQxxx J10x x
| RHO | You | LHO | CHO |
| | 1NT | Dbl |
| 3NT | ? |
- BARRY
- Pass. Will beat 3NT and might not beat
4 .[On defense...] Win
- ROBB
- Is double not penalty? If it is penalty, I
certainly double. If not, I pass. [I have no
idea what double was, but given partner's hand,
it wasn't penalty. I think he missaw the auction. --Jeff]
[On defense,] I duck and hope partner has the club ace. I guess the alternative is to win and switch to the diamond jack.
- DAVIDW
- Pass, for reasons similar to the last hand. I think we'll
beat 3NT on a heart lead, which I may have to duck. If I double,
then RHO, who must have bid 3NT on a string of clubs, will
probably run successfully to
4 , which neither of us will be able to double with assurance. Any plus ought to be good since I can't see us making a game. It's possible we have to score more than 110 or 140 to protect our partial, but that's cutting things awfully fine. - KENT
- Pass. Partner has a call coming, and I have my original call.
[On defense,] I duck, encouraging. I've been wrong more times
cashing than ducking.
- LEN
- Is X responsive? I would assume penalty, but then 3NT is weird.
I assume 3NT shows running clubs, but how can partner have
a penalty double of 1NT given my hand?
I pass, unless Zia is on my right, fooling around favorable, and my partner is too starstruck to double again when it's right.
[On defense,] I play a small heart (encouraging) and wait for pard to put me in. I pitch black cards, and split diamond honors if a small diamond is led from dummy.
- LYNN
- Did this really happen at the table? [Yes. All of these
did. It was a very strange nationals. --Jeff] Do I have any
clue about my RHO's abilities? His tendency toward trickery?
[Nope. --Jeff] Or did partner's double show support? [Nope. --Jeff]
(I usually don't play support doubles, so I have no idea whether
they'd apply here.) [Nope. --Jeff]
Well, after all that, I will assume that partner just had some values, RHO has a lot of solid clubs (probably seven). I don't feel confident about beating 3NT (unless I think my LHO is the joker, and I'd expect to know that at the table), so I'll try
4 . I might make that anyway, if I was collecting a number. - MIKE
- Pass. Partner was a passed hand, which I believe
is important information (it puts his double in context,
otherwise we are playing with a pinochle deck — moreso!)
LHO has advertised a heart stopper, but may not have one.
We aren't making
4 , but if partner thought we were beating 1NT, we ought to have a good shot at beating 3NT.The defense seems clear to put your highest x at trick 1 and hope that we get in before they take nine tricks (partner has a club stopper or the
- DAVIDC
- What was double? (I play it would be
2 the first time. Pretty likely that RHO is a bullet plus running clubs, LHO is JTxx plus a card. I believe the "standard rule" is that when only one suit has been bid, double says "don't do anything stupid, lead my suit." That's what I want to have happen so I double. Minus 550 won't surprise me, but in that case I bet I wasn't getting many matchpoints anyway.[On defense:] I am going with my initial assumption that partner has the pointed suits. I hope that declarer has only four hearts. Let's play partner for something like
- MARK
- Pass. I assume that double is responsive for the pointed suits. At
any other vulnerability I would bid
4 for take-out. With a running club suit in RHO I believe they're making 3NT, but the vulnerability stops me from sacrificing. I fear too many handling charges to get out for -200. - JOEL
- Pass. Maybe partner won't let them make an overtrick on the lead. [Dreamer! --Jeff]
- MARSHALL
- Pass. It is possible, but very unlikely, that
LHO has a heart stopper. I think partner will probably lead a heart.
LHO may gamble on a pass, even with
4 or5 . [Presumably, Marshall cashes the top hearts. He almost found a way to go -400. On the 3rd heart, partner encourages spades rather strongly, and now a spade shift nets five tricks. --Jeff] - JEFF AT THE TABLE
-
4 - CONSENSUS
-
Action Votes Pass 9 4 2 Double 1 Defense Votes Duck 1st Heart 5 Win and play J2 Cash Hearts 1 - WINNING ACTION
- hard to say. Partner leads the
4 is down 1 undoubled. - JEFF UPON REFLECTION
- It sure sounds as if dummy has
seven club tricks and an ace or two. Partner should
have secondary values in my fragments; I assume he thought
he was making some sort of responsive double, so
4 shouldn't go down two and is likely not to be doubled. On the other hand, partner may have misread the auction and may think my4 is some sort of cue bid. That could be really bad. I think, however, he simply didn't notice the1 opening bid and had enough to double a 1NT overcall. That sort of thing happens a lot in the fast pairs. If so,4 looks like a reasonable choice. If I knew he had two hearts and couldn't be squeezed out of one of them, I'd defend. There's no way I'm doubling; I'm not hitting4 .