[paulg]

Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1♠ - (2♥) - ?

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As Fred has said in a couple of threads recently, judgement is more valuable than a complex system. I'm a competent player but feel that my judgement is often poor, especially on wild hands.

This hand, from the recent (English) National Swiss Teams, bothered me at the time and still does now. Were my actions bad, poor or normal?

So we start with the first part of the problem - do you double (negative) or bid 3♦ (forcing)? How much do you worry about partner's next action in selecting your bid?

p

PS Your system is 5-card majors, 14-16NT. Opposition are on the same score as you after 10 rounds, so are presumably competent too even though you don't know them. As you gave the field a 3 match start but are unbeaten since then, you believe you are probably more competent

PPS I am noticing a disturbing similarity between sceptic and me (his mentor) in only posting our bad hands!

[Kalvan14]

Double: I'm not strong enough to invoke a GF, and the spade misfit is troubling.
I will not be surprised if pard rebids 4♠

[Kalvan14]

True, but your strength is a bit suspicious. Are you going to play in a minor 100%, or are you going to pass when (if, sorry) partner rebids spades at high level?

[Free]

I agree with Justin here. If we Double and LHO raises ♥ to some level, and partner bids through the roof in ♠, is there any way to show our 6-5 minor hand?

[fred]

I think it is clear to bid 3♦.

Besides the reasons expressed by Jlall, making a negative double will endplay you over 2 of partner's most likely rebids (2♠ and 2NT). What are you supposed to do after that given that 3♦ would be non-forcing? Even if partner bids 3 of a minor in response to your negative double, you are not going to be able to convince him that you have a hand like this. The only way to do that is to start bidding your suits immediately.

A negative double is a question, not a statement. This hand calls for making a statement.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[Kalvan14]

2♠ and 2NT would no be at the top of my worries (in particular 2NT). 3♠ (or 4♠) would be worse. I am not convinced that there is a game in a hand where we are likely in misfit.
Let's see the other way around: 3♦-3♠-4♣-4♠: a reasonable auction.
We can either play 4♠ (I'd expect that partner has 7 cards, but...) or complete the 2-suiter disclosure with 5♣ (only this time partner has 7 cards in spades, 1 diamond and 2 clubs).
IMO, it is pretty close, and at the table I might go either way (depending on a more pessimistic or optimistic mood, I suppose). I am just surprised that there is this complete consensus on invoking a GF on these values and a certain misfit in partner's best suit.

[MickyB]

Not much to add, but I think 3♦ is clear. Can't think why I wouldn't just bid out my shape.

[HeartA]

Jlall, on Feb 2 2006, 05:47 PM, said:

I bid 3D. I don't recall ever making a neg X with 5-5 or 6-5 when I had enough strength to freebid.

no other choice, imo.

[Miron]

3♦, I have well placed ♥K and only 5 loosing tricks. The void in spades is unpleasant, but I need just one minor. So he has to have 7-3-1-2 to be without minor fit (6-4-1-2 is not probably with the 2♥ overcall). And if he hes weak spades (or a strong hand) there will be some slam (after I show 6-5 in minors).

[paulg]

Due to a misguided concern that I'd never be able to show both suits, I doubled to try and get them both in - clearly mistake #1.

Anyhow, the rest of you would have seen the auction continue as follows:

Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1♠ - (2♥) - 3♦
(3♥) - 3NT - (4♥) - ?

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A slightly surprising turn of affairs, but it's your turn again.

p

[Miron]

5♣. Partner has (most probably) ♥A, that's good news. Let him select the trumps, he can also decide whether he wants to play slam.

[han]

3D looks good, now it seems like I have only winning calls available. Double will give us a decent score, and 5C will likely lead us to a making game. I think that it is very close, the spade void asks for a double, but I vote for 5C since I am on lead.

[luis]

First question I bid 3♦
Second question I bid 5♣

[dougbennion]

Isn't there a good case for making 2NT takeout in that position? With some flattish 11-12 count you can start with a double.

I'd bid 2NT and blame pard if he took it as natural.

[paulg]

The full hand was:

Scoring: IMP

(Pass) - 1♠ - (2♥) - 3♦
(3♥) - 3NT - (4♥) ...

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The lunatic bidding of the opponents has made the grand difficult to bid, but at least most of you are bidding (at least) the small slam.

Thanks for your help,

p

[000002]

oh, the fallacy is becoming truth.

To show the whole instead of the portion,WC player ever warned us more than 1000 in the whole 999 times .