[ArtK78]

The problem was posed at matchpoints. Hence my choice of a 2♠ call.

Also, I expect that a direct action by partner over 2♥ shows a sound hand. In my partnerships, we do not make borderline overcalls of preempts. So, I have to protect him. Balancing with a double on this shape makes no sense to me. My spades are good. Partner will not expect a better hand (he might expect a 5th spade, but he has seen 4 card balances before).

Pard will NOT raise on a balanced 8 or 9 count.

[Al_U_Card]

Scoring: MP

p-3♥-p-3♠
p-4♦-DBL

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Sadly it was one of those hands and pard got excited so we got a nice -800 for our trouble. (3S would have been no bargain and 3D whb doubled but not 2S). The pointy suits were 5-5 in the doubler's hand. I think that 3D is plenty but once I chose to double....it was game over. Pass was the big winner.

[han]

I agree with jdonn's initial post, double only white vs white at MPs, and never 2S.

3D is definitely enough with partner's hand.

[ArtK78]

Al_U_Card, on Oct 26 2007, 08:37 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

p-3♥-p-3♠
p-4♦-DBL

---

Sadly it was one of those hands and pard got excited so we got a nice -800 for our trouble. (3S would have been no bargain and 3D whb doubled but not 2S).  The pointy suits were 5-5 in the doubler's hand.  I think that 3D is plenty but once I chose to double....it was game over.  Pass was the big winner.

Another example of partner getting overly enthusiastic after partner balances.

Over double or 2♠, 3♦ is enough. And, if you play Lebensohl in this situation, over the double 3♦ shows values so it is certainly enough.

Yes, pass would have worked out on this hand. But I do not believe it is the winner in the long run. Once I balance, 3♦ is the best available spot.

By the way, while it would not affect my choice of action, it appears that my partner and I both hold the ♦J.

[Al_U_Card]

Tks for the fix. I wasn't sure if emotion had got to me after the first board (being passed out after a J/S is kind of unsettling) but while pard cannot bid 3D red after 2H, he can subtract that famous "balancing king" which makes his hand very borderline for anything other than 3D. I did consider 2S but felt that with the right 13 pt hand that 3NT might play well. Now that is emotion.....