[SimonFa]

We got a bit of a slaughtering tonight when playing pivot teams when non-regular partner and I were on different planets.

RvR, I dealt

P (P) 1S (2C)
X (3C) 3NT All pass

Playing Benji Acol and weak NT, so 1S could be 4333

♠Tx
♥KJxxx
♦KTxx
♣xx

When I put dummy down partner, a long in the tooth club player, made that well known sigh meaning that I had done something stupid.

During the post-mortem in the the wreckage of a 4 down contract that would have made in 4H, I asked partner what he was expecting from a passed hand bidding a negative double. More points was the response, when pushed for more information he said 8-9.

I knew when I made the bid I was a bit thin but surely that shouldn't lead to such a loss?

LHO, a Lifetime Master or something similar, reckoned that 2H would have been the better "lie".

It turned out partner was 5/4 in the majors.

So, how bad was the double compared to 2H, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being "what were you smoking at the half way break" and 1 being it was OK but...?

As always, thanks in advance for you frank comments

Simon

[neilkaz]

"what was your PD smoking at the half way break?" Why on earth after your negX which guarantees at least 4 would he prefer 3NT to 4♥? Did he have a double ♣ stop+?

Anyhow..I'm not an ACOL expert but here in the states I'd think you're a bit light for 2♥ even after passing and would make a negX although I am minimal for that action.

.. neilkaz ..

[blackshoe]

Agree with double. Do not agree with 3NT.

[masse24]

Double all day.
You ain't that light. I expect 8 from my pard as well and would be happy with what you have. (You're only promising 4 ♥'s)

Your partner needs to bid ♥'s.

[menggq]

DBL=NEG OK.
2♥ overbid.

If pd has solid long ♠ and ♣ stopper 3N wd be acceptable,otherwise 3N sd be crazy bidding!

[Hanoi5]

You had 7HCP's, he expectedd 8-9. Would he have made the contract if you held the other J or Q or two J? I don't think so, he was just expecting the perfect hand from you so that 3NT could be a make.

[gordontd]

SimonFa, on 2011-October-24, 17:26, said:

We got a bit of a slaughtering tonight when playing pivot teams when non-regular partner and I were on different planets.

He certainly was

[mcphee]

I am in with the neg dble, not doing so seems timid.

After reading your post isn't it possible your partner sighed because I saw what a dumb bunny move he made with 3N? And it was the life master who was on the wacky tabbacy suggestion 2H which somewhat justified the 3N? Clearly they should play together.

[gwnn]

The negative double is absolutely perfect. I will politely suggest that your partner has lost his mind criticising it. By the way, he should have doubled for takeout to suggest support if he had had 3 cards (1♠-2♣-x-3♣; x=usually 3 card support in hearts).

edit: oh the humanity! he had 4 hearts!!!! he should bid 3♥, which you should pass (barely) or 4♥, which would make.

This post has been edited by gwnn: 2011-October-25, 05:01

[BunnyGo]

gwnn, on 2011-October-25, 05:00, said:

The negative double is absolutely perfect. I will politely suggest that your partner has lost his mind criticising it. By the way, he should have doubled for takeout to suggest support if he had had 3 cards (1♠-2♣-x-3♣; x=usually 3 card support in hearts).

edit: oh the humanity! he had 4 hearts!!!! he should bid 3♥, which you should pass (barely) or 4♥, which would make.

Yes, it's clear the partner had lost his mind well before criticizing the double...bidding anything but hearts is insane.

[Free]

Not sure if it's the case in Benji ACOL, but usually 2♥ shows a much stronger hand. You have both unbid suits without values to bid at 2-level so Dbl is definitely ok. Partner can't blame you for his own mistake of not raising with a 4 card fit...

[gwnn]

Indeed, suppose you had passed, then most likely you would have defended 3♣ with your expert pard (missing 4♥). Well perhaps he would have bid 3NT over 3♣, then I suppose he would have blamed you for not pulling it to 4♥ .

[chasetb]

On a scale of 1-10, I have to give a -10, meaning "Partner, what the **** are you smoking???" I would X with that hand in every partnership I have played. LHO is also either not too bright, or was trying to start an argument between you and partner.

One little critique - I would be opening 1NT on most 4333 hands that fit the range, unless I had something like AKQx or AKJx. 4333 usually plays better in NT.

[ggwhiz]

I can stomach neg dbl or 2♥, whatever pard chooses and will go about my business.

What I can't stomach is a ridiculous 3nt bid that makes a pre-emptive criticism of a normal action. That is sooo old school. Typical of one of our players who had world class talent and managed zero partnerships that lasted more than a month.

[SimonFa]

ggwhiz, on 2011-October-25, 17:12, said:

I can stomach neg dbl or 2♥, whatever pard chooses and will go about my business.

What I can't stomach is a ridiculous 3nt bid that makes a pre-emptive criticism of a normal action. That is sooo old school.

As I said, partner was long in the tooth. So is LHO for that matter.

Thanks all for rest of comments, I now feel a lot more confident.

[gwnn]

chasetb, on 2011-October-25, 10:38, said:

One little critique - I would be opening 1NT on most 4333 hands that fit the range, unless I had something like AKQx or AKJx. 4333 usually plays better in NT.

I'm pretty sure they do, too. I see no evidence to the contrary.

[pooltuna]

based on your scale I choose some negative number. Anyone who calls 3NT holding 54 majors on this auction needs to borrow my Tantō ASAP before he is shot.

[MrAce]

What previous posters said.

% 100 agree with your DBL. I dont wanna comment about your pd, i can't be as polite as Gwnn