[ArtK78]

I played in the District 4 NAOP Finals this past weekend. There were a number of interesting hands. Here is the first one:

Matchpoints.

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1NT shows 15-18.

This is a Lebensohl situation, so you have the following choices:

1) Pass.
2) Double (the agreement is that this is a penalty double).
3) 2NT, intending to bid 3♦ to play.
4) 3♦ forcing.
5) Something else.

Your move.

[WellSpyder]

Double.

My trumps may look thin for a penalty double, but it is hard to see how I can have more than this on the bidding, when all three of the other players have already shown holdings in the suit.

[ggwhiz]

2nt on the way to 3♦ mostly because I can't double (it's takeout with my pard)

Too many jacks and sketchy hand entries to get bullish when partner is marked with Ax or Kx in hearts

[quiddity]

I expect partner to have near the top of his range to bid a vulnerable 1NT with short hearts opposite a passed-hand partner; with 15 or so he probably could have doubled instead. With no way to invite I think I'd just shoot 3NT.

[CSGibson]

Double. I have a marginal hand for offense, and a decent hand for defense, plus enough values to make this worthwhile.

[jeffford76]

Double seems right with these conditions. I voted before I read them, because I've never not played takeout here.

[quiddity]

oh, i didn't notice the penalty double.. i think that's pretty reasonable at matchpoints.

[cherdano]

Tough one. I think there are two possibilities:
- Partner has ♥Hx, and a shape unsuitable for a takeout double, so something like 2245 or maybe 2236. We definitely don't want to double them at the 2-level in their double fit.
- LHO opened on a 4-card suit, partner may have something like HTx in hearts, and we want to double them or play 3NT.

Overall, I think 3NT has the best risk-reward ratio.

[wyman]

There's barely room for LHO to have an honest opener and RHO to have an honest raise, and I've always done well playing for honesty among opps where it's possible. In which case, we have 23, and they have 17, and 3N looks like a bad proposition when they have an easy lead. We might make 3m, but I'd rather play for +200.
So, I'd double at MP if it were penalty.

However, for me, doubles aren't penalty here, which makes this even tougher I think. I guess I'd probably relay to 3D.

[akhare]

Given East's third hand opener and MPs, X seems OK.

[Endymion77]

Double, we're not making game here and if they're making 2♥ we're getting a zero anyway. Relaying to 3♦ is a very losing proposition at MPs IMO.

[MrAce]

WellSpyder, on 2013-October-21, 08:00, said:

Double.

My trumps may look thin for a penalty double, but it is hard to see how I can have more than this on the bidding, when all three of the other players have already shown holdings in the suit.

The problem is your double being penalty means it is penalty. It does not show anything about hearts. Pd will not think what u hold or not in hearts, he will just pass. Even if he thinks your dbl promise something in hearts, then he will believe you rather than 3rd seat opener or his pd. So you are not telling your pd to reconsider, you are telling him to pass and that's what he will do. Just don't tell your pd after the hand "what more could i have given the auction" because this is not his duty to figure which hands u may hold among thousands of hands for a bid which clearly means "penalty" in your agreements.

I can see we can defeat 2♥ with crumbled tricks from here and there, but basically we are expecting pd to take 5 tricks on a bad day and 4 tricks on a good day so we can hope to turn one of our jacks into a trick, in order to defeat 2♥. I am not saying it is wrong, but i think if double is wrong, we are going to bottom on this board. Unfortunately with the given agreements, it is hard to determine which other action would be safer.

[ArtK78]

Here is the full hand:

---

Yes, East opened 1♥.

It turns out that double is the winning action, as NS can get +800 against 2♥. The normal contract on the hand is 3NT. Unfortunately, I took the low road on the North hand and steered the contract into 3♦ for a zero. Even +600 is only 2 out of 6, as there were two outlier results - +630 and +1100.

[CSGibson]

I count 3 club tricks, 2 spade tricks, 2 spade ruffs, 1 diamond trick, and the Q of hearts for 1100, if you figure it all out.

[ArtK78]

CSGibson, on 2013-October-22, 15:55, said:

I count 3 club tricks, 2 spade tricks, 2 spade ruffs, 1 diamond trick, and the Q of hearts for 1100, if you figure it all out.

Deep finesse said that NS could make 8 tricks in hearts, but it does seem that there are 9 tricks.

[wank]

ArtK78, on 2013-October-22, 19:30, said:

Deep finesse said that NS could make 8 tricks in hearts.

that's as declarer. you can often make an extra trick with the opening lead. hence, often, nether side can make 1NT (or indeed 1 of a suit, though deep normally doesn't analyse minority fits).

[rmnka447]

Without looking, I voted for Dbl.

Like some others, I don't think 8 points with 4 jacks is enough for game. There's also a concern that we may hold only 1 ♥ stopper between us. That means we'll likely have to run off 8 more tricks in NT after winning our ♥ trick. In any case, we have 23 HCP minimum with our strong hand behind opener. The ♥ Jxx insures at least one heart trick opposite partner's presumed doubleton honor. There is some prospect for a ♠ ruff.

Bidding to 3 ♦ holds no assurance that that's right. The vulnerability is right also for doubling (i.e. a possible -200 looms big). So, this seems to be the time to risk a close matchpoint double. If it's wrong, it's only one board.

[nige1]

ArtK78, on 2013-October-21, 07:05, said:

Matchpoints.
1NT shows 15-18.
This is a Lebensohl situation, so you have the following choices:
1) Pass.
2) Double (the agreement is that this is a penalty double).
3) 2NT, intending to bid 3♦ to play.
4) 3♦ forcing.
5) Something else.

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IMO Double (Penalty) = 10, 3N (natural) = 9, 2N (Lebensohl) = 8, 3♦ = 7. Pass = 6. At matchpoints, Pass is likely to lose to tables where partner is allowed to play a notrump contract.