[AL78]

Fell victim to a dog walker yesterday evening (they were playing Acol hence the 6-9HCP 1NT response):

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Just made. Only a three table movement and the contract and result was repeated at one of the other tables. At the other table North was allowed to play in 2♠.

This sums up why bridge sucks at times. In a session where partner and I defended 12 out of the first 15 hands, I pick up a 22 count and have to defend a making four level contract on which someone else was allowed to declare in my seat at the two level.

[helene_t]

Dog walkers can be really nasty beasts. You have my sympathy.

Probably 3 doubles were enough, though. But it's always easy to be clever when seeing all four hands.

[mikeh]

You don’t have a 22 count. What about this auction says that your diamond king is worth anything at all? AQxx AKx x AKQxx is a 22 count

The other day I held a balanced 21 and after 1D on my right, I doubled. LHO bid 1S (my AQ10x suit) and rho bid 2C. I passed with my 4333 hand. Partner actually had a great hand…he held a Jack 😃

Sometimes the auction tells you that what started as a good hand has turned to crap. You have to learn to recognize that.

I’d not have doubled 3D…this hand would not play well in a 4-3 heart fit. I’d want 4=4 majors or at a pinch3=4 because partner will bid 3H with 4=4. I’d never double 4D

[LBengtsson]

helene_t and mikeh are right - as always. All I can add, AL78 is that you are engrossed with your 'nice' hand, (which is not so nice with a stiff ♦K) you are not listening to partner. Think about it further...

...you have a 22 count, opener has probably 11 minimum, opener's partner has at least 6 HCPs, so what can your partner have?

Yes, I agree there are hands where 4♥/4♠ will make, but once you hear the 4♦ bid from East, it is time to shut up.

What sort of dog did the player own? Chihuahua? They are nasty little brats similar, on this occasion, to their owner it seems

[bluenikki]

AL78, on 2022-November-03, 06:44, said:

Fell victim to a dog walker yesterday evening (they were playing Acol hence the 6-9HCP 1NT response):

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Just made. Only a three table movement and the contract and result was repeated at one of the other tables. At the other table North was allowed to play in 2♠.

This sums up why bridge sucks at times. In a session where partner and I defended 12 out of the first 15 hands, I pick up a 22 count and have to defend a making four level contract on which someone else was allowed to declare in my seat at the two level.

Partner's pass over 2♦ denies 7+ hcp outside diamonds unless they have no 4+ major or 5+ clubs.

Partner's pass over 3♦ denies 4+ outside diamonds unless they have no 4+ major or 5+ clubs.

Doubler must rely on advancer to do all the overbidding for the partnership.

[helene_t]

Possibly, South should have bid 4♥ after the final double. But, again, it is easy when seeing all four hands.

[Cyberyeti]

helene_t, on 2022-November-03, 16:03, said:

Possibly, South should have bid 4♥ after the final double. But, again, it is easy when seeing all four hands.

I think scratch the possibly, looks like the doubler could easily have no diamonds and 4 hearts on this auction, make the ♦K the heart king in his hand and he also bids like this.

[akwoo]

I'm not so fond of South passing 4♦, much less 4♦X.

But I also don't double 4♦. 4 of a minor is a bad scoring spot. On general principle, if opps want to play in 4 of a minor at matchpoints, you should tend to let them.

[thepossum]

I'm confused by the bidding. Well over my head

[ali quarg]

North has 8.5 playing tricks and 3.5/4 losers so perhaps equivalent to a 22 count
Is there an alternative bid to X that describes this hand?
2NT as in the overcall structure is the closest, I can think of, but is it on in 4th seat after 2 bids with partner passing?
This may not prevent EW from winning the contract and could push them to 5♦, but perhaps it could encourage South to be more competitive.

Is Pass over 2♦ standard as I would tend to compete with a weak 5 card Major even at this vulnerability?

[Douglas43]

ali quarg, on 2022-November-04, 03:53, said:

North has 8.5 playing tricks and 3.5/4 losers so perhaps equivalent to a 22 count
Is there an alternative bid to X that describes this hand?
2NT as in the overcall structure is the closest, I can think of, but is it on in 4th seat after 2 bids with partner passing?
This may not prevent EW from winning the contract and could push them to 5♦, but perhaps it could encourage South to be more competitive.

Is Pass over 2♦ standard as I would tend to compete with a weak 5 card Major even at this vulnerability?

I think I'd have passed over 2♦, but then bid 3♥ over 3♦. Partner's second double is a pretty clear wake-up call. Don't know about what I'd do over 4♦ though.