[mike777]

Edmunte1, on Feb 17 2007, 05:12 AM, said:

Playing in a strong team match, you're dealer, all vulnerable, and you pick

♠Qx
♥---
♦AKQ109xx
♣AJ10x

and biding goes
1♦ - (3♥)-pass-(pass)
?

Your choice?

and????

[inquiry]

mike777, on Feb 21 2007, 09:43 AM, said:

Edmunte1, on Feb 17 2007, 05:12 AM, said:

Playing in a strong team match, you're dealer, all vulnerable, and you pick

♠Qx
♥---
♦AKQ109xx
♣AJ10x

and biding goes
1♦ - (3♥)-pass-(pass)
?

Your choice?

and????

Bid 5♦ (like I did) and make on the nose... see three post above yours.

[mikestar]

5♦ bid what you think you can make.

[jchiu]

5♦. Bid game first, ask questions later (c.f. 'shoot first, ask questions later'). I have rarely been able to appreciate the ♠ honor, nothing wasted in ♥, and a few small diamonds when partner bids 4♦ on this sequence. So I will refrain from putting pressure on partner to do so only when it's right. I think a 4♦ bid can be made on as little as

♠ xx
♥ x
♦ AQJ98xx
♣ AQ10

I am a big fan of bidding 3NT without proper stoppers in several situations, but this is certainly not one of them. Although the diamond suit rates to come in for seven tricks opposite a singleton most of the time, partner will also misdjudge if they choose to sacrifice in 4♥. It only wins when they leave you in 3NT and partner provides an adequate stopper in dummy.

[Fluffy]

I voted for 3NT, bid what you think you can make.

[the hog]

Bit late for this and "yes" I have seen all the hands, but 5D is a standout.

[pork rind]

the problem with 3nt is that it gives up on slam. 4d, 4h, 4n, and 5d still retains a change of getting to slam. partner could have a pretty good hand here.