[gnasher]

IMPs, nobody vulnerable

1♣ pass 3♣

AK74 KJ5 K73 A64

1♣ is clubs or a weak notrump, including 3=2 or 4=2 in the minors but not 5=2.

What do you do? If you double, what do you plan to do on the next round?

[Echognome]

I think an initial double seems clear enough. I'll probably pass whatever partner bids (if not a cuebid).

[rogerclee]

This is sort of an ugly double, but the alternative is defending 3♣. I prefer not to win my IMPs three at a time.

[kfay]

rogerclee, on Jun 17 2008, 06:34 PM, said:

This is sort of an ugly double, but the alternative is defending 3♣. I prefer not to win my IMPs three at a time.

Sort of disagree with you in that I think it's just a regular double. I have compensation for my shape.

[pclayton]

I think its possible for clubs to be 2=5 in the opponent's hands.

But clubs could also be 5-4, so I think double is clear.

[ArtK78]

Double.

I have support for every suit (even clubs!). A classic 4-suiter.

Seriously, what other choice is there? 3NT with Axx of clubs? Pass with an 18 count? Overcall 3♠ on AKxx?

The continuation is less clear. Over 3♦ and 3♥, pass is fairly clear. If partner bids 3♠, I am tempted to bid 4♠. I would pass at MPs, but this is IMPs.

Partner could not overcall 1♣, so he should not have a near opening bid with a 5 card major. And partner is not timid about bidding a game. Furthermore, he must be short in clubs, so if he can't bid game with known club shortness, is there a game in these cards?

On the other hand, partner knows that I am under pressure on this auction. So maybe he is giving me some rope when he makes a simple nonforcing response.

All things considered, it is probably right to pass any nonforcing response.

[Apollo81]

Double and pass. Doesn't seem that close to any other sequence IMO

[Trinidad]

Dbl and Pass.

Also after partner bids 3♠. Give him four queens and four spades and 4♠ won't make. With significantly more (not very likely), partner would bid 4♠.

Give partner four spades and one queen and he will be declaring 4♠ doubled (if you bid 4♠, of course). He will go -2 in 3♠, for -100, but he will be -3 in 4♠X for -500.

Rik

[andy_h]

I would also X and pass

[gnasher]

I also doubled, and passed my partner's 3♥ response, but I don't think it's the right action.

If you double, it's very likely that partner will bid three of a suit. It's really hard to imagine a hand where he'll drive game (perhaps a 4=4=4=1 8-count?).

If he does bid three of a suit, it's likely to be a seven- or eight-card fit. It will be fairly easy to defend, because your hand will be dummy. Do you really prefer to play in a tight three-level partscore than defend 3♣?

I think that if you're going to bid on this hand, you should bite the bullet and bid 3NT, perhaps doubling first to suggest alternatives.

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2008-June-19, 01:29

[hackenbush]

3NT will usually fail, and might even be doubled. Remember that when you double, partner could have a 5+ card suit.

[nige1]

gnasher, on Jun 17 2008, 06:24 PM, said:

IMPs, nobody vulnerable ♠ AK74 ♥ KJ5 ♦ K73 ♣ A64
(1♣) _P (3♣) ??
1♣ is clubs or a weak notrump, including 3=2 or 4=2 in the minors but not 5=2.
What do you do?  If you double, what do you plan to do on the next round?

IMO

• Now, _X = 10, 3N = 9, _P = 8
  
• Later, raise 3♠ to 4♠ otherwise, _P =10, 3N = 9.

IMO Gnasher's argument receives less attention that it deserves:. if you are going to risk bidding at all, then you should aim for a reasonable profit when you are right. Furthermore, a confidently bid 3N is difficult to double.

[CSGibson]

gnasher, on Jun 19 2008, 12:27 AM, said:

I also doubled, and passed my partner's 3♥ response, but I don't think it's the right action.

If you double, it's very likely that partner will bid three of a suit. It's really hard to imagine a hand where he'll drive game (perhaps a 4=4=4=1 8-count?).

If he does bid three of a suit, it's likely to be a seven- or eight-card fit. It will be fairly easy to defend, because your hand will be dummy. Do you really prefer to play in a tight three-level partscore than defend 3♣?

I think that if you're going to bid on this hand, you should bite the bullet and bid 3NT, perhaps doubling first to suggest alternatives.

The problem I see with 3NT is that you need 9 running tricks after the club lead, and I don't see any possibility of that, since partner couldn't take either normal or preemptive action over 1 club.

[gnasher]

CSGibson, on Jun 20 2008, 03:22 PM, said:

The problem I see with 3NT is that you need 9 running tricks after the club lead, and I don't see any possibility of that, since partner couldn't take either normal or preemptive action over 1 club.

I don't think that's true, because it's likely that LHO has three or fewer clubs. Given the methods, RHO is likely to have six. Having passed over 1♣, partner is unlikely to be void; even if he is, if we follow the route of doubling and then bidding 3NT, he will presumably remove 3NT.

Perhaps I should emphasize that I'm not particularly arguing for 3NT; I just think it's better than doubling and then passing a three-level response. I'm actually inclining towards passing over 3♣.