[Stephen Tu]

Scoring: IMP

---

(p)-p-(1♥)-dbl;
(4♥)-5♦-(p)-??

[pooltuna]

Stephen Tu, on Feb 15 2010, 10:58 PM, said:

Dealer: West Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠ Qxx ♥ Ax ♦ AQx ♣ AKT8x

(p)-p-(1♥)-dbl;
(4♥)-5♦-(p)-??

well 5♥ clearly commits to 6♦. Looking at the ♦K and the ♠A seems a bit light for 5♦ so after a 5♠ Qbid I might bid 7♦

[manudude03]

I'll settle for 6♦, I don't want to discourage partner from bidding 5♦ on ♦KJxxxx and an outside card.

To answer the title, I give partner a little rope, but not enough for a noose .

[karlson]

I didn't realize 6♦ was cold opposite KJxxxx and an outside card.

I would pass, obviously might not work very well.

[MarkDean]

I would also pass.

[awm]

My inclination is to raise here, with an eye to the vulnerability. If the colors were different, partner could bid 5♦ on a wide range of hands hoping for a successful sacrifice when we have a minimum double, in which case our actual hand may be just enough for partner to make. But at red/white, partner should expect to have play for the contract opposite the right minimum double. This strongly suggests a heart singleton and at least one if not two useful cards. Something like ♠Kxx ♥x ♦Kxxxxx ♣Qxx is certainly possible, and partner could even have a seven-card diamond suit that wasn't good enough to open at the three level (especially if we don't play weak 2♦).

[Fluffy]

raise, they have to find the spade lead if they have one.

[Free]

6♦

[PFormaini]

Stephen Tu, on Feb 15 2010, 10:58 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

---

(p)-p-(1♥)-dbl;
(4♥)-5♦-(p)-??

Pass.

The opening bidder is on lead. They almost certainly have the A-K ♠ (since if we are giving partner the ♦K and some 'other' card, there is nothing left for them to hold.

If the ♠Q were the ♠K I would venture 6♦, but why risk an almost sure penalty looking for perfect cards?

[Stephen Tu]

FWIW, on the actual hand:

If you pass, you probably get a boring push with 3nt at the other table.

If you raise, you reach a slam which on the normal heart lead basically is on the club Q hook through the opening bidder, certainly not the worst slam I've ever reached. The club hook fails though.

BUT:::
- it turns out opening bidder has chosen to psych 1♥ on their 5=3=3=2 4 HCP.
- this causes basically everyone else at the table to overbid counting on the missing 2 hearts he supposedly has (your partner looking at 3 small hearts stretched a bit more than usual, thinking you might not dbl again on some min heart-void/stiff hands where 5♦ can make).
- it also causes LHO, with 10 hcp, to double 6d. This induces a change in lead, and a subsequent misdefense. When the smoke clears you are +1540

Maybe isn't a valid data point, but does remind one to factor in the possibility of 3rd hand favorable vul opp not really having anything.

[kenrexford]

I'm not sure what's going on, and even knowing what happens, I'm fairly certain 6♦ (at least) is the winning action.

Partner's pass...5♦ sequence screams a missing spade card, and you need little more.