[gnasher]

Scoring: MP

1♥ (5♣)

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[nigel_k]

5♥. We could miss a slam but bidding six is too much. There are some RHO's I might double and try for 800 but I wouldn't do it if he is sound or unknown.

[gwnn]

never again will I succumb to bullying and intimidation; X

with some partners (who don't routinely open 1M on 11) I bid 5♥ because I expect to make.

[mikeh]

I'm torn....hence a good problem.

Give RHO AKJxxxxx and out and most would bid 5♣ even red....I mean, 4♣ is an awful preempt when you aren't comfortable when they bid 4♥ over it.

I wish I were playing a modified Reese-Shapiro method where I'd know how many clubs partner held.

If he has 2 (or 3!), we should be doubling 'cos we will get 800 (almost) any time we make 650. If he has one (or none!) we should be bidding, 'cos our game is virtually cold even if they have a red trick on offence and defence.

I'm gonna bid...partner is a slight favourite to be the one short in clubs, and even when he's not, he's not down yet...while there is just too much chance that they have a slow diamond trick or that he has 9 clubs or that they have some 9th trick somewhere else.

Besides, I have recently been described as double-happy and I want to scotch that rumour. Yes, I can be pushed around in the auction!

I won't be the least bit surprised to learn that double was the winning action.

[dake50]

This is one I've discussed with partner. Double shows up-going values BUT two losers in their suit. So X --the no-slam double.
Bid on then promises a control in their suit --whatever else may be this given hand's problem. The intent is to give sure information.
This leaves many problems for reopening: bid other than double has their control, but by-guess, by-golly what partner may have; and what continue taking out no-slam double makes sense.
Here overbid may bounce them into phantom sacrifice --so less cost than auctions with more space.

[655321]

I would double.

Just on general principles I really hate to bid 5/5, and with such a balanced hand with Qx in their suit it looks even uglier to me.

At IMPs I believe that double is clearly correct, at MPs there is definitely more of a case for bidding. Bidding will work when 5♥ makes and 5♣ gets out for less than 800. Doubling will work when 5♥ doesn't make (unless 5♣ makes) and when 5♣ goes for 800 (unless we should be bidding 6♥). Actually, now I have almost talked myself into thinking that 5♥ is right at MP, but it still looks so ugly that I can't bring myself to bid it!

[jdonn]

I like 5♥. If it was just a 5♥ vs 5♣x decision I would pick 5♣x, but

- Sometimes partner can bid a good 6♥.
- Sometimes they sacrifice in 6♣.
- Even ignoring both those points, 5♥ vs 5♣x was a close decision to begin with.

[whereagles]

Certainly dbl at imps. At mps it's not that simple. I'd try 5♥ instead, as the chances for 800 are slim.

[rogerclee]

I don't know about other people but I just haven't played against that many people who jump to 5m red at matchpoints without having it. I wouldn't double because I am not loaded at all in the minors and I'm worried that RHO is 3-9 or 4-8 and we will only get 200 or 500 against that kind of hand often, so in the end I would bid 5H (definitely not good enough to try anything stronger, especially with the extremely likely bad breaks).

[Phil]

rogerclee, on Aug 9 2010, 10:31 PM, said:

I don't know about other people but I just haven't played against that many people who jump to 5m red at matchpoints without having it. I wouldn't double because I am not loaded at all in the minors and I'm worried that RHO is 3-9 or 4-8 and we will only get 200 or 500 against that kind of hand often, so in the end I would bid 5H (definitely not good enough to try anything stronger, especially with the extremely likely bad breaks).

This echoes my thinking. 8-4 seems pretty likely here.

[pooltuna]

my gut reaction is 5♥ and I usually need a good reason to override but I don't see one here.

[cherdanno]

655321, on Aug 9 2010, 06:47 PM, said:

I would double.

Just on general principles I really hate to bid 5/5, and with such a balanced hand with Qx in their suit it looks even uglier to me.

Maybe it would help you psychologically if we make the clubs xx?
Seriously, I think the only cases where Qx will take a trick is where partner has singleton ♣K or ♣Kx - neither of which is likely at all. On the other hand, the queen dropping doubleton makes RHO's hand purer than he thinks, and also increases the odds that partner's hcp are useful on offense.
So if you want to double, please leave the poor queen of clubs free of all blame...

[Cascade]

I hate double at this level with undisclosed support for partner. These things seem to work out very badly too often.

[bluecalm]

5♥ for me.
I am not doubling them without trump stack having four card support.
Color me yellow.

[gwnn]

I'm sure nobody will believe me but I really thought we were favourable here.

I think I will bid 5♥ here as well.

I promise I did not do this because 655321 changed his mind.