[Jinksy]

Scoring: MP

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How do you think the bidding and play on this should go (it came up on an MP night, though I'm also curious whether people would bid/play differently at IMPs), assuming you're playing a natural bidding system such as SAYC? Seems to me there are at least three or four reasonable sequences that end in quite different places. The play seems potentially interesting, too.

At our table (E/W playing Acol), it went
1H X 2D P
2H P 3N X
4H P P X
P P P

So ATB (if any), then say how you think it should/could reasonably have gone.

[manudude03]

I'd prefer 2♦ to be non-forcing. So my auction goes:

1♥-X-XX-2♦?
2♥-P-3♥-AP

[Phil]

manudude03, on Aug 12 2010, 02:08 PM, said:

I'd prefer 2♦ to be non-forcing. So my auction goes:

1♥-X-XX-2♦?
2♥-P-3♥-AP

This, but I wouldn't bid 2♦ with that South drek. I think pass is clear.

[kenrexford]

4♥ ain't down yet. This gets real close to making, and it might make with a slip of the defense or unfortunate lead.

[Cyberyeti]

The way I play, after 1♥-X-XX-any bidding 2♥ is weaker than passing, so we'd play 2♥, as what W has is at the top end of what 2♥ shows, and E won't raise.

[Jinksy]

So no-one thinks E/W can find a penalty X of a N/S contract?

[jdonn]

Jinksy, on Aug 12 2010, 04:29 PM, said:

So no-one thinks E/W can find a penalty X of a N/S contract?

Only if west is willing to pass a penalty double of 2♦ with a singleton and a minimum hand, which would cause you to lose other penalties since east couldn't double as easily with 4 trumps.

[peachy]

Jinksy, on Aug 12 2010, 04:29 PM, said:

So no-one thinks E/W can find a penalty X of a N/S contract?

After 1H-X-XX- South should pass and opener will bid 2H so the Doubler is off the hook. Doubler has nothing to say, East has nothing to say, and now if South bids 3D and it goes P-P-, East can Double. But is opener going to leave it in? Maybe he should, he already showed no interest in doubling them when he bid 2H voluntarily before the Redoubler had a chance to express opinion. But how many will? I expect not many so not very likely, though it is possible.

[bucky]

peachy, on Aug 12 2010, 05:13 PM, said:

After 1H-X-XX- South should pass and opener will bid 2H so the Doubler is off the hook. Doubler has nothing to say, East has nothing to say, and now if South bids 3D and it goes P-P-, East can Double. But is opener going to leave it in? Maybe he should, he already showed no interest in doubling them when he bid 2H voluntarily before the Redoubler had a chance to express opinion. But how many will? I expect not many so not very likely, though it is possible.

Cannot imagine anyone bidding 3D with South hand after this sequence, so west will not have the problem of whether to leave the double in.

[Fluffy]

I can imagine E/W playing in part score

[OleBerg]

1♥ - X - XX - something
2♥ -

Now neither Pass nor 3♥ are unreasonable, and it will be the final contract.

As for the getting a penalty thing:

South should pass an XX, which should not be penalty, and then North can bid 1♠.

If EW goes for the throat here, they will have many accidents.