[jillybean]

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[dwar0123]

I'd prefer to be in hearts with such nice honors. but it seems likely my partner is short and if my partner is short surely the opponents are not bidding 4♦ with both having 3+ little ones, in which case hearts are splitting bad making that contract scary even with nice honors.

On the other hand, if both opponents are assuming the other is short, 3 top heart honors will be enjoyable to cash.

I have no other bid that further describes my hand so I double and let my partner decide. If we defend I am not tempted to lead a heart as there is no side suit they are likely to control that they can use to pitch, it is a diamond lead all the way.

[helene_t]

Dbl. This is not penalty but without 3-card heart support, partner will often have nowhere to go so he will convert it. We are fine with this.

[phil_20686]

This looks like a normal double to me. What ever partner does (pass/4H/5S/5C) you will be happy that he has made the right decision.

[mike777]

yes seems normal x as other said.......

[jillybean]

R vs. W will you be happy defending 4♦x?

[paulg]

Clearly we are not passing but this should not be a game-forcing auction for North as two hearts may have been a competitive action (that is, lighter than a normal 2/1 bid).

Double now just says we have no clear bid but have the values for game. I expect partner might pass this quite a lot of the time, but this should work out better than playing in a 4-3 spade fit or 5-2 heart fit.

[neilkaz]

jillybean, on 2012-April-07, 09:43, said:

R vs. W will you be happy defending 4♦x?

I expect to be much happier defending 4♦x than going set in 4♥. I note that if PD had 3 card support along with his opening bid unless he was submin, he'd have bid 4♥ anyhow, even if 2♥ could be a bit lighter than GF since so many opps will carry on to 5♦ over 4♥ even when 4♥ doesn't make as they fear it does on that bidding.

[Phil]

Double. As Neil sez, its very easy to picture hands where we are going down in 4♥. Imagine a 4=2=2=5 where we are losing two diamonds, a heart and a clack suit trick.

On the other hand, if partner pulls to 4♥ I feel pretty good about this, and if partner bids 4♠, I expect some nice shape across, like 4=1=2=6 or 4=2=1=6 and I can bid 5♣. If partner pulls the double and we end up in 5♣, I do not expect this to be cold, but its our best hope.

[Fluffy]

If 2♥ was GF then I´d bid 4♥ since I would take his double as penalty and pass as take out.

But since 2♥ is only 1 round force in standard, partner´s pass is not forcing, and or double is take out.

[jillybean]

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I couldn't stand the thought of defending 4♦X, bid 4♠ and we played in 5♣ making 7

[neilkaz]

You can make a grand in either round suit so I clearly think your PD needed to do considerably more with his offensively oriented hand and 3 card support.

[jillybean]

What would you bid over 4♠, 5♦ ?

[neilkaz]

jillybean, on 2012-April-07, 17:32, said:

What would you bid over 4♠, 5♦ ?

Yes since I don't think you'd have bid 4♠ on a raunchy min and he has to love his hand after you offer a choice of 4♠ likely with a decent 3 carder or 5♣. If I were PD I'd have bid 5♦ on my earlier call rather than passing. Either action should get you to a small slam. It seems too "resulty" to think a grand can be bid.