[billw55]

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IMP pairs, white on red. Doesn't get much simpler than this. Or does it?

[ArtK78]

No, it doesn't. I double.

That is not to say that subsequent actions will be easy. But the double seems clear at this point in the auction.

The only other rational choice would be 2♥, and that could lose the spade suit. 2♥ is also a slight overbid, but I am not as worried about that.

[Free]

I voted Dbl and stfu noob. Dbl because it's the best call imo, stfu noob because for this kind of polls you shouldn't check the "allow users to select multiple answers?" checkbox when creating the poll.

[billw55]

Free, on 2013-August-07, 04:58, said:

I voted Dbl and stfu noob. Dbl because it's the best call imo, stfu noob because for this kind of polls you shouldn't check the "allow users to select multiple answers?" checkbox when creating the poll.

That's exactly why I made it that way, in case somebody wanted to pick a bid and also tell me something. I mostly trust people to not vandalize my poll by selecting all the bids.

Anyway, here is the full hand and story:

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I was south. Result: 3♦+2, +150. This was a bad score as many pairs made game in a red suit ( there were also some other diamond partials, and a couple numbers from 4♣x). My pickup partner then tells me - in all caps - that double is bad and that I should bid 2♥ to show more than four. I didn't agree, but I thought that 2♥ was at least plausible, so decided to check on it.

I was actually more worried that 3♦ is an underbid, but I did not venture to discuss that with this partner.

How would you get to game? Can you check for 3NT along the way? Perhaps I could try 3♣ at my second call.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 X, not even close.
#2 Sure 2H showes 5+, at the time I checked the hand, your partner did hold,
he had only 2 hearts, i.e. you have not 8 card fit in a major.
The neg. X does not deny 5 hearts
#3 3D showes inv. values, you have a max. for the call, but unless you want to
commit to game oppossite a min. opener with 5diamonds, 4 clubs, and club
wastage, 3D is your only bid
#4 after partners reaction you learned the lesson, that you should consider
never to play again with him, since he is resulting

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

This problem has been around for years (and X is obvious).

Imagine the same S hand without the interference.

The auction goes 1♦-1♥-2♦, what do you do now ? You have the same problem, force to game or not, knowing partner doesn't have 4 spades.

For N/B there is no solution to this it's a pure judgment call.

A number of experts will play next suit up (2♥) or next unbid suit up (2♠) as an inquiry over 1♦-1♥-2♦ to fix this, but even then it wouldn't surprise me to hear a 3♦ response to this passed out (although partner's lack of a club stop might push you to think his values are working and you might head for 5♦).

3♦ is a slight underbid, but there are lots of hands you don't want to be in game opposite here.

3♣ is a reasonable bid, but partner might easily bid a no play 3N with only one club stop.

[mikeh]

I used to be a doubler here, for many years. However, these days I feel that the better call is an immediate 2♥.

I do, however, think it is close.

The problem with double is that you are almost never finding a 5-3 heart fit. Otoh, bidding 2♥ doesn't rule out finding our spade fit, should it exist. 2♥ doesn't deny spades, so partner can bid 2♠ if given a chance.

Preemption by LHO bidding 3♣ seems like a live possibility on our hand, but I don't see a first round double as helping on balance.

Partner is unlikely to be able to bid 3♠ over 3♣ if we bid 2♥, but may be able to do so if we double and he has some extras. However, if we bid 2♥ it is with the intention of doubling should 3♣ be bid on our left and it come back to us, so we will usually break even. In the meantime, if we double, 3♣ has a high probability of preventing us from finding a 5-3 heart fit.

I am not worried about 2♥ being an overbid, since this hand is pretty good opposite long diamonds.

Note that after the actual start of double then 2♦ by partner, we have a very tough call. 3♦ seems to really understate our values, yet what else can we do? I think we are just a tad too weak to gf with 3♣, since partner will often be some 5332 minimum.

Had we started with 2♥, we would be much happier inviting game should partner bid 3♦, at least imo.

[EricK]

I think double is right, but's it's pretty close to being strong enough for 2♥. I also think you very well might find a 5-3 heart fit even after a double. Partner will frequently bid a 3 card major here if he lacks a four card major, and will bid ♥ if he has 3 of both. For that reason, it is slightly more awkward if we have 5♠ and 4♥, and might be worth stretching to bid 2♠ in that scenario.

As the auction unfolded, partner shouldn't pass 3♦. He has made a minimum bid, but he has a 6 loser hand, all his HCP are clearly working, and you have heavily suggested ♣ shortage (having shown both majors and raised ♦. He should re-evaluate his hand as (at least) game invitational.

[mcphee]

I prefer to bid 2H as I will lose my 5/3 H fit if I make the neg dble. Also this does not lose the S suit even if LHO were to raise the over call. This is a decent hand facing a D opening bid and needs little to produce game. At time you could argue to take the low road with double, but imo taking the aggressive action rates to pay off far more often.

[Fluffy]

2♥ is fine if the ops are silent, partner can bid 2♠ over it without extras.

double is better when it turns competitive, not only puts both majors into the picture, it also puts diamonds and that will often be our best fit.