[Douglas43]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-May-09, 03:19, said:

One of the better players in my area has long championed this type of bid, it's not crazy, and particularly against not great opps you will be playing 4♥ rather than defending 4♠ much more of the time if you get there in one go.

4H looks a fair shot in third position. Good chance of unexpected Heart tricks if opponents bid 4S. It could be awful but I'd bid it at pairs or if behind in a match.

[dokoko]

661_Pete, on 2020-May-09, 02:59, said:

My feeling is, BBO has plenty of instances of "bad bid that got lucky". I've seen other examples. Anyone want to comment on this?

---

I wasn't playing this, only kibitzing. As the cards lay, North made ten tricks without difficulty after hearts split 3-1. E later explained that X was for takeout, but W obviously thought different!

Thing is, third seat after two passes, I would never have opened 4♥ on that hand. With the 6-5-1-1 to help, it's good enough for 1♥. The bidding would have probably reached 4♥ anyway, but E would have been unlikely to double - even though they had two AK's.

But maybe I'm wrong?

Seems rather routine to me!

[TylerE]

661_Pete, on 2020-May-09, 02:59, said:

But maybe I'm wrong?

I think a 4M opening on that in 3rd seat is practically routine. Now, if he did it on AKxxx and happened to catch his partner with Qxxx, that's be different.

But, more or less as you saw, opposite any hand with either the QD or a black ace 4h is going to be really good, and opposite less it still had chances.

[AL78]

hrothgar, on 2020-May-08, 09:58, said:

Ever heard the expression MAFIA (Majors Always First In Answering)?

1♠ would not be my choice playing standard methods, however, its hardly the worst bid that I have ever seen

If I hold 5m 4M and am responding, I only bid the major if my hand is so weak that it is only worth one bid. The East hand does not fit that category, and I can't see the problem with responding 2♣ followed by spades next round.