[goobers]

Let's say you and partner have found 4H, and the opps sacrifice in 4S. Partner makes a double.

Under what conditions, if any, should you pull? Should a lack of defensive values be a concern?

[inquiry]

The question is too generic....

1) was 4H passed by parner before they bid on, that would reduce the likelyhood of bidding.

2) Was that their first bid

3) What was the auction, and would forcing pass have apply?

4) What is the vulnerability and is it matchpoint, imps, total points

I will say this, yes there are situation where I would pull (much fewer however if we had passed 4H out before they found the sac, and fewer if forcing pass was available before partner doubled).

Lack of defensive values may or may not be a concern.. if the auction went

2C -P - 2D -P
4H -P - Pas- 4S
DBL

I would have not worries about lack of defensive values...

[mr1303]

I like to pull when I go to the pub and meet an attractive woman

[the hog]

mr1303, on Jan 6 2007, 08:45 AM, said:

I like to pull when I go to the pub and meet an attractive woman

Don't say this in Australia. It has a totally different meaning - to masturbate.

[awm]

Generally I would only pull this double if I hold unexpected length in hearts (and otherwise poor defense). For example, say the auction goes:

1♥ - 1♠ - Pass - 3♠
4♥ - 4♠ - Pass - Pass
X

I would pull if I hold 4+ hearts, since partner surely won't expect that on the bidding. Otherwise normally leave it in. As another example:

1♣ - Pass - 1♥ - 3♠
Pass - Pass - 4♦ - Pass
4♥ - 4♠ - X

Again, with 4 hearts I tend to pull, especially with diamond length also. For example holding 2434 shape I would frequently pull.

The reasoning is that the length in partner's suit tends to kill some of the cards he might be hoping will score on defense, while simultaneously increasing the amount of offensive play in our hands.

[goobers]

Sorry. I mean when you're at 4H because you have the values for game, so a forcing pass would apply... or something like that. I'm just picturing a standard 1H opener, nothing like a 2C open or a strong NT open.

[P_Marlowe]

goobers, on Jan 7 2007, 03:53 AM, said:

Sorry.  I mean when you're at 4H because you have the values for game, so a forcing pass would apply... or something like that.  I'm just picturing a standard 1H opener, nothing like a 2C open or a strong NT open.

Hi,

you will bid 5H, if you hold a hand, which partner cant
expect, i.e. you hold a "freak".
Most of the time this means a void in spades, and your
values are concentrated in a 2nd suit.

Your decision to pull will be influenced, by the vulnerability
and by the form of scoring.

If you play MP, it is probably a 50:50 most of the time,
since your opponents did well to bid 4S,
being red vs. green, you need to beat them -4, i.e. if you
are 100% sure that 4H makes, and 5H has a chance, you
should probably bid 5H.

If you play IMP, you should try to go plus, i.e. if you think that
defending will get you 300 or 500 instead of 450 or 650,
than you should defend.
You should pull only, if you think you will convert -1 for them
to -1 for you.

With kind regards
Marlowe