[han]

Hand 1:

Scoring: IMP

1H - Dbl - 3H - p
p - Dbl - p - ??

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3H was a preemptive raise. Your call?

Hand 2:

Scoring: IMP

1H - Dbl - 3H - p
p - Dbl - p - ??

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Partner's double showed 3-card heart support. What is your plan?

[pclayton]

1. Our green opponents haven't reraised and we have the death holding in hearts. What are the chances pard has a doubleton heart here? Obviously if he does, we need the rest of the deck, or some finesses to win to make 11 tricks.

a. KQxx x AKxx KQxx - 5♦ is great
b. KQxx xx AKx AQJx - 5♦ is still great on the bidding; 4♠ is too
c. KQx xx AKxx AKxx - 10 tricks is the limit, but our best profit is defending 3♥ I think.
d. Kxxx x AKxx AQxx - very close, but I think you want to be in game here.

If you think pard would be making a r/w reopening double on something like Kxxx x AJxx AQxx, then you should have a discussion, but notice opposite something this lite, game still has a play.

I've convinced myself that 5♦ is right, but I don't expect it to be cold by any means.

2.RHO didn't raise, so I'm putting pard on a dub spade. Thats bad news. We have a void club with the opponents silent in the suit. wastage is possible. If I had to guess, pard's pattern seems to be 2=3=4=4, although some similar ones like 1=3=5=4 and 2=3=5=3 are also in range. Are there hands that would pass 3♦ where we might make game? it really depends on pard's wastage in clubs, which we have no real idea about.

I'll make the value bid of 3♦ and see where it leads me. The auction isn't over.

[Sambolino]

5d on both

[han]

Phil, on the first hand the opponents are unfavorable which perhaps makes it more likely that partner has a stiff heart.