[mohitz]

♠K9x ♥Qx ♦AQx ♣AKJTx

Teams, we vul, they not. RHO playing 2/1 deals and the auction starts

(1♠) - X - (p) - 2♦
(3♠) - ?

What now?

[rogerclee]

Pass, it's possible RHO just owned us and we're cold for 3N, but I don't see how we're getting there other than me just bidding 3N. That is way too big a position to take to me, so we are stuck with solo-ing to the 4 level or just defending (if we double partner is very likely just gonna bid 4m). I will just try to go plus against 3S, which seems way more likely than making 4m.

[aguahombre]

surrender.

[jdonn]

I double again, extras without clear direction. It's possible partner will pull when I'd rather be defending but I think I'm just too good to give up. 3NT is possible too, some hands with just the king of diamonds give me play on a spade lead. Actually I'm torn but I know I won't pass though it could be right.

[bluecalm]

Pass.

First instinct was 3NT but after thinking about it I think it won't make too often and sometimes it will be disastrous.

[the hog]

Pass. Not happy about it but doubling again could be very silly.

[NickRW]

Pass, X and 3N could all be right. At the table I think I'd probably gamble on 3N.

Nick

[olliebol]

Would bid three no trump

[MFA]

3NT. Ugly but I think we have to hope for the best. It's hard to see the upside of doubling again. Pass is too wimpish.

[wclass___]

3NT

Partner doesn't have many spades, so he might have had choice which suit to rebid. He took 2♦ and RHO bid 3♠ seeing that, so why shouldn't i hope partner has some really nice stuff in ♦?
Plus RHO might as well save in 4♠.

Good problem.

[BudH]

mohitz, on Aug 13 2010, 11:20 PM, said:

♠K9x ♥Qx ♦AQx ♣AKJTx

Teams, we vul, they not. RHO playing 2/1 deals and the auction starts

(1♠) - X - (p) - 2♦
(3♠) - ?

What now?

Doesn't doubling again show a hand with this much strength with 3-card support for partner's suit, and letting partner decide whether to defend or bid on?

Frankly, I'd be estatic if partner passes out 3S doubled, since K9x is a much better holding defensively than I would usually have.

[Dirk Kuijt]

This isn't quite an answer to the question, or, if you prefer, an abstention.

I wouldn't double in the first place; I prefer 1NT to doubling with a doubleton heart.

[jdonn]

Yeah I want to change from double to 3NT. Still won't pass but if I'm going to act I might as well go for it.

[Codo]

3 NT, if not me who? If not now, when?

Will it always work? Lol

[EricK]

3NT for me. Lots of ways it could be right; lots of ways it could be wrong. But the same could be said for every other call.

[Phil]

3N. Could be ugly but it won't be a bloodbath, but returning to teammates with +100 when gin for 3N when we got jobbed out of our cold game doesn't seem very enjoyable either.

We don't need a whole lot here, and its negative thinking to assume partner has a yarb across.

[mikeh]

I'm a 3N bidder....I was before I read the comments and I read nothing that changed my mind.

There is one minor issue that no-one has yet touched on....maybe because it is a remote possibility. I'd be a little worried that RHO will win the first spade and, seeing something like KJxxx in diamonds, decide that he needs to beat us quickly and then switches to AK and a 3rd heart....running 5 or 6 hearts and going plus 300.

Oh well, c'est la vie....a good partner will hold Jxx in hearts, or a good opp will hold AKJ tight

BTW, isn't it common to play 3♠ here as semi-preemptive? If so, surely that increases the chances that 3N is right?

[mohitz]

This was the full hand. 3N can make.

Scoring: IMP

---

[mikeh]

I'm willing to bet that a significant majority of good players would have bid 2♥ as North, not 2♦. Not sure how that changes things, if at all.....would tend to make me more reluctant to bid 3N, tho, so on the actual hand, I'd be happy he bid 2♦ .

[JLOGIC]

3N is a joke contract and will go down on a normal line of play (cashing the AK of clubs).