[Chris L]

---

This hand came up in a teams of 4 match of high quality played in EBU land. I wasn't involved either as a player or in a TD capacity but was asked for my view subsequently by South. I don't have the full hand details. The 1NT overcall was 15-17. Both doubles were for penalty. The 2♥ bid was alerted, 2♠ wasn't.

EW are a very regular partnership. E had a 2722 shape, W 4♠ and 2♥. E thought they were playing "system off" after the double, W that they were playing "system on". (You might think that this fairly basic bit of system is not something that a very regular partnership would forget and I would agree with you - but they are and they did). W explained 2♥ as showing 5+♠ and 3♥ as natural. He justified his pass of 3♥ on the basis (in the light of the double of 2♠) that the only explanation for the auction was that E had just ♥ and that one of them had forgotten the system. It would seem that both E and W were in possession of UI. Do you allow the pass of 3♥?

[ggwhiz]

I would like to know Wests shape and how they would bid with 5-5 or better in the majors with systems on but suspect that the double of 2♠ let the cat out of the bag, authorized information towards the pass of 3♥.

I don't see passing the double of 2 spades being a logical alternative.

Also, if North had a spade holding that clearly showed the opps were off the rails, they should have passed. Different story if they do and it now goes 3 hearts float.

[campboy]

Chris L, on 2011-March-18, 12:05, said:

EW are a very regular partnership. E had a 2722 shape, W 4♠ and 2♥. E thought they were playing "system off" after the double, W that they were playing "system on". (You might think that this fairly basic bit of system is not something that a very regular partnership would forget and I would agree with you - but they are and they did). W explained 2♥ as showing 5+♠ and 3♥ as natural. He justified his pass of 3♥ on the basis (in the light of the double of 2♠) that the only explanation for the auction was that E had just ♥ and that one of them had forgotten the system. It would seem that both E and W were in possession of UI. Do you allow the pass of 3♥?

There doesn't seem to be an LA to 3♥.

It's not clear that West has UI suggesting anything, since 2♠ is not alertable even if it is completing a transfer (OB 5G3k). Is there are reason to believe West thought the lack of alert meant something? Anyway, I do not think this auction makes sense otherwise -- if partner's spades are longer than his hearts why is he running from spades to hearts a level higher? If he was 5-5 he might transfer to hearts and then try spades if doubled, but he wouldn't do this.

[Chris L]

campboy, on 2011-March-18, 13:11, said:

There doesn't seem to be an LA to 3♥.

It's not clear that West has UI suggesting anything, since 2♠ is not alertable even if it is completing a transfer (OB 5G3k). Is there are reason to believe West thought the lack of alert meant something? Anyway, I do not think this auction makes sense otherwise -- if partner's spades are longer than his hearts why is he running from spades to hearts a level higher? If he was 5-5 he might transfer to hearts and then try spades if doubled, but he wouldn't do this.

Ooops; I had forgotten that 2♠ was no longer alertable. I'll go back to sleep.