[Carnoustie]

Teams, IMPS
Not exactly sure about the pips and the Vul, but you'll get the idea...

If it matters: 2NT would have been 15+-18 Bal, and puppet is available

(Some recent results with similar hands and auctions seem to suggest
this is much easier than I think... Just asking your opinion/reasoning)

---

[nige1]

Carnoustie writes "Teams, IMPS
Not exactly sure about the pips and the Vul, but you'll get the idea. If it matters: 2NT would have been 15+-18 Bal, and puppet is available. (Some recent results with similar hands and auctions seem to suggest . This is much easier than I think... Just asking your opinion/reasoning)"


IMO 4♥ = 10, 3♠ = 6, 4♣ = 5, Pass = 3. You expect partner to hold a good hand with a good suit.

---

[mikeh]

Your choices appear to be pass or 4♥.

3♠ strikes me as incredibly aggressive: partner will play you for a better raise than you have.

4♣ is simply wrong, imo. Why look for an 11 trick club game when a 10 trick heart game rates to be at least as good, even if partner fits clubs?

I would bid 4♥, but not with any high expectation of making it. That spade holding is the worst it could be....RHO's trumps can easily grow up fast if the vulnerable opener holds AKxxxx in his suit.

But while it is slightly dangerous to bid, it is far more dangerous to pass at imps (I'd raise at mps as well, but with even less joy).

[Phil]

mikeh, on 2012-April-12, 09:34, said:

I would bid 4♥, but not with any high expectation of making it.

This captures my feelings well. Lose 6. WDO.

[JLOGIC]

mikeh, on 2012-April-12, 09:34, said:

Your choices appear to be pass or 4♥.

3♠ strikes me as incredibly aggressive: partner will play you for a better raise than you have.

I don't get this, 3S does not show a raise, it could just be a stopper ask. What would you bid with xxx x AKxxx KJxx for instance? Or even xx x xxx AKQJxxx. I am not saying 4H is wrong on this hand, but I am surprised you think 3S shows a raise.

[JLOGIC]

Random system note, in auctions like this play that 4C shows a slam try in hearts, and 3S as either stopper ask or a 4C bid. This solves the problem that 3S as a stopper ask or a good heart raise is hard to untangle when partner does not bid 3N over 3S.

[mikeh]

JLOGIC, on 2012-April-12, 14:32, said:

I don't get this, 3S does not show a raise, it could just be a stopper ask. What would you bid with xxx x AKxxx KJxx for instance? Or even xx x xxx AKQJxxx. I am not saying 4H is wrong on this hand, but I am surprised you think 3S shows a raise.

I agree....it doesn't show a raise, as it could be a stopper ask, but then it shows a lot of hcp/source of tricks outside of hearts....I think that partner should expect a better hand than this, whether it is a raise or a try for 3N.....if he held a stiff spade, for example, we either have a mild slam try in hearts or a lot of tricks/hcp and he should evaluate aggressively.

I erred in saying that it showed a better raise, rather than a better hand.

Btw, I like your suggested system note.

[wank]

i'd pass - though i think partner's prospects are above 40%, there's also a much greater than normal chance of getting smacked and going for a fat penalty.

[daveharty]

The lack of a spade raise from RHO worries me a bit, but it's a vulnerable game. 4♥.

[gnasher]

mikeh, on 2012-April-12, 14:42, said:

I agree....it doesn't show a raise, as it could be a stopper ask, but then it shows a lot of hcp/source of tricks outside of hearts....I think that partner should expect a better hand than this, whether it is a raise or a try for 3N.....if he held a stiff spade, for example, we either have a mild slam try in hearts or a lot of tricks/hcp and he should evaluate aggressively.

I erred in saying that it showed a better raise, rather than a better hand.

I don't think 3♠ is an overbid. It says that I think we should bid game, I think 3NT might be the best game, and I don't have a spade stop. In terms of strength, it's not very different for 4♥, which says that I think we should bid game and I think 4♥ is the best game.

On this hand I'd bid 4♥ anyway, because with a spade stopper and only five hearts partner might have chosen 2NT. But if I had the same high-card strength but two low hearts I'd bid 3♠, and not think that I was overbidding.

[rmnka447]

At IMPS, it's an easy 4 ♥ bid because of the red pockets. Partner has to have either a player in ♥ or a pretty hefty ♥ overcall. You don't want to miss a vulnerable game at IMPS and should bid them aggressively.

[Carnoustie]

I'll add a second question:

Suppose RHO had bid 3♠. Would that affect your decision?

[han]

Had RHO bid 3S then we'd have an easier 4H bid.