[Hanoi5]

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♠8 was led. Teams, first session (12 boards) of a Final (36).

[Fluffy]

I trust LHO to have at least 5 diamonds for his silly double with makes him a favourite for any diamond finese over heart finese. Given that if both diamond honors are onside some bad breaks in the blacks can be surmounted I'd play a diamond to the jack ASAP

[mikeh]

How bad is LHO?

An expert LHO, unless asleep (which, given we are in the finals of something, seems unlikely) knew that he was on lead against all contracts, so didn't double to tell us he holds the diamond Ace. He knew we were never playing diamonds because, I assume, N showed at least 9 major suit cards and used keycard so has at most 3 diamonds. It was a risk-free double and imo a typical piece of misinformation.

I'd sooner play a good LHO for the diamond Q than the A, but I'd even sooner play him for the heart K.

I think I'd win in hand, cross in clubs, cash the spade Q, and return in spades and run the clubs.

I'm going to end up hooking LHO for the heart K.

If LHO is a player for whom I have no respect, then I'll play the same way, but keep KJ diamonds and lead to the K, but I'd really have to think he's an idiot to do that.

BTW, I dislike the auction, intensely. I don't know what 4♠ showed. if a minimum, it seems a tad conservative but the main criticism would be that it makes N's 4N insane....my wife, having a bad day, bids like that: an opening hand opposite a strong notrump = slam. Strangely enough, it usually doesn't.

If it was intended to show a maximum, which is a tad aggressive, it is a misbid...surely 4♣ is the way to do that while cuebidding. That might get the partnership too high at the 5-level but at least it would/should mean missing this terrible slam.

[nige1]

Fluffy, on 2013-October-28, 13:37, said:

I trust LHO to have at least 5 diamonds for his silly double with makes him a favourite for any diamond finese over heart finese. Given that if both diamond honors are onside some bad breaks in the blacks can be surmounted I'd play a diamond to the jack ASAP

Agree with Fluffy. Perhaps West's double is a cunning mind-game but a genuine mistake or a double-bluff seem equally likely.

[Fluffy]

double might be a fair attempt to disrupt NS comunications if they lack of agreements about how to ask for trump queen or something like that, it really doesn't need good or bad diamonds.

[Hanoi5]

Fluffy, on 2013-October-28, 16:47, said:

double might be a fair attempt to disrupt NS comunications if they lack of agreements about how to ask for trump queen or something like that, it really doesn't need good or bad diamonds.

So, what would you play then? double diamond finesse or would you rely con clubs 4-3?

And to Mike, you got to the final with such a bidding, does it tell you something about the opposition?

[Fluffy]

diamond to the jack, if it scores double diamond finese, if it does lose to the ace then clubs 4-3