[cnszsun]

Dealer: East Vul: All Scoring: IMP

♠ 9 ♥ KQ9732 ♦ AK52 ♣ K2

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  1♥
 Dbl   2♥    4♠    

This is a hand i played on BBO. You are south, what will you bid after East's 4♠?
I'm still learning to be better, and I will appreciate your help if you can share your thinking process when facing such problem on the table.

[pclayton]

cnszsun, on Feb 12 2007, 03:39 AM, said:

Dealer: East Vul: All Scoring: IMP

♠ 9 ♥ KQ9732 ♦ AK52 ♣ K2

West North East South

- - Pass 1♥
Dbl 2♥ 4♠

This is a hand i played on BBO. You are south, what will you bid after East's 4♠?
I'm still learning to be better, and I will appreciate your help if you can share your thinking process when facing such problem on the table.

The best way to improve your judgment in cases like this is to imagine the unseen hands.

Playing standard, pard's 2♥ call is usually wide ranging, which is unfortunate. Does he have: xxx, Axx, xxxx, Qxx? Qx, xxxx, xxxx, Axx? xxx, Axx, xxxx, Axxx?

Against the 1st, we are cashing 1 or 2 hearts (probably 1), a club and 1 or 2 diamonds (probably 2). 5♥ is a likely -1.

Against the 2nd, We are getting 2 clubs (and maybe a ruff), 1.5 diamonds and maybe a heart. Again, 4♠ is touch and go. 5♥ is -1 or -2.

Versus the 3rd, we are getting 1 or 2 hearts, 1.5 diamonds and 2 clubs. But 5♥ looks like its gin too.

So the decision to bid on or defend is very close in any case. It's always possible the opps will decide to take the push to 5♠, but you can't count on it either.

At MPs, you can't afford to pass these. In all cases, 4♥ looks cold, and they have made the good decision to bid 4♠. There won't be uch difference beween -620 and -790. At IMPs its a lot tougher. There's not much difference between bidding 5♥ and doubling, since when 5♥ is -2, they are cold for 4♠. And in the case where we are beating 4♠ 2 tricks, we are making 5♥. The other cases its a small loss one way or another when both contracts fail by a trick.

[pbleighton]

As far as developing judgment, I'll leave that to better players. But scoring method
is key:

I would bid 5H at IMPs, knowing that it is against the odds, as I can't afford a double swing.

At MPs I would double, as it seems to be the percentage option.

Peter

[hotShot]

1) Your LHO showed opening strength and 4144 distribution.
2) Your RHO showed 5+3-(2-3-) distribution, and (much) less than 8 HCP.
East could have opened a weak 2, so there might be a 4 card side suit.
3) How many defense tricks do you have?
AK♦, the 2nd round of ♥ will be ruffed, ♣K seems badly placed.
So I would not double 4♠.
4) How many tricks is your hand worth if you declare?
Your partner has 3+♥'s so you should be able to get 5+ tricks with ♥ (2 drawing trump and 3 ruffs). ♦AK are 2 tricks which means that you have about 7 tricks.
5) What can you expect from partner?
To make 5♥ you need your partners 5-9HCP to produce 4 extra tricks.
♦QJ ♥A ♣Q will do, but this is a perfect maximum without ♠ wastage.
Holding this 4♠ won't make. But consider a lot of hands with ♠ honors will go down in 5♥, while 4♠ will not make.


I would pass and hope partner has a better view on this hand.

[mike777]

I would think most experts play 2h here as less than constructive. BROMAD

[Apollo81]

cnszsun, on Feb 12 2007, 07:39 AM, said:

Dealer: East Vul: All Scoring: IMP

♠ 9 ♥ KQ9732 ♦ AK52 ♣ K2

West  North East  South

-    -    Pass  1♥
Dbl  2♥    4♠   

This is a hand i played on BBO. You are south, what will you bid after East's 4♠?
I'm still learning to be better, and I will appreciate your help if you can share your thinking process when facing such problem on the table.

I would expect 5♥ to make 10 or 11 tricks.
I would expect 4♠ to make 9, 10, or 11 tricks.

Given these, passing/doubling seems right only if they make 9 and we make 10. It's possible pard has some hand like Axx xxx x xxxxx where neither side can make game, but it's unlikely.

5♥ seems clear.

[Poky]

This hand isn't a problem at all. A clear-cut negative double. Partner will know to bid 5♥ with no spade wastage and some useful card.

Instead, if you play run'n'gun bridge where double is something else - probably 5♥ is better than double.

[jchiu]

mike777, on Feb 12 2007, 03:02 PM, said:

I would think most experts play 2h here as less than constructive. BROMAD

I'm not so sure that Bromad is so standard. I think there is a general push in the East Coast expert community away from following some of the Bergen theories as they were originally invented. I just returned from a sectional with a fairly strong field in Philadelphia, and noticed several other schemes. I play the first one of these (transfer responses), and noticed a strong pair who plays the second (possibly a modified Bromad).

1♥ (Dbl) -
1♠ Natural, F1, does not deny 10+ HCP
1NT Transfer to ♣, may not have values
2♣ Transfer to ♦, may not have values
2♦ Constructive ♥ raise, may have 3 or 4 pieces
2♥ Non-constructive ♥ raise
2♠+ Invitational or better fit jump, tends to have 5+ in the suit and 4♥

1♥ (Dbl) -
1♠ Natural, F1, does not deny 10+ HCP
1NT Puppets 2♣ unconditionally if advancer passes
2♣ Constructive raise with 4♥, generally no singletons or voids outside
2♦ Constructive raise with 3♥
2♥ Non-constructive ♥ raise, may have 4♥
2♠ Artificial invitational mini-splinter, generally has 4♥ and a singleton
2NT Limit raise or better

[mike777]

I note in both cases 2h seems to be less than constructive? so can we say very often less than?

[blackshoe]

That first method looks to me like Cappeletti - not the so-named defense to 1NT, but "Cappeletti over 1 of a Major doubled", a different kettle of fish entirely.

[whereagles]

Who knows what's right...? Anyway, I'll bid 5♥, though pass/dbl might easily be the right move.

[inquiry]

Isn't this something for LOTT caculation? I suspect the trump total is 18-20, I would call it 19. At imps, I think I would take out insurance and bid 5♥. This might make, or they might make 4♠. Only bad thing that can happen is if they are both down one and itn that case, we were already in the bad boat when they took the advanced save.

[keylime]

I bid 5D, en route to 5H. If we defend 5S doubled, then pard will defend it much better knowing your hand is 2 suited in nature.

I echo the sentiments about taking insurance. This weekend there was a hand where taking insurance was quite cheap in the teams: I at white on red bid 6♦ down 1 versus their cold 5♥ game vulnerable. Unfortunately, teammates let them play 5 diamonds doubled making! lolol