[MickyB]

Instinctively I find this to be a clear 4♥ bid, but maybe it isn't quite as clear-cut as it feels - there is a reasonably high chance that pard has a weak NT. At least 4♥ is unlikely to be doubled.

[paulg]

I think pass is clear cut, a decision I would probably have reached about 30 seconds after the 4♥ card hit the table.

Paul

[pbleighton]

I'd probably bid 4H any time, but vul at IMPs, it seems especially clear.

BTW, what is your NT range?

Peter

[mikegill]

I can't imagine passing here playing 5-card majors. I hate the QTx in their suit, but there are just way too many hands where pard won't bid and we're just cold for a red game. I think I would still bid 4H opposite a 4-card major. I'm a little less sure about this, and I wouldn't be thrilled about it, but I see it as not having a choice. Yes, if it gets hacked it will probably be ugly. Pard shouldn't be screwing around at 3rd seat unfav, so probably not that bad. But, there are just too many minimum hands he could have here where we're cold for a red game - so I can't pass. (Give him xxxx AJxx x AQJx, AKx Qxxxx xx AJx, Kxx Axxxx xx AQx, ...etc and you have to be in a red game)

[Apollo81]

I think this is a tough decision. I would bid 4♥ with no confidence at all. My confidence would be higher if I was playing 5-card majors.

This goes against my instinct which is to pass.

[FrancesHinden]

I would just bid 4H and see what happens. If what happens is -500 I may regret it...

[fred]

If you did anything other than bidding 4H I think you are crazy (no offense but you asked!), especially if you are playing against a team you expect to beat.

My judgment suggests that it is quite likely that, if you Pass, your will end up defending 4D when 4H has good play.

Even if you disagree with this, Passing is taking a massive position. Do you really think the player at the other table with your cards is likely to Pass in this position? Do you really want to risk swinging a huge number of IMPs in this kind of situation?

I would rather try to win a swing by hoping that my partner will play 4H better than his counterpart at the other table, my teammates defend better, or judge better if further bidding is a possibility.

And if my normal 4H call leads to a normal result and a normal push I will still be happy - there rate to be lots of other boards in which your skill advantage gives you the opportunity to win IMPs.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[inquiry]

RHO seems to think we can make something. I believe him. I will bid 4♥.

[pclayton]

4 hearts. The normal call.

I'm assuming 4 card majors in 3rd/4th only? And with lite hands?

Look, we're under pressure and 4♥ could work out awful. My biggest fear is that pard hangs me with 5♥ over the inevitable 5♦.

[P_Marlowe]

4H.

As always, if I start thinking, I get confused,
I may not even get unsure, how to spell my
name.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mikeh]

I am late to the thread. I have empathy for Justin: I make the same error (I do think it is an error for the reasons outlined by Fred) quite often. I talk myself into picturing a bad hand for partner... I get into a glass is half empty mode... and tighten up in the bidding. Once in a while, that decision proves to be correct, but most of the time we get a bad board. So 4♥, with confidence, felt or simulated.

[pclayton]

Jlall, on Feb 28 2007, 10:27 AM, said:

pclayton, on Feb 28 2007, 01:09 PM, said:

I'm assuming 4 card majors in 3rd/4th only? And with lite hands?

why are you assuming that? I wouldn't have said "we play 4 card majors" if that were the case.

Because I've never seen you play 4cM - is this a new partnership?

[whereagles]

I would also be tempted to pass. The reason is pard, who rates to be short in diams, will balance when he has extras and I can then bid 4♥ and feel good about it (rather than bidding it now and feel bad if pard goes down... lol).

[Al_U_Card]

It's a bidders game. btw 4 card major is not canapé, is it? (ie he is very likely to have ONLY 4H for his bid) Since he can have 5+, I would just make the "easy" bid (for me) and see where we go......when LHO bumps it to 5D and pard passes (remember in 3rd seat) how do you play his pass and what do you do?

[Fluffy]

opposite 5 cardt openig I'd bid 4 Heart, I've never played 4 card majors, so my opinion is even less important than ususal. MY first though would be ot pass though.