Posted 2010-January-29, 12:38
Is 3S normal for this pair? It doesn't look normal to me - we still tend to teach "don't preempt over a preempt". I'm not at their level, but I think after 3H-3S-4C-6S, I'd think that partner's going to be very disappointed when I only make 4, and +500 looks like a good score.
Also, especially if 3S is expected for this pair, does 6S put us in a FP situation? In that case, I can see *no* reason for pulling with AI. If not, then who knows who can make what, and 7S seems reasonable.
The question is "was there a BIT?" The answer to that is (many) more questions, mostly about normal tempo for the player and the game. The comments about the tempo of the rest of the auction only make the questions more relevant. I would not expect a 4C bidder to come up with 7H - although, if I had bid 5H instead, it might have pushed them to 6 but not 7. 6S forces them to the guess. I do agree, at least a little, that once you decide to jump to 6, forcing suit agreement at the 7 level if at all, you should think a bit about what you're going to do about it - but people don't. Even experts don't. But does that "you should have thought" mean that "normal" tempo for this auction isn't about 5 seconds? I don't think so.
5-10 is an *awfully* wide range, though; 5 seems normal, 10 seems obviously out.
When I go to sea, don't fear for me, Fear For The Storm -- Birdie and the Swansong (tSCoSI)