[mtvesuvius]

Fairly simple auction, this made two overtricks when Dummy had AT8 of spades, and North ducked the HA. ATB for this -1070. Scoring was MPs.

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[the hog]

South is a nutter. He really believes he can beat 2S when a passed hand makes a passout double? Relying on a passed hand for 3 tricks is a joke.
The double is superior to 3C, and South has a scrambling 2NT after the x.

[dellache]

I'd blame both, even though the result is the consequence of North's initial action.
+ I don't understand double : where are we going if pard is 3+3-4+3- ? What are we going to do over 3♦ ?
+ I would just balance 3♣ w/ North's hand (double would be ok w/ 6♦, I can revert to Diamonds over 3♣)
+ I have sympathy for south's pass (trying to go plus when pard's double hits the wrong hand by us), but it's rather unlikely that we can set 2♠. We will not get many MP by passing.
+ I would just have bid 3♦ which gives me 3 chances to get MP when pard has his DBL :
- they fail to DBL me and I score -100
- I score 110
- LHO bid 3♠
+ all in all it seems difficult to recover after North's double on these cards.

[nigel_k]

I agree with North's double and I would definitely scramble with South. But I doubt we could get to 3♣ so the amount of blame is only the difference between 1070 and what we are able to salvage in 3♥X.

[marcD]

Voted no blame . ***** happens. Great success for junk 2♠ opening North might bid 3♣ instead of double as he can not handle the 3♦ response but South may have a spade stack , 3♣ could be a lousy contract and it buries the hearts. Difficult not to act with spade shortage but while this would be clearcut with H and D may be pass is correct with the actual hand.
I have some sympathy for South's pass : he rates to have 2 spade tricks an a club , can hope for 3 red tricks from North and the alternative 3♦ albeit not final is not really attractive

[mfa1010]

South 100%. He has a clearcut 2NT scramble.

[Fluffy]

south's pass is horrible, I prefer to bid 3♣ with north's hand but it is close

[whereagles]

Who plays scrambling here? That sounds like resulting because Lebensohl is much more frequent.

In that case you're booked for a bad MP score anyway, as it's going to be quite hard to play 3♣ on a Lebensohl scenario (maybe you'll get to play 4 if lucky).

I'll chalk this up on "preempts work".

[cherdano]

I thought everyone plays scrambling opposite passed-hand takeout doubles. There is much less benefit in Lebensohl since doubler's strength is fairly well-defined (and advancer is less likely to have game interest opposite a passed hand as he passed over 2♠).

[karlson]

I think south failed to visualize the whole hand.

Admittedly, he got a little unlucky. If north's minors had been reversed, perhaps he would have scored only -670.

[whereagles]

cherdano, on 2011-January-26, 05:49, said:

I thought everyone plays scrambling opposite passed-hand takeout doubles. There is much less benefit in Lebensohl since doubler's strength is fairly well-defined (and advancer is less likely to have game interest opposite a passed hand as he passed over 2♠).

That makes a lot of sense.

[Lurpoa]

really, that was bad luck.

N has a reasonable reopening double: he has 2 QT and, seen his hand, partner is expected to have some spades...

S has really nothing to say: he has 2 good spades...and...

If somebody is to blame it is the 2♠ opener: LOL. Next time he goes for 800.

[mcphee]

Passing is a huge risk as the value of the KQx C may not be much more than a good lead. Even at pairs converting this is just poor thinking. At best this hand holds 3 defensive tricks and now relies on a passed hand to have the other 3, to me this suggests the passed hand forgot to open the bidding. I suspect this would be the last time N balanced with this partner.

[the_dude]

I don't like defending 8 card fits at the two level when trumps are breaking. Defending potential 9 card fits opposite a passed hand is lunacy.

edit: 100% South imho (misclicked on poll).

[the hog]

cherdano, on 2011-January-26, 05:49, said:

I thought everyone plays scrambling opposite passed-hand takeout doubles. There is much less benefit in Lebensohl since doubler's strength is fairly well-defined (and advancer is less likely to have game interest opposite a passed hand as he passed over 2♠).

So did I. Why on earth would you play Leb opposite a passed hand?

[HeartA]

I blame both. Both X and pass are horrible. North is basically one-suiter, an easy 3♣ overcall. What if South bid 2♦ with 4[cards] only (4-2-4-3, 4-3-4-2,etc.)? And for South, an easy 2NT.

[dellache]

Most of you advocate to play 2NT as scramble here (I also play that in one partnership).
I was wondering if playing 2NT as NAT was really inferior at **MP** ?
What about hands like a weak NT with spades stopped (KQx Kxx xxxx KQx, like in the OP) ?
W/W 2NT could also be the best save (2NT down 1, 2♠ making).
Unlikely ?