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What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for June 2001

The best June submission came from Barbara Travis, a deal that occurred during a match against China during the recent PABF Championships in Singapore.

ª A9
© AQ98xx
¨ AK10x
§ x

Comments:
We've never discussed what to do over the 3H bid - i.e. whether double is to reveal a psyche. Therefore, it seemed to me that an initial double would be takeout. Question: are you being psyched? Note: you are playing with screens, West/South, East/North.

And David's Response:
Hi Barbara, This sure is a tough one. I would pass 3H - happy to double 3NT if this is the final contract. A double of 3H should be a takeout double of clubs. Now that your RHO has bid 4C, it seems likely that this player may have psyched 3H with good club support. I would bid 4H. I have given the hand to a few "experts" who all bid 4H confidant that RHO has psyched. I'm less certain. If RHO has e.g. KQxx, KJ10xx, x, AJx then 4H will be down a few with 5D cold. A delayed double usually shows penalty interest, but when I discussed the concept there seems to be no clear agreements amongst most partnerships. Please let me know the full hand and what you bid.
All the best,
David Beauchamp

Barbara's Reply:
Thought you might enjoy this one. Partner thought I was an idiot for bidding, but I truly thought I was being psyched - as has everyone I asked. (Just cos she held 3 jacks!) RHO actually held Kxxx, KJ10xxx, void, Axx. 4C is difficult to make. My 4H went down 4, only in 50s though - RHO was too scared to double for fear I'd run to 5D - they broke 4-0. LHO held something like Q10x, void, Qxxx, KQxxxx.

The Chinese women DON'T psyche - which I'll remember for Bali. I was laughing about this hand with Sun Ming, their captain, and she was ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED at the suggestion that they would psyche.
Barbara

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