What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for October 2008

The best submission for October came from Ian Afflick.

 Hand 1: IMPS, All vulnerable, dealer West, I was East:

spades 6
hearts AK8
diamonds AQJ10953
clubs 86
spades AQJ843
hearts J1062
diamonds -
clubs 974
 
Bidding: West North East South
   1diamonds  2clubs  Dbl  ReDbl*
   3clubs  Pass  4spades  Pass
   Pass  Pass

*ReDbl shows an honour in clubs

Comments:    I envisaged a good hand with at least 3-3 in the majors for the 3clubs bid (am I likely to have a club stop on this auction?) and feel that 3diamonds would better describe his hand. 4spades was not a success as trumps break 5-1 offside and in fact nothing makes (including 4diamonds) but this is not the issue.

A few hands later:

 Hand 2: IMPS, All vulnerable, dealer West, I was East:

spades J6
hearts K1053
diamonds K7
clubs AKQJ6
spades K1072
hearts A84
diamonds J
clubs 97432
 
Bidding: West North East South
   1clubs  2diamonds*  Dbl**  Pass
   4hearts  Pass  Pass  Pass

*2diamonds = weak
** Dbl = takeout

Comments:    4hearts was not a success either.

Should I pass in the first instance and, if necessary, back in with a takeout double over 3diamonds-P-P?

What is my bid if I pass and partner reopens with a double over 2diamonds or 3diamonds?

If, over my double, LHO bids 3diamonds and partner also doubles co-operatively should I bid 3spades or 4spades?

If I pass, LHO bids 3diamonds and partner passes should I reopen with a double at teams or pairs?

Should partner bounce to 4hearts on the given auction or bid 3NT (my choice) or cue 3diamonds?

Nothing makes again except 3NT on a diamond lead only.

Sartaj's Reply:

Hi Ian,

Let me start by saying 1diamonds (2clubs) and 1clubs (2diamonds) are nightmare auctions for any partnership. The reason is that there are two unbid majors and it is always hard to untangle one's best fit.

Double is supposed to promise both majors but waiting for that perfect, both major hand can be a very long wait.

Hand 1

Your start with a double sounds like a reasonable plan (2spades is equally reasonable). Since we've already lost a lot of bidding space, partner's 3clubs cue-bid does not necessarily promise 3-3 in the majors. It shows a whole range of different hands. 4spades over 3clubs seems like a fine bid to me. It shows the long,strong spades and partner has a clear pass.

So, all in all, I have no solution to this auction on these sets of hands. I think partner's 3clubs bid is quite clear because opposite a club stopper (which a negative doubler can easily have) 3NT is likely to have lots of play:  7 diamonds ( via the finesse at worst), 2 hearts and a black stopper sounds like a lot of tricks. Admittedly on this hand, both choices don't work so well.

Hand 2

I like the double as we have shortage in their suit. Like you point out, we don't live in a perfect world. Partner needs to be a bit sympathetic to this given auction and provide some flexibility by jumping to 3hearts only. After all, that shows a good hand.

If, over your double, LHO bids 3diamonds and partner doubles I would be happy with 3spades (or even 4clubs), jumping in a suit with only four cards doesn't sound like a good proposition.

I would like to point out that in my regular partnership with Tony Nunn, we have had enough nightmares with such sort of hands that we now play after both these auctions that double is a general values bid over which 2NT rebid by opener is forcing, followed by stayman and transfers.

So

1clubs (2diamonds) X (P)
2N (P)              stayman and transfers

Sometimes we end up overbidding to games without many points but usually we play in the right strain.

Tough questions!
Sartaj Hans

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