Pick up partnership playing standard.
What is your call?

Hi Ben,

I would pass at all forms of scoring. At first you might think it may depend on what you rebid with a 1=4=5=3 shape (some would rebid 1NT, some 2♦), but the actual fact is that we are not vul and partner opened in 3rd seat. We only have xx in diamonds (no honours) so I think it is against the odds to push on further with this hand. Given the ten of spades you might try and gamble on a 2♠ rebid in matchpoint scoring, but I would personally pass since it feels like if spades are making 8 tricks then diamonds would likely make 9 tricks anyway.

Also, I am not afraid of missing a game (if any exists, it can only be in spades). If partner has an unbalanced 6331 shape with 3 card spade support, sometimes with the right type of hand partner would raise to 2♠ instead of rebidding 2♦. And with a good 6 card diamond suit with a 14 count that also consists of 3 card spade support, that hand type should be rebidding 3♦ (for example [Kxx  x  AKJxxxx  Kx]). Therefore, I would consider missing a possible 4♠ game quite remote.

I know I mentioned this above, but I really dislike hanging partner when they opened in 3rd seat at nil vul so a good amount of leeway should be given to partner. It’s true that if partner has opened light, the opponents have been abnormally silent but I wouldn’t call that unusual. We have a 10 count, give partner 9-10 and the high-cards could be spread evenly amongst both sides.

Finally, although not that strong of a factor, but I am assuming that with some 6♦322 hands with a 14 count, partner would sometimes have upgraded that into a strong No-trump.

Hope that helps,

Andy

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