What should I bid? (July 2017)
The best submission for July came from Julian Foster. He wins a voucher of $30 funded by TBIB, toward any purchase made at the Bridge Shop or Paul Lavings Bridge Books.
All vul, you are dealer.
♠ AK
♥ 97
♦ AQJ732
♣ K85
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | 2♥* | 2♠ | 3♥ |
| ? |
* weak
We were playing weak NT, 5 card majors. 2♠ in the sequence here is not game forcing, it’s just 10+.
Partner elected to raise on the doubleton and bid 4♠. Unfortunately sitting opposite with Q10972 A 1095 AQ103 this caused me to propel us into 6♠. After a H lead to the A this is still a pretty good slam, basically requiring the spades to play for no loser or, failing that, a diamond finesse into the hand that has made a weak jump. Sadly there was ♠Jxxx over me and the diamond finesse was offside so 6♠ failed. 6♦ was the right spot.
Hi Julian,
Interesting problem.
I personally prefer to double 3♥. In my experience I have found supporting partner’s 5+major with a doubleton, even if it’s a strong doubleton, is a losing proposition. Whilst it might work out OK, if it’s bad, the result will likely be (very) bad. I’m only talking in reference to the auctions where you raise partner’s major (and he thinks you have 3-card support), such as this auction, or even a simple 1M-Pass-2M auctions. If you have a constructive auction and found that perhaps a 5-2 fit in 4-Major is best, then that’s a very different story and that’s not what I’m referring to. Even on some other auctions such as (3♣)-3♠-(Pass)-? sometimes it is OK(good) to raise 4♠ with a doubleton if everything else is bad.
Anyway, in the auction you gave, whilst supporting the spades might be OK, if there is another alternative, I would much prefer to do that. Here, I think double (showing a good hand, often looking for 3NT I guess) is a very good alternative. I’m not sure how the auction would proceed after that (maybe X-3NT-4♦? and now you will get to 6♦), but I do know that it will keep all of the options open. For example, over the double, if partner bids 4♣ you can still rebid 4♠ to show doubleton support, or 4♦ to emphasise more diamonds.
Kind regards,
Andy
