[olegru]

You are South

Scoring: IMP

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You are in red agains green. 7 boards match.

RHO open 1♠
You bid 2♥ planning to dbl on the next round.
LHO jumps to 4♠
Somehow unexpected your partner bid 5♦
RHO hesitated a little than bid 5♠
Now up to you.

RHO.......YOU.........LHO..............Partner
1♠..........2♥............4♠...............5♦
5♠............?

During the discussion on the other bridge community several more interesting questions come up, and I would appreciate if you can give your opinion too:
1. What hands should partner 5♦ bid promise? Does he guarantee the ♥ support? Could he simply have 8 diamonds with AJ and nothing else?
2. Should your pass now be the 100% forcing in this vulnerability?

[FrancesHinden]

1. 5D shows a hand that wants to play in 5D. Yes, he could just have AJ to 8 diamonds and nothing else (certainly he could have AQJ to 8 diamonds and nothing else).

[SIZE=14]NO 5D DOES NOT GUARANTEE HEART SUPPORT, IT SHOWS DIAMONDS.[SIZE=1]

2. No. We have no idea who was bidding to make.

[whereagles]

My bid: dbl, because:

1. I don't think they can make this, and
2. I don't think we make 6.

Other questions agree with Frances.

[jdonn]

1. 5♦ just shows diamonds. It's not like partner is a passed hand, and it's not like we overcalled 4♥, so I wouldn't understand anything else.

2. Pass is not forcing.

I bid a confident 6♦ since I completely expect the opponents to save over it. I actually think it will make less than half the time if they don't.

[Codo]

I agree with Frances.


I do not know, what she will bid now, I will double, I do not see a spade void in partners hand. And with two aces and play for 6 Diamond, I may get rich defending too.

[rogerclee]

I would double, I just don't think we are going to get a save often enough here to justify the (considerable) risk of being off two tricks in 6♦.

[fachiru]

I initially voted for Pass as to me, given the auction and vulnerability, opps. are clearly sacrificing.

I'm having 2nd thoughts now about how a forcing pass would be superior to an immediate/simple ♦ raise. I definitely dislike Dbl at this point. So, IMO:
6♦=10; Pass=7; X=1

[mtvesuvius]

1. 5♦ is simply natural, this is partner's first chance to bid so partner is unlimited, in diamonds and in points... I think 6♦ is really close to making, but I'm afraid that we are off the two black aces, the question is Red vs White would partner bid 5♦ with x Qx AQJxxxxx Jx opposite a 1 level overcall? Partner needs the A♣ for his 5♦ bid imo, and the opponents will be convinced you have a ♠ void if you bid 6♦... I think partner has to have the A♣ here, which means 6♦ is a big favorite to make, and if it doesn't... The opponents might take a phantom.

2. No, pass is not forcing. You only made a 1 level overcall, that doesn't promise too much, having it forcing at this vulnerability is even more of a mistake.

[Hanoi5]

1. Partner could have either eight diamonds to the AJ or same diamonds and Club Ace or Spade Ace or even spade void.

2. Pass is not forcing as I just made an overcall.

I don't think this shows heart support, though partner should have 2 hearts at least.