[dbsboy]

Given the favourite vulnerability, West opened 2♥

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My partner doubled, RHO bid 3♥, I chose 4♥ at last. And partner decided to bid 5♦. Thinking that I had already shown my hand, I passed 5♦. Whose fault?

p.s. Dealer is west

[ArtK78]

I am not fond of either of North's actions. I would have overcalled 3♦ on the North hand, as I don't want to hear a large number of clubs by partner in response to my double. Having doubled, however, North did not appreciate how good his hand was. It is not unreasonable to place partner with at least KJxx of spades and Kx(x) of diamonds for the cue bid. There are a lot of club points missing which is probably what caused North to bid so feebly. Signing off in 5♦ is very wimpy.

It is also not clear that North is bidding the right suit, but that is another matter entirely.

In any event, North is to blame entirely. I don't see what more South could do.

[Codo]

I blame north for doubling, this is clearly wrong as long as you do not play ELC. (And you did not specify this, so...)

I had bid 3 ♦, 3 ♥ 3 NT pass.

No way for me to reach 6 spade after a 2 ♥ opening.

[jdonn]

Too hard to be fair double dummy, but for sure I would overcall 3♦, and for sure as his partner I would bid 4♥ over that, not playing in diamonds wouldn't occur to me.

[aguahombre]

Much as I dislike North's double, I think South might try to construct a hand that won't make slam after the 5D answer to 4H. North is very likely to hold 3 Hearts, and chose to double 2H anyway. Where are the losers opposite that?

[dbsboy]

Thx for all the replies. Yes you are right, Codo. We hadn't had any agreements beforehand but I assumed he played ELC since he doubled in this case. I also do not mean reaching 6♠, but actually reaching 6♦.

Firstly he said he would have Xed (which was supposed to be responsive) with my hand and 4♥ should be left for hands of other types (he suggested a two suiter hand afterwards). What is the common interpretation of the 4♥ cuebid in expert circle?

Secondly he asked why I didn't bid after his 5♦, since 4♥ should promise a rebid. Or his 5♦ promised extra? I was not so sure...I was afraid of him holding ♠QXX ♥X ♦AKQXX ♣QXX, so I passed. My question here is if our first two bids cannot be changed (the double and the 4♥), who should be the one to try slam?

I am looking forward to seeing your opinions.

[aguahombre]

dbsboy, on Jul 6 2009, 04:16 AM, said:

...I was afraid of him holding ♠QXX  ♥X  ♦AKQXX  ♣QXX, so I passed.

I would not be worried about partner holding only twelve cards that dont look much like a double of 2H. Nor would I worry that the non vulnerable opponents have eleven hearts. Picture likely minimums, even opposite sleeping opponents:

QXXX AX AKXXXX X
QJXX X AKXXXX KX
or even the hand he had. Eliminate all the hands where partner would bid 4S/4H or 4NT/4H, and try 6D/5D.