[pclayton]

Quote

And what is the downside of 3♦? That the opponents can compete more easily? In diamonds perhaps, but I am hardly worried about them bidding 4♦. That it will tell them what to lead? They are by far most likely to lead a diamond anyway. I don't have a serious qualm with the enterprising 4♥ bid, but really if partner rejects an invitation I think it's a lot more likely game is bad than good.

The downside for me is that my LHO can either double, or not double (depending on their agreements) to dissuade my RHO from leading diamonds; and may lead a spade. A direct 4♥ mitigates this risk.

[jdonn]

That argument sounds logical but doesn't translate to in practice at the table. It's not like someone is sitting there on lead with Jxxx of spades and Jxx of diamonds saying oops partner didn't double diamonds, obviously I am leading a spade now!

And anyway the double shows extra length, he could have KQJT and not double.

[kenberg]

And the winner is? What did my wild and crazy partner actually have?

Incidentally I bid 2H vul over 1m the other day with QJT8xx and a couple of outside jacks. It worked fine but even so I apologized to partner for the insanity. She was fine with my bid but despite the fact that a. I made it and b. it worked I regard it as idiotic.

It's a sign that you are getting old when the craziest thing you can recall doing recently is making an idiotic preempt.

[DWM]

---

These were both of the hands.

Bidding went

(1D) - 2H - (P) - 3D
(x) - 4H

Is there a play problem here after 3♦ lead?

[kenberg]

Thanks for the hands. I need to think about it. (Previous thought, based on dyslexic placement of opponent's hands, withdrawn) If trumps are 2-2 there appears to be no problem, losing two spades and one diamond. If there is some line to improve on this I don't see it right off. A 4-2-5-2 shape for opener isn't at all guaranteed, but it isn't impossible.

Do I now think my conservative 3H bid was wrong? I'll let you know after you tell me how the hearts split .

[DWM]

Hearts did split 2-2

I was thinking is it worth ducking the first diamond and seeing what comes back, hoping for a spade or even better a club, I think I remember someone calling this (or something simmilar) a muppet throw in. Or is the risk of a singlton diamond too high?

The double by opener was extra values.