[ArtK78]

Scoring: IMP

(2♥) - ?

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What is your plan?

[gwnn]

I would bid 3H if it's a stop ask, 4D if it's not leaping michaels, 3D if leaping michaels, not quite strong enough for 5D I think...

[hanp]

Ditto gwnn, for me that means 3H.

[P_Marlowe]

3D.

Wait and See.

3H - would be MIchaels for us
4D - would be Leaping Michaels for us

May not be the best agreement, but than ...

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ArtK78]

I considered 3♦, but I thought it was an underbid.

I considered 3♥, which I am reasonably sure would have been interpreted as a stopper ask, but since I was also wide open in clubs, I felt that it would be too risky.

I chose double, intending to rebid 3♦ over any simple response. I decided that I could handle most responses and, since I held 2 hearts the chance that partner would pass out 2♥x was small.

This worked out well. Partner bid 2♠, I bid 3♦ and partner bid 3NT. Double dummy 3NT could be beaten one trick, but in practice it made with an overtrick. Partner held:

Scoring: IMP

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The opening lead was a spade, so 10 tricks rolled in.

LHO had a singleton ♥A, and the preempter had Axx of clubs. Par in 3NT is down one (heart lead, clubs through declarer's K, not covering twice - defense takes 3 clubs and 2 hearts). Fortunately, they did not find the heart lead, as I am sure that my partner would try to make 3NT by covering either the first or second round of clubs, thus going down 3 tricks.

However, even that would have won IMPs. At the other table, my hand bid 3♥, intending it to be a stopper ask. It was interpreted as Michaels, and 4♠ was the final contract. Not particularly elegant. The result was down 4.

By the way, the actual par contract on the hand is 4♦ (or 3♦), as 10 tricks in diamonds is the limit on the hand with the ♣A offside.

My choice of double worked out well here. Any comments?

[gwnn]

don't double with a doubleton major unless they force you by violence (or a few other cases)

don't double with a solid suit.

don't double on this hand.

[hanp]

Double followed by 3D seems right on playing strength, but I'd be worried that partner bids 3S. I'd pretty much have to bid 4D which gets us passed what I think is our most likely game. I think that 3H in a regular partnership is better.

[gwnn]

I'd be most worried if partner passes our double.

[Phil]

I don't care for double.

If you have 3♥ available for a stopper ask, why wouldn't you use it? Having an open off suit isn't unusual.

[Fluffy]

I play 3♥ as minors, not that I am happy about it actually.

I'll just bid 3♦ here

[jjbrr]

agree with han

[jdonn]

Playing 3♦ as a stopper ask, bid 3♦ pleeeeeease.

[aguahombre]

jdonn, on Jun 22 2010, 05:00 PM, said:

Playing 3♦ as a stopper ask, bid 3♦ pleeeeeease.

This works. Even if not asked, partner might bid 3NT/3D. He gets to look at his hand.

Like Fluffy, 3H=minors for us. Unlike Fluffy, we are ok with it.

[whereagles]

another 3♥ as minors and I'm ok with it. Stoppers are for wimps ahah

3♦ on this hand thus.