[catch22]

We lost 61 IMPs on 5 boards. 21 were gratuitously thrown, the rest, well you be the judge

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IMPS Red

Auction 1
1H-(x)-3C*-(x)
4H-(5C)-P-(P)
?

*4h 6-9

Auction 2
1H-(x)-3H*-(4C)
4H-(5C)-P-(P)
?

*4h 5-8

[billw55]

Easy 5♥ for me.

[Codo]

Is this a forcing pass situation, after all we did bid 4 ♥ vunerable against not?
In this case, partners pass show short clubs and 5 ♥ is easy.

If it was not a FP situation- I do not know your conditions- it is harder. Does my partner really cover 2 of my losers? I guess he will and try 5 ♥ too.

[ArtK78]

Basic rule at IMPs - when there is a lot of distribution bid one more. There is a potential for a double game swing.

[jallerton]

Codo: No, pass is definitely not forcing. Forcing passes only apply when the partnership has shown the high card strength for game.

[mike777]

agree with 5h but then I seldom gets these 5 level decisions right

[JLOGIC]

I think it was extremely likely we would face 4S or 5C and we should have bid 4D. Anyways whenever I try to just buy it rather than bid my second suit (which is reasonable in a lot of circumstances) I feel compelled to bid more, too much chance of some huge swing/double fit.

Here it is not that unlikely that partner has a stiff club and our hand is just very good with no D in that case.

[nigel_k]

I agree you have to bid 4♦ earlier then let partner decide. As it went, I would double on both auctions but it's just a guess.

[Codo]

Auction 1
1H-(x)-3C*-(x)
4♦

Does this really show 5/5 (or similar) in the reds with the wish to let partner decide what to do over 4 ♠/5♣?

[mr1303]

It should show something like that, yes. On frequency grounds (when you have the opposition doing a lot of bidding like this) showing where your values lie is a lot more helpful than 4D as a cue bid and a slam try.