[kgr]

MP's

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North Opened 1♦, showing 4+♦.
South did bid 1♥, showing 4+♠ (1♥ and 1♠ bid are reversed by agreement).
Because there has some talk between N and S about the previous hand, North alerted after West already passed. After the alert of North, West changed his pass to 3♥.
What is your bid (+is it important for you that West first passed?)
Note: We play support DBL until 2 Major.

[mikeh]

Firstly, it should not be important to you that West passed initially. You only have this information available to you because your partner forgot to alert. You are ethically, imo, required to ignore any inference that you might otherwise want to draw. I know it is difficult and I know, further, that this is one of those situations in which it will likely prove impossible for a director or committee to challenge whatever you do. That makes it even more important that you lean over backwards to NOT take advantage of the situation.

I'd do what I usually do with undisclosed extras and no clear call: I double.

I'll raise 3♠ to game, pass 3N, raise 4♦ to game, and bid 4♦ over 4♣ (downgrading my hand when he may have relatively short diamonds and no spade fit)

[gordontd]

kgr, on 2013-August-07, 10:59, said:

(+is it important for you that West first passed?)

This is not authorised information for you.

[CamHenry]

I've got a 12-count with good shape, partner's opened, and LHO has a shapely hand with long hearts, but not too much strength. It looks like 3NT may have difficulty, since we can't hold up my stopper, but either 4♠ or 5♦ may well be making. The call that really keeps these options open is double.

Now for the ethical information: I have UI that W was going to pass a natural 1♥. That doesn't tell me much other than that he has "hearts or a bad weak hand", and I already know that from the AI of his 3♥ bid. Since the UI conveys no information that isn't also conveyed by the AI, it may well not suggest any action over another. I think I'm therefore ethically OK with doubling; I would not appeal if a director ruled that passing was an LA and double was suggested. In fact, I would probably call the director after the hand myself if we got a good result, in order to be fair to the opponents.

[kgr]

BTW: I didn't realize that I had UI...I rather thought that RHO had UI. Thanks for that info already.

[billw55]

CamHenry, on 2013-August-07, 11:19, said:

I would not appeal if a director ruled that passing was an LA and double was suggested.

I would. IMO pass is absurd.

[kgr]

Actual N-S hands and bidding:
MP's

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North Opened 1♦, showing 4+♦.
South did bid 1♥, showing 4+♠ (1♥ and 1♠ bid are reversed by agreement).
Because there has some talk between N and S about the previous hand, North alerted after West already passed. After the alert of North, West changed his pass to 3♥.
What is your bid (+is it important for you that West first passed?)
Note: We play support DBL until 2 Major.

3NT did go -4.
I did bid 3NT because I hoped partner had some ♥-stop (RHO not raising ♥s and I was a bit confused by LHO passing initially - I didn't realize that this was UI for me).
I didn't want to DBL to avoid wrong MP contract if partner was 2=3=4=4 with Qxx in ♥.

I agree now that DBL is best.
...What should North bid if South DBLs? I a simple 3♠ enough?

[ahydra]

Not sure I like 3NT; I would X. Now 3♠ is fine by North, and South would bid the obvious 4♠.

ahydra