[dkham]

Playing cross-IMPs in a good standard field. You open 1♣ then have a choice on the second round. What'll it be?

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(You are playing weak NT and four card majors if that makes any difference)

[paulg]

This is an awkward problem since you wish to compete but partner is probably broke. If you had four hearts or better clubs, then action would be clear.

I expect the best action is to pass and I'd probably do this if my mouse had not already doubled.

I think passing is a lot clearer in a weak no trump, 4-card major system where one club is essentially natural.

[LBengtsson]

partner has passed twice. he's broke. different vulnerability. pass is safe. X is not so good

[nige1]

dkham 'Playing cross-IMPs in a good standard field. You open 1♣ then have a choice on the second round. What'll it be? (You are playing weak NT and four card majors if that makes any difference)
+++++++++++++++++++++
I rank:
1. Double = T/O. but doesn't show 0445 Flexible. A reasonable hope for a good score is that partner has a ♠ stack.
2. Pass = NAT. Conservative.
3. 3♣ = NAT. Unilateral but some say "Put your faith in the long suit".

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[apollo1201]

Uneasy. The hand lacks a bit of texture or a 4th H to be safer at red IMPs. I hope I can pass quickly enough in case partner finds a bid although he is likely to have a nondescript 6HCP hand with 4 S suit.

[Douglas43]

I'm going to wimp out and pass. For a take-out double I'd want to be showing a stronger hand and preferably with 4 hearts. Partner is allowed to convert, and this looks ominously like -670 opposite that nondescript 6hcp with 4 spades.

[TylerE]

The cardinal rule: Do not balance at imps. (Yes, technically this isn't a balancing bid, but it's an analogous situation).

They haven't bid 4!S yet. Don't give them a chance to upgrade their stiff !C holding.

[dkham]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

To finish the story, 2♠ was indeed passed out. Here is the full deal

Board 15

As was predicted, South had a weak hand with Spades.

As it happens, we beat 2♠ by a couple of tricks to gain 1.18 IMPs. Declarer could have gone one off in 2♠, and we could have made 3♣.

[cherdano]

Looks like an easy double to me. Why isn't partner allowed to have a 3352 8-count?