Neither vul, at IMPs, you hold as south: ♠J6 ♥1097632 ♦53 ♣J106
W N E S
- - P P
1♥ Dbl P ?
What do you bid?
First of all, Happy belated Canada Day! Second of all, yuck!! LHO has bid your six card suit. You have no suit to bid. So that leaves no good choices, and three lousy ones:
1. 1NT You do have a stopper, but not the 8-10 HCPs advertised.
2. 2♣ You have good clubs, albeit 3 of them, and two ruffing values.
3. Pass This could make (-180) or with overtricks (-280, -380, etc…).
Which is best?
There is an answer. I actually think it is a good one. The best bid is to pass. Yes, they may make. But the plus reasons are complelling:
Partner’s points are behind declarers.
You won’t get too high.
This 2nd point is a real possibility if you do anything but pass. RHO has passed originally, and had nothing to say the second time around. Definitely less than 10 HCPS, as no redouble. North and/or West have good hands. If it is partner he may bid more, a lot more.
I passed in Montreal. Here is the full deal (hands rotated):
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♠ K 9 5 2 |
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♠ A Q 10 3 |
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♠ 8 7 4 |
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♠ J 5 |
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In the CNTC Round Robin we beat 1♥ one for +100 and a useful swing when the N-S pair at the other table bid too much. My partner would likely have bid 5♣ had I bid 2♣, which gets, doubled down at least two for -300.
Lessons to Learn
1) When deciding whether to bid over a takeout double with weakness and no suit, remember partner may be bidding (a lot) more, getting you too high.
2) With the opponents high cards favourably placed as here, it helps on defence but not much on offence as there are usually no entries in the weak hand.
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