Mad hand from Tuesday

[Adam Lea]

Benj Acol, weak NT, random teams, EW vuln:

AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84

N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP

I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

[Dave Flower]

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H

Dave Flower

[jogs]

Post by Dave Flower

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H
Dave Flower

Ditto. 6H is out to lunch.

Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

[Player]

Post by jogs

Post by Dave Flower

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H
Dave Flower

Ditto. 6H is out to lunch.
Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

3D???? I will remember that if I ever play you. Most experts play sputnik doubles through at least 4H, and many play higher. I would have passed your hand Adam.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by Player

Post by jogs

Post by Dave Flower

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H
Dave Flower

Ditto. 6H is out to lunch.
Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

3D???? I will remember that if I ever play you. Most experts play sputnik doubles through at least 4H, and many play higher. I would have passed your hand Adam.

Pass seems also risky
As you can expect pass to lead to 4C undoubled down

I do think Larry Cohen meant to say that you must not play strict
penalty doubles in this position

Co Wiersma

[Adam Lea]

Post by Co Wiersma

Post by Player

Post by jogs

Post by Dave Flower

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be
disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H
Dave Flower

Ditto. 6H is out to lunch.
Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't
believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only
when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles
up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

3D???? I will remember that if I ever play you. Most experts play
sputnik doubles through at least 4H, and many play higher. I would
have passed your hand Adam.

Pass seems also risky
As you can expect pass to lead to 4C undoubled down
I do think Larry Cohen meant to say that you must not play strict
penalty doubles in this position
Co Wiersma

I suspect something like that happened at our teammates table. East bid
5C, South passed and that was the final contract down three undoubled.

[jogs]

Post by Player

Post by jogs
Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

3D???? I will remember that if I ever play you. Most experts play sputnik doubles through at least 4H, and many play higher. I would have passed your hand Adam.

You have misinterpreted what I meant.
Doubles higher than 3D shows cards. Not a strict penalty double.

I would have doubled 4C and with the other hand would have rebid 4H.

[Will in New Haven]

Post by Player

Post by jogs

Post by Dave Flower

Post by Adam Lea
AJT74
AT53
KJ62
-
KQ53 6
KQ742 6
QT8 93
9 KQJT76532
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP
I was South, and wasn't totally sure what to do over the club pre-empt,
so decided to double to show some values. I wouldn't be disappointed if
partner passed it or bid game in her major. I didn't expect the leap to
a heart slam, which I corrected to 6S, and West had no problem swinging
the axe. Two off, -300, not a success story when teammates decided to
sac in 6C, three off not doubled(!), which would have worked if we
hadn't been total idiots. As it was, 12 imps out. What would you have
done with the South hand over 4C?

I would also have doubled, but as North would have bid only 4H
Dave Flower

Ditto. 6H is out to lunch.
Larry Cohen recommends negative doubles up to 7H. But I don't believe him. It should be negative doubles up to 7H when and only when a minor is opened. When a major is opened play negative doubles up to 3D provided the other major is still unbid.

3D???? I will remember that if I ever play you. Most experts play sputnik doubles through at least 4H, and many play higher. I would have passed your hand Adam.

A double that high shows cards. I have played with and against experts and a double at that level shows defense, but not a trump stack, and doesn't guarantee four Hearts. Double is fine and the hand should end in 4S.

[Steve Willner]

Post by Will in New Haven

Post by Adam Lea
982
J98
A874
A84
N E S W
1S 4C X P
6H(!) P 6S X
AP

A double that high shows cards. I have played with and against
experts and a double at that level shows defense, but not a trump
stack, and doesn't guarantee four Hearts.

I agree with all that.

Post by Will in New Haven
[South's] Double is fine...

But here I'm not so sure. If partner has a club void, which will be
common, I expect him to remove the double most of the time. If he does,
my hand will be a major disappointment. Therefore I'd pass, which
should result in a plus score most of the time. I wouldn't even double 3C.

As others have written, North's jump to 6H was silly, but South should
have had more values for the double.

[jogs]

Post by Steve Willner
As others have written, North's jump to 6H was silly, but South should
have had more values for the double.

South had two aces. That's penalty for this double.
South other choice is to pass, a huge underbid.
In contested auctions partners should give each
other some leeway.