Interference in Spades

[Fred.]

North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds

532
AQJ3
5
A9855.

The bidding began

N E S W

1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?

1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double

(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?

Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?

Fred.

[Will in New Haven]

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

1: Yes
2: Extra values, not four Hearts, not short in Spades
3: 4S game-forcing and implying Club support (because you could bid 4D with the red suits)
Playing 12-14 NT, I might just bid 6C now but I'll probably make the same bids, just with a more optimistic outlook.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

1 : yes
2 : "I dont know where to go"
3 : double
4 : no
Do you mean , you play 16-19 1NT opening?
If so, maybe it is an idea to embrace the 15-17

Co Wiersma

[Fred.]

Post by Co Wiersma

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

1 : yes
2 : "I dont know where to go"
3 : double
4 : no
Do you mean , you play 16-19 1NT opening?
If so, maybe it is an idea to embrace the 15-17
Co Wiersma

Sorry, Co. Just ignore the 16-19 clause.

Fred.

[Fred.]

Post by Co Wiersma

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

1 : yes
2 : "I dont know where to go"
3 : double
4 : no
Do you mean , you play 16-19 1NT opening?
If so, maybe it is an idea to embrace the 15-17
Co Wiersma

What does your double mean here? I question it at
IMP scoring if it is penalty oriented. Here
clubs and hearts divide evenly and North has
the diamond ace for a 3-trick set. But, though
I can't pretend to know the odds, it isn't very
difficult to visualize hands where both 5C and 3S
make.

A penalty double might be right at match points,
but I still find it difficult to double the opponents
at the 3-level when 19 total tricks are likely.
+200 won't be enough unless a bunch of pairs bid 3NT
without a spade stop.

Fred.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by Fred.

Post by Co Wiersma

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

1 : yes
2 : "I dont know where to go"
3 : double
4 : no
Do you mean , you play 16-19 1NT opening?
If so, maybe it is an idea to embrace the 15-17
Co Wiersma

What does your double mean here? I question it at
IMP scoring if it is penalty oriented. Here
clubs and hearts divide evenly and North has
the diamond ace for a 3-trick set. But, though
I can't pretend to know the odds, it isn't very
difficult to visualize hands where both 5C and 3S
make.
A penalty double might be right at match points,
but I still find it difficult to double the opponents
at the 3-level when 19 total tricks are likely.
+200 won't be enough unless a bunch of pairs bid 3NT
without a spade stop.
Fred.

The double just means I have more points then my first double showed

Co Wiersma

[Fred.]

Post by Fred.
North deals at IMP scoring, 15-17 1NT,
non-vulnerable versus vulnerable. South holds
532
AQJ3
5
A9855.
The bidding began
N E S W
1C (2S) X (3S)
P (P) ?
1C = 3+ clubs, not 16-19 balanced
2S = weak jump overcall
X = negative double
(1) Do you agree with South's negative double?
(2) Had North doubled 3S what would that have meant?
(3) What should South call now? What would that call
mean in the context of the negative double?
Would any of this change playing 12-14 1NT?
Fred.

The whole hand was:

8
K86
A92
KQJT72

K96 AQJT74
742 T95
KQT874 J63
3 4

532
AQJ3
5
A9865

North, who would have opened without the heart king,
was tempted to volunteer 4C, but was reluctant to
go past 3NT. I'd like to hear what people think
is correct here and why.

South decided to trust the opponents' bidding at
unfavorable and place North with a singleton
spade, more likely 5+ than 4 clubs, and both
rounded kings. South's call was 4NT, RKC
4130 Blackwood in clubs. Note that neither RKC 3041
nor regular Blackwood will work here.

I have a preference for Will's solution since it
trusts the opponents less, but find myself
wondering if North would bid a cold 6C holding

8
K86
A92
KT7432

Fred.