[kenberg]

I probably would have bid 1NT on the theory that not all six counts are equal, the heart Jack is really looking sort of like a Queen at least. But my point here was not to second guess partner. I think it would have been reasonable on the auctio to play pard for a heart stop but as you can see that Jack is really useful and even his fourth heart is nice since it is not in the opponent's hands.

[whereagles]

It's ok not to bid 1NT, as it is to bid it. Personal preference, I guesss. Agree that 2♦ may bury a game, but I was willing to take that chance when I decided for that simple bid.

[mikeh]

I have seen the spoiler. I had, however, already sort of made up my mind to bid 2N on reading the OP. To me, it was close between the perhaps-underbid of 1N (perhaps, because this is the type of hand on which, when things go wrong, we scramble 7 tricks and not 8 and because on the actual hand, partner has an easy raise to (at least) 2N so we'd reach game anyway) and the perhaps overbid of 2N (overbid because of the lack of any obvious heart stopper).

No other call seems the least attractive. 2♦ is grotesque... an overbid of the suit by a trick and an underbid of the hand by a lot more.. it is tough to imagine a worse misdescription of the hand, other than pass.

Double then 2♦ shows more than 2♦, but shows both a better and longer diamond suit and a very different, weaker, hand than we have.

2♠ is an offbeat call, but I would reserve that for running diamonds and black stops, seeking a heart stopper.... Ax xx AKJxxxx Ax (well, almost running diamonds, in a pinch )

[1eyedjack]

Phil, on Mar 9 2009, 01:19 AM, said:

The first question I would ask is 1♠ forcing? I could pass and await developments,

I have been there before ...
"Is that forcing?"
"yes"
"thanks" - pass - pass - pass

[kenberg]

It's not an everyday situation and we can put my 2D bid off the table, I won't be defending it or even objecting to grotesque as a description.

Although I won't defend my 2D call I am not so convinced that double followed by 2D is not something like this. Something like: I have this really good hand but I am not sure where it should be played. There should be some way of conveying such a message.

I did consider 1NT and even 2NT. But since it seems to me very likely, from my hand and the auction, that the lead needs to be lost once before I can run my diamonds I feel I need quite a bit of help in hearts.

Anyway, I half expected that the single reply to my post would be "Why don't you just open 2NT and save the grief?", perhaps followed by a bunch of dittos, and I am pleased by the variety of thoughts. As of now, I still think I would X and pull but I am happy to confess I am not sure this is best.

[skjaeran]

rogerclee, on Mar 10 2009, 07:43 AM, said:

We have been over this already, 1N in competition shows 6-10 in Orange County and England, but extras everywhere else.

Not everywhere else. I'd bid 1NT with the north hand, as would many of my compatriots.