[W Kovacs]

This hand was with a pick-up partner, so nothing was discussed ahead of time.

Scoring: IMP

---

The bidding went:
P-2♦-X-P
2♠-3♦-3♥-P
P-X-AP

My biggest problem is that after I assumed 2♦ was a preempt (which I thought was valid), there was no way the double could have been for take-out.

So should I have taken the double as take-out with my poor 4 HCP hand, and gone to 4♦, or is all the blame on my partner for a terrible opening bid?

[TimG]

It was beyond your control.

[quiddity]

I think you should have bid 4♦.

[ArtK78]

The only thing more bizarre than South's bidding was the hand that he had to accompany it. I suspect that I would pull with the North hand, but I have absolutely no clue what the double is supposed to mean.

I suppose South was saying that he had a good hand for his preempt. That is the only part of South's bidding that I would agree with.

[neilkaz]

Somehow South must think his hand qualifies for an opening 2 bid and wasn't playing weak 2's. I'll ask the ACOLers if this could be an ACOL 2♦ bid, but somehow I don't think it is quite good enough.

Anyhow, if partner really has a weak 2 opening and even though he pushed to 3♦ all I expect to do if I pass is watch the opps play for overtricks. Thus I have to bid 4♦.

If partner has a strong 2 I still don't want to risk passing 3♥x at imps since I may not contribute even 1 trick on defence so I have to bid 4♦.

I bid 4♦ and after the hand ask PD what 2♦ and if it was weak I leave the table, and if it was strong, I ask him what system he is playing and then probably leave to find a new partner.

Note that I really don't believe in saving a daft partner but sometimes we have to try to salvage something from the rubble.

.. neilkaz ..

[manudude03]

It qualifies as a strong 2, but not an ACOL 2. Agree with everything Neilkaz said.

[billw55]

Let me guess his profile said "expert" ?

[Cascade]

billw55, on Aug 20 2010, 12:58 AM, said:

Let me guess his profile said "expert" ?

probably not - "world class"

[gwnn]

S is an idiot.

[helene_t]

The double means that he just noticed he had two aces in addition to the values he already showed. I mean, seriously, if he thought his 2♦ opening was correct then he wouldn't have bid again, and certainly not a 3rd time. At some point he needs to trust that partner saw his bidding and is able to make a decision based on that.

North has to bid 4♦, though. Of course this doesn't excuse South who opened 2♦ undiscussed when he could just have opened a normal 1♦.

[W Kovacs]

billw55, on Aug 19 2010, 07:58 AM, said:

Let me guess his profile said "expert" ?

I just checked my recent hands. He is listed as "Private" (I list myself as an Intermediate, BTW. I'll leave it like that until someone says "Hey, you're too good to be an Int player." That probably will never happen.)

helene_t, on Aug 19, 2010, 08:17 AM, said:

North has to bid 4♦, though. Of course this doesn't excuse South who opened 2♦ undiscussed when he could just have opened a normal 1♦.

I'll accept some of the blame. I should have known 3♥x was a terrible spot to be in. But I must admit I was a bit flustered by the "interesting" bidding that went on, and lost track of what was right.

It's been over a year and a half since I last played any bridge, so my skills have a bit of rust.

[pooltuna]

well you had advance warning in the auction that your partner was a turkey when he called 3♦ so you are essentially just guessing on this last hand(at least in my case) I would just bid 4♦

[billw55]

In fairness to south, it is perhaps possible that he normally plays a system where 2♦ describes this hand (but maybe with only six ♦), and in such a case 3♦ might not be unreasonable. After all, 2♦ as a preempt is not fabulous due to its relatively low obstructive value. Indeed, many pairs use it for other things - multi, roman, flannery, etc. Did his profile have any information about system at all?

But no matter what, the double of 3♥ is indefensible.

[NickRW]

neilkaz, on Aug 16 2010, 10:35 PM, said:

Somehow South must think his hand qualifies for an opening 2 bid and wasn't playing weak 2's. I'll ask the ACOLers if this could be an ACOL 2♦ bid, but somehow I don't think it is quite good enough.

I know of umpteen weak to average club Acol players who _might_ open it strongly - but I wouldn't and I wouldn't expect most stronger players to consider this to be an Acol 2 or a Benji 2♣. Anyway - this appears to have been in the context of weak 2s - so South is an idiot not even up to being called a weak club player apparently.

Nick

[W Kovacs]

billw55, on Aug 19 2010, 11:03 AM, said:

Did his profile have any information about system at all?

He has no CC in his profile.