[ArtK78]

PhilKing, on 2013-April-17, 10:02, said:

I hit "post" too quickly. Having said that, the hand is a lot more representative than the actual one - five great clubs and a hand comfortably worth 1♣ followed by 2NT.

I understand that I had a super maximum 1NT opener, and that won't always be the case. But the redouble on AQ97 it too rich for my blood - and apparently borderline for you according to your previous posts.

[PhilKing]

I did a quick search through my database (semi finals and finals world champs, us trials, spingold, and vanderbilt since 2000, Euros since 2004 one match each round) and somewhat strangely, this situation occurred only once.

Richard Freeman perpetrated a double of Stayman on: ♠532 ♥54 ♦K8 ♣A98542 and got his head served up on a plate.

[billw55]

ArtK78, on 2013-April-17, 10:33, said:

However, if you only make 11 tricks in 3NT (you could lose a heart trick or how about if South inserts the ♣9 at trick one - you don't know the 10 of clubs is coming down) you only get an average score. As 2♣xx on my hand is a trivial make with an overtrick (and more tricks are available), is it not worth the risk of an occasional bottom to convert an average score into a top?

Yes, I see what you are saying.


Although I do think that after a bad double of stayman, the ensuing club lead is likely to give away a trick fairly often by itself; in addition to any damage that may occur from failing to make the otherwise natural lead. So I think such doubles will be self-punishing at matchpoints to some extent. On your deal, this did not turn out to be the case.

[ArtK78]

PhilKing, on 2013-April-17, 10:57, said:

I did a quick search through my database (semi finals and finals world champs, us trials, spingold, and vanderbilt since 2000, Euros since 2004 one match each round) and somewhat strangely, this situation occurred only once.

Richard Freeman perpetrated a double of Stayman on: ♠532 ♥54 ♦K8 ♣A98542 and got his head served up on a plate.

And that one is better than the one perpetrated by my opp. But, then again, I wasn't playing against too many Richard Freemans.

And you do see more bad lead directing doubles at matchpoints than in the events that you cited.

[gszes]

Lets look at the problem from another direction and see if it helps any..
We have learned from the bidding that p has a lot of values located in clubs
and that means our chanced for slam have dropped a ton (no sense in
using a splinter since we already know the answer). This means we have
a large expectation of losing at least two tricks outside clubs.

The opps have at least a 8 card trump fit and P will have to attack the trump suit
from their hand. So how many times will the opps score less than 4 trump tricks
under those circumstances? IMO it will be way less than 40% of the time. Using
this analysis it seems to be a poor MP bet and at IMPS forget about it.
Be happy with 3n or 4 of a major.

[Phil]

I can recall several auctions where an opponent doubled a Jacoby Transfer.

It didn't end pretty.

[ArtK78]

gszes, on 2013-April-17, 11:40, said:

Lets look at the problem from another direction and see if it helps any..
We have learned from the bidding that p has a lot of values located in clubs
and that means our chanced for slam have dropped a ton (no sense in
using a splinter since we already know the answer). This means we have
a large expectation of losing at least two tricks outside clubs.

The opps have at least a 8 card trump fit and P will have to attack the trump suit
from their hand. So how many times will the opps score less than 4 trump tricks
under those circumstances? IMO it will be way less than 40% of the time. Using
this analysis it seems to be a poor MP bet and at IMPS forget about it.
Be happy with 3n or 4 of a major.

I guess that depends on your requirements for the redouble.

[quiddity]

the hog, on 2013-April-17, 04:36, said:

As I would bid 2C on a 4441 0 count, I think that it would be ludicrous of pd to xx on anything less than KQJxx, Even then I think it is silly to pass 2C xx on a void. Give me xx and I am there like a shot.

I prefer the redouble to be cooperative, and so I would never pass with a void. Obviously if responder bid 2C with a 4441 0 count he isn't going to pass the redouble, lol.

[nige1]

PhilKing, on 2013-April-17, 06:20, said:

This is matchpoints, so it's just a matter of percentages. It doesn't matter if partner has only four clubs, since they will be good ones. Give partner: ♣KJTx I would reckon on making 2♣ about 60% of the time. Make it: ♣AKT8 And you can put the chances at about 80%, and frequently with an overtrick.

PhilKing and Artk7 have changed my mind and convinced me of the merits of passing on the OP responder hand, if redouble is for blood.
IMO: Richard Freeman's double is OK. Opportunities for lead-directing doubles occur frequently and they show a long-term profit, even at teams especially if opponents lack methods to punish them . The directed lead is often the best hope of beating 3N. And the double sometimes keeps opponents out of a making 3N. Lead-directing doubles back-fire occasionally, but you can hardly criticise a double of an artificial bid on a hand that might well have made an overcall in that suit.