[Phil]

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Thanks.

[billw55]

Is michaels available? If so I definitely prefer that. Also as east I prefer to bid, the offense is better than the defense, and penalty passes are for when we don't have a fit.

[Phil]

billw55, on 2016-January-27, 09:21, said:

Is michaels available? If so I definitely prefer that. Also as east I prefer to bid, the offense is better than the defense, and penalty passes are for when we don't have a fit.

Yes, 3♣ would be Michaels.

[neilkaz]

I'd bid 3♣ Michaels for sure with this hand that needs little for slam. As for East, I think I'd pass the X for penalty and take the money, but perhaps this is misguided.

[billw55]

Phil, on 2016-January-27, 09:26, said:

Yes, 3♣ would be Michaels.

In that case I must give most responsibility to west. East's pass, while not my choice, is at least reasonable.

[PhantomSac]

Don't understand not using your bid to show 5-5 in the majors. Like, what's the plan over 2D from partner?

[wank]

yes the west hand's a cuebid, not a takeout double.

east's pass is clearly not obvious either, but i don't really have a problem with it. east can expect game to play poorly with north overruffing dummy and they don't necessarily have a fit or the values for 3nt.

[gszes]

it is hard to do great penalty x when the long defender trumps are in front of declarer (like they would be in this position). That makes the x a lot less likely to succeed and w should have chosen whatever form of cue bid they use to show both majors and take it from there. East pass is very reasonable with 2 and maybe even 3 trump tricks and partner x behind the opening bidder greatly increasing the chances for a decent set. Note that x would have been much more reasonable if the bidding had gone 2c p p where p can convert to penalty behind declarer. A michaels cue bid followed by 3s (eaat) and wild horses have trouble keeping west from bidding slam.