[rogerclee]

You are playing against two good players (actually pclayton on your right) in a very non-serious evening swiss.

IMPs, Fourth Seat, Red vs White

♠A ♥AQJTxx ♦Axx ♣xxx

(P)-1♠-(5♦)-?

I thought this decision was auto, but there was some discussion about it.

[ceeb]

Double

About 40 years ago when I was young enough to have promise I had the pleasure to play a Los Angeles Bridge Week pair event with John Swanson. With a problem somewhat like this one I reckoned we were safe at the five level and I bid. We made the contract but John, whose mood at the table normally ranged from facetious to wryly humorous for once didn't hide his frustration and mentioned a rather obvious principle that I have not forgotten. "Look at how many tricks you have on defense."

[nige1]

rogerclee, on Mar 29 2008, 02:27 AM, said:

You are playing against two good players (actually pclayton on your right) in a very non-serious evening swiss.

IMPs, Fourth Seat, Red vs White: ♠A ♥AQJTxx ♦Axx ♣xxx

(P)-1♠-(5♦)-?

I thought this decision was auto, but there was some discussion about it.

IMO 5♥ = 10, 6♥ = 9. _X = 8
I agree with JLall and ceeb that that even pclayton is unlikely to make 5♦ but I feel like gambling that we can make 5♥ or 6♥ and, on a good day, we may get a shot at 6♦ or 7♦

[whereagles]

My instinct is to bid 5♥, so I do that.

[pclayton]

vI even gave you 5 minutes to think about it as I went down the hall.

5H for me. The temptation of 1430 is just too alluring (and likely). Put it this way. If you don't bid 5H here with this 4 loser hand, when will you ever do it?

Justin has seen my green preempts too many times and he's expecting 1100.

[han]

pclayton, on Mar 30 2008, 11:07 AM, said:

If you don't bid 5H here with this 4 loser hand, when will you ever do it?

Yes, on a hand with less defense, e.g. Kx KQJ10xxx x Axx I would.

[cherdano]

pclayton, on Mar 30 2008, 10:07 AM, said:

vI even gave you 5 minutes to think about it as I went down the hall.

5H for me. The temptation of 1430 is just too alluring (and likely). Put it this way. If you don't bid 5H here with this 4 loser hand, when will you ever do it?

Justin has seen my green preempts too many times and he's expecting 1100.

Partner will hardly ever raise 5♥ to 6♥. In fact, when he does, you should probably bid 7♥.

[gnasher]

I'd rather bid 6♥ than five. I don't expect them to sacrifice - good players won't save for 1100 or so against a slam that they know was bid without space or science - but the upside of bidding slam is so much more, and it may be cold, eg KQxxx 9x x AKxxx.

[jdonn]

cherdano, on Mar 30 2008, 11:57 AM, said:

pclayton, on Mar 30 2008, 10:07 AM, said:

vI even gave you 5 minutes to think about it as I went down the hall.

5H for me. The temptation of 1430 is just too alluring (and likely). Put it this way. If you don't bid 5H here with this 4 loser hand, when will you ever do it?

Justin has seen my green preempts too many times and he's expecting 1100.

Partner will hardly ever raise 5♥ to 6♥. In fact, when he does, you should probably bid 7♥.

I agree that I would rather bid 6♥ than 5♥ if I were going to bid, but I double.

[CSGibson]

Double. It doesn't have to end the auction, but if it does, grab my plus and go home.

[mike777]

double...I hope I may beat it...

Ira C.... just spent ten minutes explaining to me to take a profit against preempts......I hope this is what he meant but..any error is mine.

[pclayton]

Jlall, on Mar 30 2008, 09:56 AM, said:

pclayton, on Mar 30 2008, 11:07 AM, said:

If you don't bid 5H here with this 4 loser hand, when will you ever do it?

This is why I'll never understand losers. To me it looks like I have 3 clubs, 2 diamonds, and like half a heart loser...

I don't think it's unreasonable to put RHO on 8 here. Pard is stiff or LHO doesn't have one to lead.

The ♣'s and the ♥K look like losers to me. The diamonds don't. I could be wrong.

Hell I was even wrong three times last week.

[han]

But Phil, you have 4 top tricks on defense!

[Apollo81]

Double, taking the sure plus. There's no guarantee partner's hand fits well with ours. Bidding hearts seems like a reasonable (read: decent shot to work) swingy action.