[blml] Four calling birds [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[David Grabiner]

Richard Hills writes: richard.hills at immi.gov.au

> What are your logical alternatives when four
> calls from partner and LHO are inconsistent,
> suggesting that they are both bird brains?
>
> Matchpoint pairs
> Dlr: South
> Vul: Both
>
> The bidding has gone:
>
> WEST      NORTH     EAST      SOUTH
> ---       ---       ---       Pass
> Pass      4C(1)     Dble(2)   Pass
> 4H        5C(3)     Dble(4)   Pass
> ?
>
> (1) Preempt in clubs, transferring captaincy
> of the auction to South
> (2) Takeout double, transferring captaincy
> of the auction to West
> (3) Preempt in clubs, transferring captaincy
> of the auction to South
> (4) Penalty double, seizing captaincy of the
> auction from West

I don't see East's second double as a violation of captaincy, because his 
hand is unlimited. If pass is not forcing here, East can pass with a minimum 
double and let West decide what to do, or double with extra high-card values 
to ensure that West either passes or bids on.  If pass is forcing, then 
East's double expresses a preference for playing 5Cx rather than competing, 
and West can override it.

However, there is no logical alternative to assuming that North doesn't know 
what he is doing.

> You, West, hold:
>
> K
> A6543
> JT542
> T2
>
> What call do you make?
> What other calls do you consider making?

I have about what partner expects me to have; the 5-5 distribution is an 
extra value, but the doubleton club is not an asset since partner probably 
has one or two.  In addition, the opponents are more likely to have gone to 
the 5-level when they shouldn't have gone, since it was the preemptor who 
bid on.  Thus I pass, after some consideration of 5H if partner's double 
shows extras.  I don't consider 5D because this is matchpoints, and 5D 
cannot be a good score if 4H was making.

I would give East a bit of leeway if his second double was slow, becauce 
this was an unexpected auction.