4♠, 5♣, pass, or double... What will you choose? - with India Natt née Leeming

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With 13 hcp and a 6-card club suit, we open 1♣. West overcalls 2♥, Partner doubles, and East jumps to game with 4♥. We are faced with a tricky choice now!
What are our options? We could bid 4♠, 5♣, pass, or even double... What will you choose? Leave a comment below to let us know your choice.
Many thanks to India for joining us for this wild hand. Her advice in thinking through our options is helpful as is her guidance as we play the hand. And how do we know if our results prove whether we made the 'right' choice or if it just came down to luck? India gives us a helpful method for evaluating at the end of the hand if we ended up in a good contract.
♠♥♦♣♠♥♦♣♠♥♦♣
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[@taratalwar3438]

India is a very good in explaining

[@curtsoloff4519]

The reason that pass is correct here is that any other call is greatly overstating your values, or what we often term "bidding the same values twice." The South hand has 13 hcp and in reality only has 12 working points, since the singleton J of hearts is a worthless card. Sure, you have a decent six card suit, but not much else. Even more important to remember here is that your partner is guaranteed of another bid! If North has a good hand, then he will not sell out to 4H undoubled; similarly, if North does not have a good enough hand to compete, then we are best placed to defend and take our best shot at beating 4H.

[@timothybolshaw]

Bidding is intended to give your side the best result possible with the highest frequency. In a competitive auction, you do not always have the luxury of descriptive bidding. You need to decide whether you or your partner is in the best situation to judge whether to contest the auction. If I held something like S:76 H:Q4 D: AQ52 C:AQJ64 (more points than my current hand) I would pass, and be happy if partner does also. He will be in the best position to decide. With S:QJ52 H: void D:KJ84 C:A9843 (a rock minimum opening bid) I would bid 4S in a heartbeat.

[@jwy4264]

ehhh yeah, partner doesnt know i have Kxx in spades tbh even though its likely. It puts partner in a very difficult position, to say the least. Maybe if you're playing with an expert.

[@thearcticlord3920]

Online I would have doubled, crashed and then rage-quit because I refuse to play with unreliable robots.

[@carolineekaireb9705]

really enjoyed the analysis thank you

[@guyredares]

great discussion

[@timothybolshaw]

At IMPs scoring, nothing would induce me to let opponents play this hand. When opponents bid to game vulnerable, I expect (at best) them to be beaten by one trick, and often making. This is a classic case where pass (non forcing) could result in a double game swing, and I am very surprised that any strong player would consider it. Frankly, when you pass, you are mighty lucky that game is not makeable for your side. If I agree (as I generally would with a regular partner at IMPs and this vulnerability) that pass is forcing, then that is my choice. With the robot, that is not an option. Partner will usually pass a double, so forget that. 4NT (take out) would work OK on the actual hand, but suggests at least four diamonds and strikes me as wrong. Thus, we come down to 4S or 5C. I think I would choose 5C as, even if partner has five spades, 4S could be unmanageable with a (not improbable) bad spade split. Entries to the club suit will become a problem. An additional consideration is that partner would be less likely to stretch to a borderline negative double with a singleton club. By the way, when you bid 5C, there is a case for partner to correct to 5D (not showing extra values as you did not bid 3D over 2H). The point is that the failure to bid 4S and your marked heart shortage virtually guarantees some diamond length opposite. Occasionally, you will look stupid doing this, however, and I would only do so in practice with one more diamond. Maybe, partner could even bid 5D (as a sacrifice) when you pass 4H, but that could be a disaster if 4H was bid to make with a strong hand and only two or three hearts. I would not risk it with only five diamonds, This is a much harder decision at matchpoint scoring (or point a board) when not playing pass as forcing. An interesting competitive situation, and a common type of problem.

[@user-yv3ny4vb2k]

Well reasoned. Assumed dbl not responsive, showing three s and not willing to sell out.

[@johnworf]

Here the opponents are vulnerable - so east is bidding this with a chance of making it - they will generally have an unbalanced hand for this type of bid. So the first thing is: I am never passing in a million years playing teams at this vulnerability. So the question is 4S or 5C?...partner can easily have 5 spades here but not be strong enough to bid - so I'm opting for 4S...there is a good chance that they don't double us....so it will be only 50's. If they bid 5H I will pass and if they double 4S - I might run to 5C....that will be the tough decision...but I'm pretty sure partner has some clubs in their hand.

[@pferraro4109]

4S for sure!

[@ClarkeP]

I would bid 4S in case 4❤ is making. It might nudge oppo to 5❤ too which may be crucial. Either way India is an excellent teacher and I admire her clarity of expression as well as her bridge.

[@marcindziembor8887]

To be honest - the discussion made me lean towards 5 clubs. Partner must have at least club fit [4252 hand (or 4153)], as with 6 diamonds P should bid 3 diamonds. It may a) Make b) Put opponents into 5 hearts c) Go down -2 and 4 hearts might make making it a good sacrifice.

[@stephengoodwin2059]

Did the robot lead the eight of clubs against four spades, and if so, did that enable declarer to get out for three down? On a heart lead, declarer would have great difficulty retaining trump control.

[@cjwebster1893]

I would have passed but good to learn the sacrifice bid of 4s was better points wise. love these videos thanks

[@susannaylor6020]

I play a lot online and often yell at the robots. "Are you kidding me?" Your partner doubled but didn't support you in clubs. Their partner increased the bid showing support in the same suit. You don't have much in the other suits to block them or much more than the ACE and King in clubs. Knowing the robots your partner could have 1 club, again not supporting you in any thing. Definitely go the safe route and pass.

[@magicmerl7749]

Playing IMPs I would have sacrificed in 5C. I think that contract goes 2 light (AS, AD, ruff, QC). In 4S we lose 3 spades, AD and probably another diamond. So probably 2 light there as well.

[@markgriffith4260]

5Clubs, might go down but could be a good sacraf

[@jwy4264]

I mean, pass. 5 C is bad. In 4 S, they get a heart, maybe a club, or/and maybe even possibly three diamonds. Thats if partner has AQJx of spades. It's tricky, but I think 4H is likely to go down, i guess, more likely than 4S is to make at least. It's close, I guess i just dont like 4-3 fits.

[@rameshshah9885]

Five Clubs May be a Great game contract with S-support from Partner. and if OPP goes to 5H, it may go down.

[@simonhughes3871]

I would have passed but only because I would not really know what the alternatives were

[@hilarysymons9250]

Perhaps looking at a sacrifice bid with the hope of a miracle

[@davidmabey6578]

India omitted to count the 2 points for dummy's QC in trick 1. Dummy has 10 points. We have 13, Declarer has 6 to 10, therefore partner has 7 to 11. No wonder the surprise when declarer came up with the AD

[@rickrock51]

4 spades

[@wmhuang]

Depending if they have game, 5C if yes

[@bjjb4217]

My bid would be 4S

[@normjes]

5 clubs maybe down 1?

[@taratalwar3438]

Start with 2 C

[@marthaborcherding5231]

5 clubs

[@eoindryden9040]

I would bid 5clubs as not vulnerable and leave it to my partner.

[@lindaclayton9128]

5 Clubs, not Vulnerable and short in hearts

[@dorothybougen4254]

I would have tried spades even if it went down

[@galvyvvic]

4s

[@kjking3087]

pass or double

[@pferraro4109]

4S

[@peterlawson8563]

At the 4 minute mark, 4 spades

[@christinemuschiato5895]

double

[@mahendrapatel5150]

Pass

[@harrisbobroff9813]

What tricks you think you will get by Doubling? One Spade, 1 Club, maybe two Diamonds...or Two Spades and 1 Diamond. Playing in 4 Spades on a 4 ; 3 fit, down 2 probably. I forgot Vulnerable or Not!?!?!? Double will probably get passed out, maybe down 1

[@4CardsMan]

Too bad it’s a robot, which will double with long spades. With me, the double denies more than 4. So, with a reasonable partner, 5 Clubs. At IMP’s don’t let the vul opponents play

[@vaduganathanmurugaiyan3784]

My bid PASS

[@MaryJane-pl1ot]

North had no business doubling with just two hearts. But since North did, you just have to hope you can hope for better than you did. You and your partner lacked enough high card points to go above a 4 level bid. With no hint of what your partner has, if assume he had better hearts. I think with only 8 points and no long strong suit, he should have passed.

[@johnwest2156]

This guy is either the best actor or the lamest bridge player EVER

[@friedadomaingue873]

Too slow

[@ramonagranger4349]

4 spades

[@marnienorris7031]

5 clubs