[Jinksy]

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We managed to take this off by only one, but the less said about that the better. More importantly, we want to be Xing or bidding over them. But which, and by who?

[billw55]

Difficult. Neither player has much extra, and the club fit is an unknown perk. My first reaction is no blame.

[Cyberyeti]

What is X by S on the second round ? if pens, no blame, if T/O or action style I'd double.

[Jinksy]

Penalties.

[Cyberyeti]

Jinksy, on 2016-March-10, 16:14, said:

Penalties.

And this hand is why you don't play it as pens, but other hands it suits to do so.

[monikrazy]

100% S. If double isn't flexible, has to bid game.

[rmnka447]

I'm bidding 4 ♠ as South on this auction.

Partner shouldn't be overcalling on complete junk red vs. white. I've got 11 HCP, 2 1/2 QTs, and a ruffing value (even if they have a 10 card fit). With the distribution in ♥s, I'm not sitting for 4 ♥.

[gszes]

The singleton heart (yes even with 3 lousy trumps) makes the south hand appreciably better than a mere balanced 10 count. The N hand would be stymied even with a better hand in the face of 3 possible heart losers off the top. If the north hand is pretty much minimal for a 1s overcall it should be VERY normal for south to envision 4s. It will not always work but the odds seem to be in favor of it making. 100% south.

An aside: If n did not overcall 1s and it went 1h p p x 4h I bet N would have little trouble bidding 4s:)

[SteveMoe]

While it's true that a 1♠ over call can be on air, North has an almost opening hand. Opposite a LR+ cue bid by advancer, North should double (Balance of Power Partner). Whether this is a Forcing pass or not is a matter for agreement. I tend to side with Robson & Segal that we don't have forcing passes in 4♠ over 4♥ decisions unless we are in a clear GF. That, we are not.

Of course if you have the agreement that passes over their preempts are forcing, when we are in a LR+ auction and you believe West is preempting, then have at it!

Holding ♠xxx is not so bad here as RHO(West) rates to have 7 and partner 0-2. The real question is should South take out to 4♠. South might imagine that North is some 5=1=34 or 5=2=33 or 5=0=4=4 all of which have plays for game if overcaller's honors are all working (no ♥ wastage). Game seems a reasonable shot. 10 tricks in ♠ seems easier than 7 tricks in ♥.