[kenrexford]

So, after a tense day at the office (the "office" includes me and my wife), my partner and I sat down against my wife and her partner, with my wife announcing that she cannot wait to hammer me in some contract, to make her day.

So, one HAND FRIGGIN' ONE, I pick up ♠AK ♥Qx ♦A109xx ♣xxxx. Partner opened 1♣ (he plays a sound opening style), passed to me. 1♦. LHO, my wife's partner, doubled for the majors. My partner passed, and Leah bid 1♥. I bid 2♥, and Ruth raised to 3♥, passed to me.

1♣-P-1♦-X
P-1♥-2♥-3♥
P-P-?

At this point, I was sweating a bit. I visualized partner with a possibility of 4333 shape, as I know that Ruth-Leah overbid on 8-card suits. Heck, 4423 was even possible. So, with great fear, but like a mosquito drawn to the bug zapper, I launched out 4♥, intended to ask partner to pick a minor.

This was doubled and came back to me. So, with even more sweat developing, I sent it back, still desperately trying to get a minor call. Instead, partner trotted out 4♠!?!?!

With great sense of impending doom, I decided that our only hope was 5♦. I of course caught a dummy of ♠xxxx ♥Jxx ♦KQ ♣AQxx and a double from my wife with a 5-card stack on me. -500

Blasted!!!!

[jtfanclub]

I give up. Why 4♥?

Seems like you've shown your shape with 1♦ followed by 2♥. I don't see any reason you should expect to make 5 of a minor with your worthless Q♥ and 4HCP in the minors when the opps have announced that everything is splitting badly.

What's wrong with X?

[kenrexford]

jtfanclub, on Nov 7 2008, 10:18 AM, said:

I give up. Why 4♥?

Seems like you've shown your shape with 1♦ followed by 2♥. I don't see any reason you should expect to make 5 of a minor with your worthless Q♥ and 4HCP in the minors when the opps have announced that everything is splitting badly.

What's wrong with X?

A couple of reasons.

First, in this partnership, 2♥ would be interpretted as a Western Q. So, partner would not know my shape precisely.

Second, and more importantly, I was out of my friggin' mind. When your wife desperately wants to hammer you in a ridiculous contract, and your extreme fear is being so hammered and giving bragging rights away, somehow many of us run like wildebeasts right at the damn crocs. Or, like a squirrel dodging back-and-forth on the highway with a screaming car.

In other words, I'm laughing at myself here. LOL

[paulg]

I think 4♥ got what it deserved.

Awesome psychology from the wife too, clearly a fearsome competitor to get you on tilt on board 1!

Paul

[jtfanclub]

kenrexford, on Nov 7 2008, 10:22 AM, said:

A couple of reasons.

First, in this partnership, 2♥ would be interpretted as a Western Q. So, partner would not know my shape precisely.

So what would an X show here, keeping in mind that you've already denied having much in value in hearts?

[han]

Just double 3H.

[slothy]

All I can say Ken:

I hope you got a watertight prenup

Alex

[kenrexford]

slothy, on Nov 7 2008, 11:06 AM, said:

All I can say Ken:

I hope you got a watertight prenup

Alex

Heck -- I'm lucky if I get an extra $2 as allowance for the week. LOL