You open 1
, 1
on your left, 1
by partner (this shows five, he would double with four), and 2
on your right, showing good values and a
fit. How would you sort out the following possible continuations by you: X, 3
, 3
? Opener might have three spades or four spades, or of course fewer than three spades, and he might have a bare opener or a pretty decent hand. I was thinking that X could guarantee three cards, but could also be done on four cards with minimal values.
It's a very simple sequence but I really have no idea of whether there is a consensus on it. When it happened at the table i alerted the X planning to say that it was a support double but then, when Lho inquired, I acknowledged that we had not really talked of specifically this sequence. indeed partner had three spades and all was well. But I got to thinking about it. And them playing online I had a similar situation except that I, as opener, had four spades and a minimal opener. I wanted to say "I bid 3
but don't expect much". Perhaps a double followed by 3
, assuming 3
gets passed back to me, is the way to say that. If it is at 4
when it gets back to me I can just shut up. I realize sometimes I should also just shut up if 3
comes around to me, but at least sometimes I will want to bid when I hold four cards.
I cannot recall ever seeing this discussed, despite it being simple and presumably common.
