Passing shows extras; double is a warning. Clubs are just going to have to work themselves out.

As to Chris’ question of what to do over 5C, I’d more contentedly pass. I can honor a double, pass a 5S bid, or bid a slam over any try. That’s easier.

Against bad opponents, you could bid 6S counting on the opponents to bid 7C, but such opponents are in regrettably short supply.

–JRM

I talk with my favorite partners and my favorite bidding guru’s, always giving my own hand. So the telephone poll must supplement the blog poll until we get more of the team into gear.

At the moment the vote is split as follows:

Voting for a pass: Brad, Phil, Beatty.
Voting for a double: Wickham, Ralph.

Those passing view partner’s bid as unlimited, and feel that they have extras for an opening bid. In particular, they cite hands where partner might have Axxx of spades and/or two small clubs where the trumps and club control might be relevant.

Those doubling construct various good hands for partner where slam has no play.

So the question might turn to what sort of hand should partner have to bid slam? The passers were imagining hands where pard had Axx or Axxx of spades and great outside values without a club control. The fact is that the 4 club bid covers a lot of territory.

It comes back to my original proposition: Does a pass show some huge hand, or something more than the opening bid with a club control. I agree with Mike Houston that it should not be “just the club control.”

Phil and Steve commented that we cannot rule out slam, and have some of the right cards. So what should we expect from partner? I am interested in nominations for what hands are suitable acceptances in this case.

BTW — as someone who has read The Bridge World’s MSC for 40 years, I have learned that any reasonable action has support. Players may have strong opinions, but if they are open-minded, they learn that other good players have different strong opinions.

My rationale: A pass is forcing, and therefore indicates a hand that has some interest in 6S, but isn’t certain. Thus with 2 quick losers, or wasted high cards in clubs, you would double. With extra trick-taking power, you would bid. With something in the middle, you pass. I think this hand, while it has good spades and the club ace, falls into the first camp (i.e. double). A close second choice is pass. You have lots of losers in the red suits, and your club ace may be opposite partner’s possible void. Your spade jack probably doesn’t add any value to the hand either - if partner has 4- or 5-card support, you really don’t need it - Kxxxx would be just as good, with your QJ being more valuable in another suit.