Responsive Doubles Solution
My preferred agreement is that a responsive double in this situation promises four hearts. In general, bids show more cards at higher levels, even in suits ostensibly promised by the original double.
The reason is that one is often forced to double without four of the other major. The corollary of this understanding is that the advancer may have an awkward hand with 2-3-4-4 in an example like this one. That’s why they pre-empt! At least my method gets the major suit fits right.
On the current problem, my partner was not playing my favorite agreement here, so I chose to bid 4
.
Partner put down 
A 5 J 10 6 
A 6 5 4 
A K 7 5.
The defenders lost their way on this hand, allowing me to score 620, winning one IMP versus 3NT at the other table. In one sense, 3NT is an attractive vulnerable game, requiring only a diamond pickup with information from the bidding. The problem is that when you go down, it is probably -400.
What do you think?
My hand is so flat and soft, Jeff, that I think I would have X’d 3S, irrespective of exactly how many hearts I’m showing.
Not sure what partner would have done over that. Perhaps leave it in, leading spade and a spade?
What would that yield on the lie of the cards?
May 6, 2007 Peg
I agree with you Jeff. You must have finessed the diamond the right way! Your partner could have overcalled 1nt? Would you have liked that better? :-) How did the hearts split, you used to tell me, that when they preempt in a major, they are USUALLY very short in the OTHER MAJOR! Way to go Jeff!
November 13, 2007 Josie Kamps