What to bid?

[MNBridge]

:sp: 62
:ht: AK8743
:dm: QJ
:cl: KQ9

Both vul IMPs

P deals and bids
1 :dm: - 3 :sp: - ???

[Captain Nemo]

IMHO: negative double, because I suspect that 4H would be considered forcing. Whatever partner does, convert to 4H (unless, of course, partner bids 5C or something... that's the chance you take going this route). If partner goes on, you may be well placed to bid slam, but you probably don't want to be higher than game, and 4H is almost certainly the right game to be in.

Sometimes preempts work and you have to take a guess. Make it the best one you can.

[Steve White]

4 hearts. Not forcing. You can't be sure that's best, but the odds are better than doing anything else. Partner might well pass a negative double with 3-3 in the majors, or even with 2-3.

[Klaymen]

I agree that 4:ht: is your best call here and is not forcing. 4:sp: would be forcing but would hog a lot of room, so that's out. X at that level could be takeout but could easily be tried as penalty by partner.

You could be bidding 4:ht: under duress or have some extras, but it looks to easy for the defense to score two tricks without extras from partner.
If partner has a big hand and sniffs slam, there will be room for partner to bid on, particularly 4NT or a first-round control cue bid. 4:sp: would be a good start. If partner can't scrounge up that bid (or 4NT) you already rate to have 1-2 spade losers.

Could make 6:ht: easily with
:sp: Ax :ht: Qxx :dm: AKxx :cl: xxx

Or struggle with
:sp: Qx :ht: Qx :dm: KTxx :cl: AJx

[4sigma]

I agree with the consensus that 4:ht: is not forcing here. New suits below game are forcing.

Nemo does raise a good point for discussion, however. What sort of hand should responder have if the auction goes:

1:dm: - 3:sp: - DBL - Pass
4:cl: - P - 4:ht: ?

[Steve White]

I agree with the consensus that 4:ht: is not forcing here. New suits below game are forcing.

Nemo does raise a good point for discussion, however. What sort of hand should responder have if the auction goes:

1:dm: - 3:sp: - DBL - Pass
4:cl: - P - 4:ht: ?
Weaker hearts than on the actual hand. Not 4, unless so strong that a 4-3 is playable, but probably 5.

[E. Blackadder]

so... can you show slam interest below game?

[Klaymen]

Yes, bid 3:sp: :wink: