ewleongusa

In the US, 3D would be natural over RHO's 1D opening. 4D would show a better hand than a 3D bid. Eric Leong

How high the partnership bids depends on what partner has in spades. To see what partner can volunteer I would start with 2D to show both majors. If partner can freely volunteer spade support, I would bid 5NT as the grand slam force. Eric Leong

Since you don't preempt over a preempt, I would bid 4S in both cases as that would show a good hand. I would not double as I don't want to risk the auction getting out of control when say partner bids five of a minor when LHO bids some number of hearts. To make a slam on this hand you need a very good hand from partner to get rid of your heart losers. If his hand is that good partner is not going to pass 4S. Eric Leong

Well you have 3NT set at least five tricks which is close to a vulnerable game. If you double and say the opponents run to 4S or 4H, why do you think it is going to get any better? Eric Leong

If you have to open this hand in fourth seat I would open 2D which would be constructive. Why would one open a preemptive 2D bid in fourth seat when you can pass the hand out? Eric Leong

Partner has at most a jack if he has anything at all. To beat 3NT you have to hope you can collect the first five club tricks when declarer is 3=3=5=2. If you can take the first five club tricks you have to hope declarer is 3=3=4=3. If declarer has four clubs to the ten he shouldn't go down as when he leads a small spade to dummy he needs to play the queen since he can't afford to let his RHO in. If declarer has 9xxx in clubs and less than five diamonds you have to guess a specific holding for partner in clubs and diamonds. I see no way to distinguish between partner having xxxx or 10xx so I just play clubs from the top. Eric Leong

1H 2C 2D 2S 2NT 3S 4C 4H 4S 6C Pass Eric Leong

Why bid just 3C? Opposite a minimum double such as S Axxx H x D Axxx C Axxx, 5C is an excellent contract. Surely, at least a 4C bid is called for. Eric Leong

Instead of passing 3NT, why not bid 4H to give a complete picture of your hand? Your partner has said he has a maximum so 4H can't be that unreasonable. For example, partner could have: S Ax H KQx D xxxx C Q10xx and now you miss a laydown grand. Eric Leong

I plan to bid 4D followed by 5C followed by 6H. Since I never bid RKC, partner should work out I have a spade void and I am asking him to bid a grand with some good in both hearts and diamonds. Eric Leong

I think RHO is rebidding hearts because he has at least five of them so partner is probably void in hearts. Also, partner has said he has a long diamond suit with a hand too good to overcall so I would give partner at least 17-18 hcp. Now consider that partner could hold something like: S Ax H -- D AKQxxxx C Axxx or the equivalent so our side can possibly make 6D even though we only have just about half of the deck in hcp. So I think bidding just 5D without thinking about slam is very conservative. I would bid 5C to show a key useful card for partner. I can hardly have a long club suit as I didn't bid clubs earlier and I can hardly be looking for a club fit at the five level since partner didn't promise club support when he bid 4D. Partner may not be able to bid a cold slam in all cases but at least you did your best to help him. Eric Leong

I would only enter the bidding if I was looking for the 500-800 save against the non vulnerable game. Eric Leong

The most you can make with spade ruffs is 10 tricks so the 11th trick has to come from hearts. Presumably, LHO has the heart king so I would play LHO to have started with a stiff or void in diamonds and H AKx or less. Win the diamond on dummy. Ruff a heart to hand. Ruff a spade to dummy. Ruff a heart to hand dropping the heart king. Ruff a spade on dummy. Cash the good heart. Claim. Eric Leong

Seven diamonds in your hand. Spade ace and two spade ruffs on dummy. This adds up to 10 tricks. Where is your 11th trick? Eric Leong

I don't think I would have introduced feeble hearts on my own with a slam oriented hand. But now that I am stuck with the bid, I would bid 3S followed by 4NT. Who knows? Partner could have three key cards and the queen of trumps. If partner can't bid 3NT over 3S, I will presume he doesn't have the spade ace and if he can show two keycards and the queen of trumps then I think our chances for a grand is good. Eric Leong