kriegel

Of course. But it seems to be the only possible piece of relevant information about the East-West hands.

The full deal was: Partner: ♠K ♥Qxx ♦AQ109xx ♣Jxx You: ♠9xxx ♥AK10 ♦K ♣AKQxx Diamonds do not split.

Vulnerable at IMPs you hold: ♠9xxx ♥AK10 ♦K ♣AKQxx Playing partner's preferred methods, a simple 2/1 with strong notrump, partner opens 1♦ in first seat. You respond 2♣, and partner rebids 2♦. You haven't discussed whether 2♦ denies a 4-card major or whether a reverse would promise extra values. Over to you. 1♦ - 2♣ 2♦ - ?

The full deal was: [hv=pc=n&s=sk42hakdj53caq753&w=sjt986hj853dkqct4&n=sq73hq942d9842cj9&e=sa5ht76dat76ck862&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=ppp1nppp&p=sjs3s5]399|300[/hv] There were two reasons I posted this hand. First, whether or not it was correct to unblock the hearts before playing a club to the jack (I did at the table), and second, whether there is any inference that East holds the spade ace when he fails to return the suit when he's in with the club jack. In real life, East cashed the spade ace, but I think I would have played him for the ace if he did not continue spades. Is there any merit to my thinking, or am I totally off base? Also, I realize East probably should have opened, but I can't control that. Thanks for the comments.

Say you lead a club to the jack. East wins and returns a diamond to West's queen. He cashes the diamond king and plays the ten of spades. What now?

Club game, IMPs [hv=pc=n&s=sk42hakdj53caq753&n=sq73hq942d9842cj9&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=ppp1nppp]266|200[/hv] The spade-jack lead rides around to your king, East playing the five (standard carding). Plan the play.

After 2♣ - 2♦; 3♣, responder can mark time with 3♦ to give opener a chance to bid a 4-card major You don't have that luxury with diamonds, but you can use 2♣ - 2♦ 3♦ to show single-suited diamonds and 3M to show 4M, 5+♦ You're in worse shape if 2♣ - 2♥ is a double negative because now you need 3♥ as natural.

For the first hand: 1♣ - 1♠ 3♣ - 3♦ 3♠ - 4♠ Pass For the second: 1♣ - (2♠) - 3♣ (a negative double would show a better hand, I think; I may be wrong) 3♦ - 3♥ 3♠ (want more in spades for 3NT) - 4♣ 5♣ - Pass Or more realistically: 1♣ - (2♠) - 3♣ - (4♠) 5♣ - Pass

In The Rodwell Files, Eric Rodwell says the original name of the "Suit Suffocation Play" is not appropriate for a family audience. When I first read it, I was intrigued. I tried Googling it but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know the original name? Thanks.

Ah, no, sorry. To play in overcaller's minor if single-suited, otherwise, overcaller bids 2♥. Thanks for catching that.

I've been thinking about a (strong) notrump defense that is legal under the ACBL general chart that has immediate natural 2M and 2♣ for the majors while differentiating relative lengths of major/minor two-suiters. Here's what I've come up with; feel free to tear it apart. I have no idea if this is defense already exists. (1NT) strong -X minor single-suiter or hearts and a minor, at least 5-4 either way -2♣ majors -2♦ spades and a minor, at least 5-4 either way -2M natural -2NT minors Over 2♦, advancer bids 2♥ to ask overcaller about spade length. He rebids: 2♠ 5 spades, 4+ minor 2NT 4 spades, 5+ clubs 3♣ 4 spades, 5+ diamonds (These are just steps, 3m could be natural and 2NT could be something else, maybe a stronger hand if that makes more sense.) This way advancer can play in a 5-3 spade fit when it exists and 3m when it doesn't. It's obviously very vulnerable to disruption by responder, and a downside is that it lets responder bid 2♥. Over X, advancer bids 2♣ is pass or correct (to 2♥ with hearts and a minor) and 2♦ to ask for more information. Then, 2♥ 5 hearts, 4+ minor 2♠ 4 hearts, 5+ clubs 2NT 4 hearts, 5+ diamonds 3m natural, 6+

Rainer Herrmann has it right. Declarer did have 2=2=4=5 with the Q of diamonds. I went up with the ♦K and returned the ♠Q, destroying the common suit entry for the double squeeze. A spade is definitely the intuitive play, but this was the first time I had ever consciously broken up a squeeze at the table.

I achieved a new milestone tonight with this hand, sitting South. W - E 1♣ - 1♥ 1NT - 2♦ (NMF) 2NT - 4NT (a big overbid, I know) 6NT - Pass [hv=pc=n&s=sqjtht2dkj8ct9842&e=sa63hkq873da64ca3]266|200[/hv] Low spade to the ten and declarer's king. Club to the ace, partner playing the queen. Ace of hearts, heart to the king, partner showing an even number. Low diamond from dummy. What's your plan and why?

I didn't mean an entire relay structure, just something like 1M - 2♣; 2♦ being a relay instead of natural diamonds to give responder room to show his hand type.

I've seen a lot of people advocating 1M - 2♣ as either clubs or balanced as a part of 2/1, with 1M - 2♦ then being 5+. I assume that opener rebids normally after 1M - 2♣ with the only catch being responder may have only 2-3 clubs (3=4=4=2 over 1♠, for example). Does opener still raise clubs with 4? Is there a straightforward way to sort out responder's hand types after 1M - 2♣; 3♣? I'm sure a relay would help smooth things out. I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but a quick search didn't yield anything particularly fruitful. Thanks in advance.