Endymion77

5♣ looks like the best option here although 6♣ also has some merit and it does scream club void but you should really discuss the responses to 3♠ with partner.

Double, we're not making game here and if they're making 2♥ we're getting a zero anyway. Relaying to 3♦ is a very losing proposition at MPs IMO.

> There's no strip. We have 11 on top and West is just squeezed without the count in two suits. West either has to unguard diamonds, or strip the ♥A which sets up a heart trick. And according to the above article, which might or might not be true but the example's very close to the hand in question if you bother to look at it, a squeeze without the count and a strip squeeze is essentially the same. Anyway, it's a rather pointless discussion and I think it's about time we all move on to other stuff. :)

OK, I looked it up and here's what it is: http://www.bridgeguys.com/squeeze/secondary_squeeze.html

A strip squeeze doesn't necessarily require a traditional endplay. It does require that a defender is forced to unguard or discard a (potential) winner, and then be forced to lead into a suit that gives the defense an additional trick. Which is exactly what happens here - West is forced to throw a potential winner (the ♥Q) and is then thrown in with the ♥A and can only return a diamond which makes the ♥J the 12th trick.

After you cash 5 clubs and 3 spades throwing 2 hearts from South's hand West needs to get down to ♥A and ♦J1075 and you can set up the 12th trick in hearts. It's a strip squeeze.

The initial double is quite reasonable, actually I don't see another option. Now I would inquire the opps about the double - is it penalty, or the opener converted it? And I would probably move to 2♦ unless I pick up from the response that they made a mistake - at least I have a real suit, while partner's bid doesn't promise anything but less than 4 hearts. Opps might not want to defend 2♦ doubled even if it's right, I mean opener has 5+ spades and one of them has a penalty double/pass of clubs - and someone also has QJTxx diamonds? Unlikely.

I would have switched to the S7 as West to deny a top honor in the suit and help East find the club switch. However, East probably still should've figured it out although it was hard to visualize a club void on the bidding: 1) West led his lowest diamond without an honor in the suit - why? 2) If West really switched from Kxxx spades then South would have 2 spade losers (Qx) and one of them could disappear only in the very unlikely scenario that South has something like Qx Q10xxx AJx KQJ - would he really bid 4NT on that? So the blame is 35% West, 65% East.

Without any calculations to back it up, my gut feeling is that 3NT would gain quite a bit long term when vulnerable and would be close to a wash when not vulnerable but probably would still be slightly better than 1NT. Against less than perfect defense, and especially if one of the hands has a 5 card suit, just play 3NT.

Doubles aren't alertable in many places regardless of their meaning, so first check that. If doubles are indeed alertable where you play, then artificial doubles should be alerted and penalty should not (as they are natural). If a double of NT shows a strong NT hand (ie it's mostly penalty in nature although it can of course be taken out), then it shouldn't be alertable.

Pass, and also pass a reopening double and lead a club

If spades or hearts are trump and there's a good fit, the hand has 7 losers.

Also, and this one's quite effective, is to lead a trump when one of the opponents has shown a distributional hand and the other one has taken preference (especially if you have a strong holding in declarer's second suit)

It's a clear 1♠ opening to me, but I would wish I was playing Precision when I get that hand.

Agreed. So you raise to 2♥ with 4 (which seems to be standard with or without support doubles), and pass without hearts - seems normal enough to me. An alert would only create confusion and unnecessary delay of the game.

Absolutely. So what did opener have, after all?

It means that South expects to make game in spades. No reason to preempt as opps aren't likely to get to a making game with West passing 1♠.

I can see South passing vulnerable but 3♠ is probably standard these days. North must've been looking at a different hand, all he needs is AQxxxx Kxx x Axx (a rather modest 3♠ overcall) and 6 is cold.

No, the default is that 2♦ promises an invitational hand at least (11+) and you distinguish between a strong and a weak hand with 4 spades immediately. Obviously if you can have anywhere from a good 10 to a bad 16 when you open 2♣ and rebid 2♠, then a mandatory cue bid in this sequence won't work and should show extras. If 4♣ is merely an invitation and you don't cuebid unless you accept the invitation, then 4♣ is wrong on the given hand. If you can't bid rkcb without agreeing clubs first, then 3♥ is wrong. Here's a suggestion for a playable scheme: 2♣ - 2♦ 2♠ - 2NT (ask for shortness, GF as opposed to 3♠ which is invitational in spades) 3♦: -- 3♥ (general force, looking for the best strain) -- 3♠ (agrees spades, forcing to 4♠, demands cuebid with a weaker hand/'Serious 3NT' with a better hand) -- 3NT (to play) -- 4♣ - agrees clubs, slam invitational -- 4♦ - rkcb for clubs -- 4♥/4♠ - to play

This is where our opinions differ, to me 5♣ absolutely denies the spade ace. Opener's hand is already limited and the cue bid is mandatory. If partner wanted me to just bid game when I have the ♠A and ♣K why bother with 4♣ at all? I obviously have no ♥A and I've shown the diamond shortness already?

Is South's hand good enough to bid a direct forcing 3♦ over the reverse, or he would go through Leb 2NT to try to sign off in 3♦? The fit is good but everything he has in clubs and spades is probably wasted.

Why would you want to play in 6♣ off both major suit aces?

Yes, opener has 6 diamonds and 5 hearts, doesn't he?

Precision (11-15 hcp, 6+ clubs or 5 clubs/4M). In this particular case, opener showed 5 clubs, 4 spades and a singleton or void in diamonds.

This particular bid isn't forcing. North can open 1♦ and reverse into 2♥ with a 5 loser hand (assuming a red suit fit can be found), the hand's not strong enough to open 1♥ and rebid 3♦.