bluechip10

This is assuming you have outside entries: Playing the Ten and letting it run is the percentage play. If LHO has KJx or KJxx or KJxxx, you will always lose two tricks. Most likely, you will also lose two tricks to KJ. You win when RHO has KJx or KJxx. If RHO has KJxxx, then you must lose one trick. You are hoping to lose just one trick. So, anytime you play for the split in heart honors, you are favored to win.

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Initial thoughts: Duck the first spade; pull trump; cash the ace and k in the side suits. What do we know? LHO has 5 spades, 3 hts, 2 dia and 3 clubs. We know that RHO is down to minor suits. So, RHO can be endplayed if he is lazy enough to play the Q of clubs after two rounds taken by the K and A of clubs. Therefore, play a diamond and see what happens. This line gives you the best chance to make. If RHO cashes the Q of clubs after getting the diamond, he is endplayed. If he ducks, LHO wins and cashes a spade to set.

I feel that double can be used in two ways. One, if one doubles, it would deny top honor (Q, K, or A), but show at least 3+ support. Direct raise would show 3+ and a top honor. Another way: treat it as a support double.

Your partner should pass. She indicates with her pass that she has no preference with any suit to which you take out.If say, she has a preference, she would bid the suit. I play a redouble implies no fit, which is a better application. Raises can be preemptive. I play Jordan 2NT to show a limit raise or better. This application has worked for decades. Even so, the partner of the doubler after a redouble has the obligation to help out her partner by passing or showing preference. Pretty simple. There will be times, when you play 4-3 and 5-2 fits. Even 3-3 fits on occasion. It's part of the game. The doubler's error was bidding 3spades. Your duty getting the opps to the 3 level had succeeded. Your hand is too weak for a free raise to 3. Law of total tricks is in play. Plus your partner can have a spade suit and zero points. I'd discuss the hand with partner and both of you should apologize for the misunderstanding and poor judgement.

LHO needs to have exactly QTx in order to set up clubs for two heart pitches. Or you can believe that RHO has the ace of hearts. The chances of the RHO holding the ace of hearts is much greater than the hoped-for club holding. Another clue: most lead an ace at a slam. Given all that, the RHO pitched two clubs. So, before committing to the hearts, I'd cash the K of clubs and see what falls. Pitching two clubs so early makes no sense. Decisions, decisions is true. Also, depends on the caliber of the game you're in.

I am a Bergen disciple. That is why I like Bergen raises, support dbl/redbl so we can follow the LOTT (Law of total tricks). Take the overcall example (first hand). First, I would dbl the 1 dia bid and then bid spades to show a 16+ hand. Even though this hand is "only" 15hcp, the texture gives it the extra value. Anyway, given the 1 spade overcall, I would bid 3sp as the responder to show 4 spades in support. The only forcing, strength showing bid would be a cuebid. The other hands that the partnership opened, Bergen raises would help. You would know you have 10 trumps between you. So, bidding 4 in most cases (avoiding hindsight) satisfies me. Bottom line: The Law of Total Tricks works.

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Sometimes common sense prevails. You know that the opener's partner must bid again. Therefore, a double of 2dia would show a diamond suit. Otherwise, pass. Let the opener's partner bid anything. Then use that bid to proceed. In this case, I would cuebid three hearts, showing a huge hand. Then use common sense. The key is to let the opps reveal their hands. And even the declarer play with be easier of the opp's bidding.

1D--1H 2D--3H 4C--4H Recognizing that NT is probably a failure and looking at the losers. I'm satisfied with 4hts as a final contract. If we make six--then the 2 dia bidder underbid.

I have a theory that I have used for years. First, DONT is a superior convention over strong 1NT openers. Anyway, I prefer to pass with minor suits and bid with majors. I only bid good suits (two out of the top three honors) or a longer than 6 card suit and I reduce the requirements. My lead: the 4 of clubs.

South. First, South knows that North has hearts and points and distribution (if lacking in points). What does South need from North for a decent slam bid? K of clubs or the ace of spades. K of diamonds or a stiff. Hearts look pretty good. Well, know that North may actually have all, making a grand slam possible. I would ask for aces as South. Then Kings. End upin 6 hearts.

I would pass. This will be a nightmare for your side, if you try to play it. Make it a nightmare hand for the opps. Take any plus score, and you will be fine.

I bid 4 hearts. I'm going to be in slam in something.

I used to play an opening of 2 diamonds to mean a 4-4-4-1 and 17-21 HCP. Responder bids 2 Hearts to ask for the singleton. Opener bids the suit below the stiff. Then responder calls the shots. If it is 1 diamond--1M, then I ask for aces. This hand is too good to settle for less than slam if one ace is present in partner's hand.

I'm an aggressive bidder. I bid 5 diamonds with reasonable expectation to make. If all your partner had was 3 aces, you may even miss slam. But you can check that with blackwood if you choose. Another reason for jumping to game is that the opps probably have a game in the majors themselves. I have done this all the time with great success.

Too many times we get too scientific. You should just bid 3NT with your hand to avoid any confusion. Remember, lots of other people will be holding the exact hand and bidding the exact way. If 3NT is cold, then you plan is to make overtricks. Otherwise, everyone goes down the same. As an aside, most jump overcalls are made with garbage suits; so when dummy comes down, it makes it much easier to know where all the cards are.If the odds are on, you can make 11 tricks.

when I make a neg dbl in that situation, I do promise both majors and at least 10 points or equivalent. So, I would have no trouble bidding 4spades--especially if we are vul

Rebid is 2♣. If you bid a new suit, you will be reversing. That shows 17-21. If pard wants to continue to describe his hand, you will too. There are other advantages to your opening rather than passing. you force the opps into difficult defensive bidding.

One of the many uses of the opening 2♦ bid is to show a 4-4-4-1 hand and 12 to 16 points. This is called Mini-Roman. Lots of variations. Google it and read up.

I need very little from partner to make 6 ♦. Ace ♠, AK ♦, KQ ♣. He does have a heart stopper. Bid 4 NT. If he shows 3 aces (assume standard blackwood response), then bid 6 ♦. If he shows 2, then bid 5 ♦. I like to bid aggressively especially with a void and a two suited hand.

LOL. I would have passed with the north hand. First, we are red. Second, lousy shape. Now, if north passes, does preemptor's pard bid 3 hts? As I said above, a plus score is a good score. another thing; with the opening lead, declarer pretty knows the red suit distribution. Declarer needs the clubs to be 3-2 with the Q onside. Tough hand, but hindsight is 100%

Lots of things in this hand. One, I hate leading a singleton trump; but the hand could be a cross ruff. I hate leading an A from AQ. I hate leading useless doubletons (partner didn't bid clubs). Given all that, I usually like to lead the unbid major. Lead the A of Hts. It would be nice to be able to take the first four tricks. Partner could have a king.

Your diamonds are basically useless unless LHO leads the A. Partner probably has the equivalent of 17 points minimum. One or no dia. Probably plays better in spades than 3NT. Last, if you feel you are behind in your MP game, bid 4SP. 3SP is probably a plus score. If my pard plays a solid game like I do, then I bid 4SP and play the pants off the hand.