AL78

We have entry problems to the East hand. I suspect the ♣A is a singleton and the ♠K is onside. Problem is if the ace is a singleton there is no way to the East hand without going down. I think I would cash the ♠A and try to drop a stiff onside king playing North for 2821 or 2731 shape. If the king drops, cross to East with a trump and play to a low club. If that holds we are home with six spades, four clubs and two diamnonds, we have trump entries to enjoy the established long clubs.

I am close to mastering it, I have had so much practice with the hands I typically pick up that it is probably the best part of my bidding. :-)

No idea about the auctions but the other four pairs were in 3NT N. One pair got a low diamond lead and made 9 tricks. One pair got a low spade lead (nice) and somehow still managed to go one off, no idea how as after that lead you make at least nine tricks even if you don't drop the stiff offside club king. The other two pairs got the same lead as me (so maybe they got the heart overcall as well), one going one off, the other making 11 tricks.

jillybean got the right answer. I took the spade hook immediately which lost and when my ♥Q was knocked out I didn't think there was any chance of making, so took a failing club hook and went two down for a bottom. If I'd have thought about this a bit more I would have worked out the club finesse cannot possibly work with RHO's overcall and should play for them to have a stiff king. If I take that line I make the contract for an average plus. The full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=st975hadqj3caqjt3&w=s863hkt9643dk86ck&n=saqhq752da95c9742&e=skj42hj8dt742c865]399|300[/hv]

I'm surprised East didn't overcall hearts, I estimate the majority at my bridge club would on those cards. Although the South hand is 6-5 it is only a powerful hand opposite a fit in one of the suits. Distributional hands do not play well opposite a misfit so I think 2♣ on the second round is best on the South cards assuming that is natural, which North will pass. You might make 11 tricks but whatever, it is not going to be easy finding a 22 HCP minor suit game on sub-optimally fitting hands.

If it's a misfit, quit. I'd be concerned partner holds values in the red suits given that opponents couldn't find a red suit overcall with two opportunities, so I am keeping the bidding low until partner shows some support for one of my suits.

♥6. The spade finesse loses and the ♥8 is played.

I punted 3NT on the half heart stop, gambling on one of the following scenarios: 1. Partner has a half or full stop and the opps cannot run five heart tricks. 2. Partner has three hearts and opponents cannot cash more than four heart tricks even if my queen isn't a stop. 3. One opponent holds both top heart honors. 4. Partner doesn't have help in hearts but the suit is blocked and they cannot cash all their hearts. 5. It's MPs and others will punt 3NT even if it goes down so it will not be a total disaster. Scenario 5 happened, this is the full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=s4h7dak862cakq742&w=s76hkt864dj743ct8&n=sakt953hq93dqt9cj&e=sqj82haj52d5c9653&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1sp2cp2sp3dp3nppp]399|300[/hv] Opps cashed their five heart tricks for down one and a 50% board. One other went one off in 3NT and 4♠, one went three off in 5NT (I've no idea how they got there)and one made 4♠. I thought at the time partner maybe could have bid on and looked for a minor suit slam but my 3NT bid suggesting heart strength put her off, but on further reflection I could be resulting, my 3NT bid wasn't great and I should have bid 3♥ FSF and not been overthinking the possible situation of partner holding ♥Ax and wanting the likely heart lead to come to my queen in that case.

I tried an aggressive 4♥ which worked out badly: [hv=pc=n&s=st632h2da9874cj63&w=s74hak54dkj52c842&n=s8hqj8763dt3ckt97&e=sakqj95ht9dq6caq5&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=pp4h4sppp]399|300[/hv] That got us a magnificent 1/8 MPs. The full traveller: 4♠E 12 -680 3♠E 12 -230 3NT E 11 -660* 4♠E 12 -680 3♠E 12 -230 *Declarer got a club lead into the AQ so I don't know why they didn't manage to make 12 tricks by knocking out the ♦A. Normally I wouldn't open as aggressively as that but decided to have a go after some inspiration on this forum.

♠8 ♥QJ8763 ♦T3 ♣KT97 Matchpoints, green against red, two passes to you. Your call?

[hv=pc=n&s=saqhq752da95c9742&n=st975hadqj3caqjt3&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1n(12-14)p2c(Stayman)2hdp3nppp]266|200[/hv] Matchpoints. West leads the ♥J. What is your planned line of play?

[hv=pc=n&n=sakt953hq93dqt9cj&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1sp2cp2sp3dp]133|200[/hv] Matchpoints. System is Acol weak NT. Your bid?

Double gives partner a choice of places to play. Bidding 2♥ is showing a poor suit at the two level that partner might not have support for. At least if partner bids 2♥ after the double they will very likely have at least three of them. No double doesn't promise 5-5 in my agreements but if it is a choice between double and 2♥ I choose double.

I passed and this was the result: [hv=pc=n&s=sqt9hak53d982c862&w=sh986daqt6cakt753&n=sakj875ht742d75cq&e=s6432hqjdkj43cj94&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1c1sp2s3c3sppp]399|300[/hv] We have 5♣ on. Thankfully teammates found 4♠ and made it which brought in a few imps, but I was wondering if anyone would have taken any action in the auction on my hand. It is yet another hand where opps compete to the three level and I get squeezed out.

[hv=pc=n&e=s6432hqjdkj43cj94&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1c1sp2s3c3s]133|200[/hv] Now what?