ewj

Thanks for the replies. My partner took the same line as lamford and found hearts were 5-1. Incidently, the ace of spades led was from a to 7, and so the queen doubleton would now be falling. Don't ask me why nobody bid!

I'm not sure this is the most interesting hand to play but what do people think is the best line? I think it's evident from the first couple of tricks here that your opponents are not good players. [hv=pc=n&s=skj8hajda83cakt83&n=s7hkt873dkqjt5cj4&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1hp2cp2dp2np3dp4dp4sp4np5cp6dppp]266|200[/hv] So lead is the ace of spades, the other hand playing the 5 or something. Then a small heart switch, jack, queen king, so it's fair to say you're very much in the game...

Yes, you're right. It's the killer spade shortage which partner probably views as a decent defensive asset but can contribute to both games making. And is why 3[♣] is such a better call on the previous round. It's all well and good to say that we play X as very take out but of course I would double on a 4234 12 count as well, which makes life tough for partner. It's not inconceivable that the opponents only have a 4-4 fit.

Yep you're right about 3♣, that's a nice bid really. I did briefly consider it but just went with a straight double to keep spades in the game. Like you say, it was hardly a surprise when it was my turn again at 4♥....And my spades aren't very good anyway. It was part of why I didn't want to double again, as partner would probably think shortage in spades was pretty good for defending, when really that's exactly what I was looking for in offence. I bid 5♦ which was a terrible bid. Obviously ♦ will lie badly if it is possible for them to and if I were so desperate to bid, I could always double, which is what I think I would do if I were to have my time again...not impossible for both games to be making of course, with partner probably passing but if he holds nothing in ♥, he'll likely bid. 5♦ was 2 off, while 4♥ has no play on a ♣ lead.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq852hdt9864ckqj5&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1d1hd4dp4h]133|200[/hv] So, what would people call now? 1♦ could be a weak NT with 4♦, X showed exactly 4♠ X now would be pretty take out.

Have you never heard of "last train" slam tries?

Indeed, I mean it half feels like it's being asked because of a ruling but I couldn't see how that would come into being...

I wouldn't say that you had ♠ "locked" up with Kjx under the 1S bidder...Can't lead a trump - that is the worst of all four in my book.

Fair enough, thanks.

Crikey, is something funny going on here? Or were opps genuinely interested in grand. I don't really want to lead a club, that might be a trick for us if partner has qxx. A diamond or a spade....RHO probably has a doubleton diamond, spade might work out badly, only if RHO has 4 of them though. Diamond could be a joke if it's the end of the hand but is declarer really going to take any finesse into us? Stick me down for a spade...

Think I would probably lead a low diamond...looks like a bit of a guess. Not going to lead a trump for sure. Looks like we might have to establish a trick but then when are we getting in again. Dummy could have something strange, club ruff though? Possible I guess. Not convinced a spade lead would work. Wtf was this 3D bid before 6H.

Think I would probably lead a low diamond...looks like a bit of a guess

So they never come up but I have a question about 2C responses...So I'm playing this thing where 2NT=♥ positive, 3♣ ditto for ♣ (and 3♦ asks for a 4 card major with opener), 3M=4M, 5+♦ with the responses as suggested on this thread (http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/62903-2c-continuations/) Anyway...it has been suggested that these auctions could be forcing to 4NT. I am pretty skeptical about this given opener could just have a horrible misfit and presumably you'd want to make a 3♣ positive on KQJxxx and out, or at least AQJxxx and out. I see that at least one person does as mentioned here (http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/62548-how-to-proceed-with-this) but maybe Frances wouldn't make a positive on these? Or maybe I'm being too negative and/or 4nt is a doddle opposite those. So my questions are I guess, (assuming you would make a positive on what I mentioned - and please say if you wouldn't) does anyone play such positives as forcing to 4NT? What about if opener makes a 3♦ enquiry over 3[clubs. I guess you'd be more likely to want to force to 4NT but still, perhaps opener is 4441 or something - can't really blame him/her for looking for a major suit fit, so I personally think 3NT is very passable. But I just want to see what others think. Also, does anyone have nice methods after 2C-3S? We currently play (as suggested here) that 4C/H are forcing and natural, 4d/s are keycard and indeed 3nt is non forcing. But I was thinking that it might be nice to have either a 6 card keycard method, or at least some way to enquire about the major later. Obviously I could make something up but was hoping someone had a tried and trusted method here. Sorry for the quite rambly post and thanks in advance to anyone who posts anything productive :)!

[hv=pc=n&s=sqthaq6dc8&w=sj3hjt2dqc&n=s7h7dj954c&e=s95h8dtc9]399|300[/hv] So East is on lead in 3NT on the given hand (FWIW, the contract is 3NT and East is cashing the 4th defensive trick but...). He/she cashes the ♣9, and their partner has to discard a ♦ winner. If they keep it, they have to unguard ♥/♠ and then declarer can get out for -1...By discarding the ♦Q, East can play a ♠ for -2. What squeeze is this? Thought it was quite a nice ending.

clear 3nt for me.....cq a great card...partner rates to have good clubs so its probably useful...not gonna mess around trying to find a lame spade fit...

yeh, 2d...could be wrong. 2h is a joke

that looks very good to me tbh...

I would double. Partner should bid 2NT with 3343 really. Not that we'd get to hearts

Must admit I would be tempted to just play the ♥J back. East would have to do well to return a ♦ holding the K...and if they did, well I'd probably hop up with the ace and play for my ♣ chances / squeeze. If they didn't play a ♦ I'd assume they held it, so I'd fall on my sword, if there was a minor suit squeeze all along

Yeh I would double

Sorry this is a little random but what event in history is shown at the start of the ...about 4 seconds in...it's annoying me that I don't recognise it.

Yawn...I think Rainer's post basically said just that....That he wouldn't have opened on the hand I gave but might have done with the one he then posted.

Yes I can appreciate that....looks like they'd do very well to make 6 tricks to be honest I merely posted the hand for people's interest :)

Thanks for the replies people. Nice link to the article on 4H openings against 1H openings. I just wondered what people thought generally...I opened 1H and my counterpart in the other room opened 4, which gained a swing on this occasion when we had this layout. [hv=pc=n&s=sjt9532hd84cqj842&w=skq874hk6d7cakt96&n=shajt852dkq963c73&e=sa6hq9743dajt52c5&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=4hpp4sppp]399|300[/hv] We actually played a spade part score the other way.

Because I wanted to ask the opinion of "experts".