hatchett

No restrictive choice, plain finesse is best.

GF natural is standard

If he has this we can return anything, and he has gone off in a cold contract by not playing a ♣ to the K. We aren't told how good declarer is thought to be but with Kxx KJx AQxx KTx, a beginner/intermediate would test diamonds first and then try a club towards the K. Not very difficult.

Hog I think you are a little too dismissive. Quite a few top players play a transfer after a 2NT opening as a game force. Jxxxx xxx xxx xx is a rarish hand type after 2NT and you lose only when 3S makes and 2NT is off.

I very much doubt he started with 2 low ♠s, remember he pitched one on the fourth ♥.

I think declarer started with xxx KJx AQx AKT9 This is consistent with partner's diamond signalling. We must play a spade, he is likely to finesse again. If we play anything else he gets to cash a black suit before taking a finesse in the other suit and that it bound to be successful whether he tries ♣s or ♠s. By the way Ken, we hold ♠T and there aren't any trumps on this hand!

Why would he play a ♣ to the T with this holding, when he has a better than 50% shot for 9 tricks on top? Well, anyway, until he blocked the spade suit he did. If that is his hand his line is ridiculous. Pitch a club on the fourth ♥. Now win the return, try and run diamonds, and if that fails run the spades and try a club towards the king. This is >65%.

What does declarer ditch on the fourth heart?

What did RHO pitch on the third round of ♠s? If the first two rounds of ♥s are ducked we will probably play RHO to have the ♣Q as well, for instance. ♠xx ♥Axx ♦Axxx ♣Qxxx is a making layout, but we have to pick his shape, to decide whether to endplay him with a red ace or whether the ♣Q is dropping.

I think you should play double as negative in this position. I would expect a more distributional hand for 2♠.

I would also run to 2♥

Pass. Clearcut for me.

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Extremely unlikely to cost because declarer can still pick up the suit even if he play low to an honor on the first round.

Knowing the bidding would be useful on this hand, both from the perspective what we have told they defenders and whether they had any chance to intervene at a reasonable level. Playings MPs I agree just attempt to cash your tricks. At IMPs I think there is far to much danger in trying to duck a diamond. If RHO wins the diamond and switches to ♠ we are going down against most 4-4 and most 3-5 splits. Things are better if LHO has JT diamond since we will survive most 3-5 splits and only go down against the 4-4 splits. Overall I think's right to cash from the top. Incidently note with JTxx ♦ LHO can split on the first round of the suit, so low to 9 should never win the trick.

Whiich they can't often do because, as you say, opener might have a 9 count and responder a 3 count!

Not least because 5♣ only costs 300 since partner holds Kxx Kx x AKQJxxx :blink: (Okay they can make 5♥ :D )

Another vote for 2.

I mostly agree with Winstonm's line, although we don't need to play LHO for the ♠T if the majors are 3-3. Low to ♠J is sufficent ...hoping LHO has the Q and RHO the A. Spade K first doesn't work if RHO has the ace, as expected, as RHO can switch to hearts (the ten if he has it) and develop two heart tricks to go with the two spade tricks. If you start a low ♠ towards the J and LHO goes in with the Q he can't attack successfully if RHO has HTx ♥. If LHO plays low on the ♠ and RHO wins the Ace, and plays a heart we duck (unless it's the K or Q) , win whichever major they play next and play a third round, hoping that suit is 3-3. Low to the spade 9, works when LHO has QTxx ?? Qx JTxxx Whatever, a low ♠ towards dummy must be the right start and then hopefully take the right view whether to play the 9 or J.

I essentially agree with Walddk's suggested structure. In regard to your structure I don't really think 1NT showing 0(?)-11 with 4/4 in the unbid suits is a very good idea.

This is somewhat similar to another thread going on at the moment. To reveal a psyche, the doubler must bid 2♥ or 3♥ over 2♦. We denied four respectable hearts when we bid 2♣, so I agree we pclayton that partner is cueing in support of ♣s. Partner has shown a pretty good hand so I think we are worth 4♠, maybe he has KQxx Axx x AKxxx

A bid of 2♠ by either you now or by your partner on the first round should be natural. A very strong classic take-out double shape can double a 2♣ rebid for penalties or a 2♦ rebid for more take-out.

I agree completely with Jlall comments.

I'd would say wherever you live overwhelmingly people belong to school 1 (with the possible exception of where Whereagles lives).

I bid 4♥ over 3♠.