hatchett

When LHO has KQJ of clubs and the diamond Q or any six card club suit and the diamond Q he cannot hold the position on the run of the spades. The problem distributions are when (i) LHO five clubs to two top honors and the diamond Q. On the spades he will pitch all his clubs and one diamond (ii) LHO has six clubs and no diamond Q. He will pitch all but one but one club and one diamond, which will equate to the same discards as in (i) above! There might be some clues for instance if RHO starts with Kxx club the position should be revealed. If he starts with Qxx/Jxx we will need to know if he would open 1H in his style with xx AQJxxx x QJxx I'm not sure that I can tell for sure between (i) and (ii)

My opponents usually insist that I make 9 tricks in 3NT

Double seems very normal.

LHO has led a spade from xxx and also has xxxx heart. He would probably have led a club from xxxx and may well have led one from Qxxx. There is a restrictive choice element to a club lead from xxx and he has chosen a spade despite partner not overcalling 1S, I therefore think (not with 100% conviction) that his most likely club holding is Qxx. I will play to squeeze LHO is the minors.

Pass on both rounds, this really is a heap of a rubbish even given the tempting form of scoring and vulnerability.

I'm not that keen on Michaels with 7-5. I would start with 1♠. I would start similarly to Gerben something like 1♠ 2NT 3♥ 4♥ 5♣ (cue) 6♥ (enormous with ♠Q, Aces etc) I also think Michaels should be a continuum in range. It's much better to show your shape in one bid.

I would bid 2♦ playing with a partner who appreciates I might have this sort of hand. Playing with a pick up on BBO I might double since most people seem to treat overcalls as garbage.

I would ( make a penalty) double. You have to collect the odd -670 at MPs otherwise you aren't doubling enough. :P

Partner cannot be cue-bidding here. 3♠ is descriptive offering choice of games, 3NT and 4♥ being the most obvious. I think 4♣ should be natural say something like xx Qx xxx AKJxxx. On the actual hand I would bid 4H expecting somehing like a 4621 or 3622 etc opposite. I can't offer 4♠ as a game so if that's the right spot, tough.

That's far too simplistic a conclusion. I'm not saying that bidding diamonds is right but part of the reason to is to help partner decide between 3NT and 4S, and equally just because he's got diamond support he won't drive 5D.

I would pass. I have done a good thing by doubling and pushing to the 5 level, why should I try and win the board twice in the same hand?

Spade for me. A heart is too passive for me, my honors don't look well placed so I prefer to attack. A club would be my second choice.

because the auction could have easily ended in 2S if West hadn't rescued you.

A for me. But I think transfer to Spades and bid 3♦ is more reasonable than 3.(or should that be C?)

I dislike playing Michaels as M+ unspecified minor and this is a good example why. South can deduce that partner has clubs. West sounds like 5/5 in the reds and if partner has 5 diamonds that would make give east at most one diamond and 2/3 hearts so he would give prefence. Playing 2H as S+unspecified minor I think you should bid 2C.

I have a very good hand, I would cue 4♥ and if partner bids 4♠ continue with 5♣

To clarify it is only an error if he ducks from Ax. Since then you can play a low diamond from hand and you have three diamond tricks ensuring the contract.

Solution. You have three main chances diamonds play for three tricks, JT of hearts onside or K hearts onside. You must play on diamonds first otherwise they may be able to force you to guess whether diamonds play for 3 tricks or the heart K is onside, by playing a heart if LHO wins the diamond A (if you have started by running the ♥9). Note you also test for heart JT onside first before finessing the Q.. So the order of play is play a diamond. You can either play the Jack in case LHO errs but not playing the ace on the first round or play for LHO to have a singleton ace. Say LHO wins the diamond J and plays a heart then you duck in dummy, making the contract if LHO started with JT♥. If RHO wins with the J or T and plays a spade then ruff in hand and test diamonds. If the T9 are doubleton is 3-3 you have made the contract. If diamonds are 4-2 then ruff the fourth round and take your last chance of a finesse of the ♥K.

3♥ looks obvious

4♥ An underbid but 4♠ is an overbid. I prefer to take my plus score, since if I start with 4♠ I have no certainty of reaching slam when it is right or in the right strain and the 5 level might be too high.

Pass. Not close

1♣ and not particularly close for me.

Pass. I don't expect we can make anything unless partner can act again.

oh yes forgot the vul!

Yes I didn't say it was cold, the problem was to plan the play.