hatchett

I would open 1♣, because firstly I may not have to distort the hand if partner does not bid 1♠. Over 1♠ would chance a reverse but a shade light in the expected strength.

I think you'll find the QH is offside

Problems are Partner might bid 3NT and RHO will be in a good position to double if that's the right action Even if 3NT is making, 2H rates to be a few off vulnerable so the upside is limited A fair amount of the time that 3D is making partner will bid on taking you to a minus position with that shape double would be clear-cut for me.

Pass, No accurate call to describe the hand and the upside is an NV game.

7 feels percentage although they are no guarantees, if partner has 3 clubs you are likely down but if he has a doubleton or singleton you have very good play

Both 3♥ and 3NT show varying degrees of insanity, unless 2♥ directly was non forcing how can north think 3NT is right?

This is a much stronger hand than the semi-balanced hand with six low spades which has two dubious short queens. THe hand above has a second ace and very strong playing strength in three strains.

I hope partner isn't disappointed with your ♥ support if you bid 2♦ Michaels.

1. 3♦ seems enough 2. 1♣ 3. 2♣ I dislike 3♣, I could be making 6♠ opposite Axxx and nothing else! I certainly don't want to bury the spade suit.

Double here shows this shape or so, take out of clubs with long hearts and would be my choice.

Double in either instance. I prefer to have 6 cards for a two level overcall and here there is a very reasonable alternative.

I strongly agree with this, in both your example hands this is effectively treating the trump support as a doubleton which seems obvious to me. A 1NT rebid in this position for me shows a maximum weak NT.

1. Pass close at the vulnerability and scoring but the minimum HCP combined with the flawed shape tip the balance. If LHO bids 1NT passed back to me I can double, or I might get to double a 2♣ rebid by opener. 2. 1♠ Not close. 3. 2♠ something in hand for a change 4. 3♠ 5. 2♣ not close, double is asking for -160 or worse 6. Double 7. Partner has a minimum with a good heart stop.

Sorry the question is do I (i) make a 4 card overcall or ( ii) make the system bid that describes my hand? Next!

I'm not so sure the ♦ lead is so bad. I don't need partner to have AJ for it to be right. What if dummy has KQx spade and AJxx diamond with partner having Spade A and Diamond K, doubling 3♦ with these honors could easily be wrong. With my holdings in ♠s and ♦s declarer is more likely to be short in ♠s than ♦. A Spade will be best when partner has AQ♠. If dummy has the ♠A, a lot of the time it won't matter, and if dummy has KQ ♠ a diamond will be best when partner has the K. I think it's close between a ♦ and a ♠. The ♣ is too passive and a ♥ too likely to blow a trick and with any clubs honors onside little upside.

Double, clear cut for me.

Not really, if I have opened 1♥ partner has a 10 count or so. I expect 5♥ to definitely make and slam maybe on. If you have opened 2♣ partner might have anything from a balanced 0 count that doesn't fancy the 5 level (pass is forcing) to an out and out penalty double of 4♠

The game you might miss is 3NT opposite nothing but a lead away from the ♠A, and it is not hard to construct a pass for partner where 3NT is reasonable, but I agree with the second bit about getting too high. I disagree strongly with this, we may well want to play in 3NT in on this hand, that's why I like the plan of 1H and rebid 3NT.

Yes I think 6-9 with 6♥ more typical. Why not start with 2♥ over 1♠?

1♥. A matter of agreement I suppose, but for me with the stiff K not even that close to a 2♣ opener.

In general I like to bid 1NT natural to avoid being stolen from in this auction. I find this an easy pass though with the weak long heart suit and half my points in my two doubletons

Not so interesting answer 3NT

Completely agree with the above. In fact with honors in all suits your partner's hand is a more tempting pass than yours, no desire to direct the lead etc; although this might have lead to passed out vs -400 at trhe other table!

At adverse vulnerability partner has a 5-6 1 count and bids 6♣ supposedly inviting a grand? I don't like the three low diamonds partner might be semi gambling the suit runs after a ruff or two with something like AK(J)xx. If partner was fishing for for just the spade ace, he might have bid 5♣ and then 6♣ over 5 red suit from us. I would settle for 6♥

What hand does it matter on? If declarer is 5161 the heart doesn't go anywhere. If declarer is 5071, then i need to give him a diamond ruff, but partner has an impossible hand for his 3c call 3505, although I suspect this is the hand he held, since I don't think he would have bid 6C with 4414 shape, 4 trumps and all their suits splitting badly. I guess it is also possible declarer is 5062, when I need to cash a second club. For me this would be a count position, if I know a second club isn't cashing I play a diamond.