Halo

2H It's a poor suit, but there are six of them.

4H I want to preempt the four level and let them play in four spades if possible.

Spade. I am not sure what the opponents auction is about. For example, where is the King of diamonds? Why did South not bid 6H, does he not have King of diamonds or King of clubs? Since I don't know what is going on, I'll just try to set up a spade trick.

5D Might as well go straight there I think with this kind of hand.

Pass. This auction just buys the contract with the top suit.

I'm amazed at the amount of emotion this generates. It's like radio and tv desire to anticipate tomorrow's news. I suspect there is little to choose between the players in the final stages of the BB.

Doesn't matter, not enough. For me if this is slam going with my feeble trumps, and wasted diamonds, then partner is bidding again.

Pass Doesn't fit any opener for me.

Once you define rules of competition, there is little point whining about the consequences.

I presume this is not addressed to me since I said I do not propose to rely on a squeeze.

In real life I expect I would (after nine of diamonds holds) play clubs King, Ace , Queen, keeping the top hearts as entries for spade finesses. The cards don't appear to be in the right places to pressurise anyone after playing on hearts.

Getting to the final and winning is certainly one of way of dealing with any opponent.

This is interesting. Obviously the fact that Lauria bid doesn't imply it was right, or even normal for him. But I haven't seen too much argument for passing. Is that becaust it is obvious to the passers, or just an instinctive judgement that might be different next time? To put it another way, why is bidding a losing option rather than just another option. [Edited to make sense - possibly]

I'd say I pushed the boat out when I opened (agree with the bid) and maybe pushed a bit more when I doubled (agree with the bid). I would double now except that I have such a strong diamond holding. That is enough to make it a pass for me. It is close, but how is partner to go to slam missing AJx in his suit?

Must be missing something or misread the post. I bid 1NT. The Italian had some different ranges and therefore doubled?

Clear invite for me.

Pass - even though I hate doing it.

4H

Nice play, you are a trick short but with more room to check trumps.

Trust partner, to understand why you are bidding 4S.

Club at trick two whoever I'm playing against. See how it goes after that.

On an approximate calculation I make it so close that the odds don't help and you have to go by impression. I'd ruff with the King.

Double - absolutely automatic for me. When I consider the hands I pick up and therefore have to overcall on, and then I look at this thing of beauty, doubling and trying for game is the way. But there is a huge majority for a simple overcall - really interesting and another of my stack of preconceptins listed for consideration.

IMO most useful hand for partner to show is a 2353 top range 1NT overcall with no stop in opponents suit. I feel sure he wont do it without 3 hearts so it's just another route to the 4H.

4H and then pass. I usually preempt to try and make the opponents guess.