Halo

I beg to differ. I open 6♣. In my opinion, six clubs is the perfect IMPS opening. You don't get the opportunity to bid it very often, so neglect it at your peril.

Pass. If partner doesn't have the ace of diamonds I have no trump trick, so a strong suggestion that we defend doesn't seem right. Partner's better off than if I had just bid 4♥, and it's too late to show a singleton diamond (if that was ever possible).

2♥ From the auction partner may well have a big hand. I like to bid conservatively in that situation.

Double. Awkward hand and I prefer double to 2NT. Pass is sort of attractive, but what do I do when partner doubles?

This is a 6NT equivalent auction and I'm leading a spade as giving nothing away? Queen of clubs.

50% opening (IMO) and then either 50% for 3NT, or 100% for 3NT if the opening was normal. How the play goes, good luck; we all play hands like this; and if you came out right side up then well done.

Maybe after X,XX partner will bid 1♦ for us.

It looks like partner would welcome a double, but with ten points and a club void I'm not doing it. I think three hearts is enough.

I think there is some evidence from the auction that partner is short in clubs rather than majors. Anyway that may just leave us with a second heart loser to worry about, so pass remains the sensible choice.

Possibly, just wondered which fantasy player bid 5D.

But was it the diamond overcall that cost? The auction please.

I'm with the idea of keeping the single suit natural preempts, rather than creating varieties of Michaels.

hum ! :P Did you read my post ? :) :) Can't expect anyone to read everyone's post - might become a forum.

5H I would not have bid 2H - because of this sort of auction, but I can express an opinion from where we are. Partner doesn't need much for us to make, and opponents may well be making their contract. Two reasons for bidding on. In addition having bid 2H, I would be anxious about how much of my hand I had already bid.

Let's say we are all convinced about not doubling (perhaps always were). Do we bid on or pass? If a typical result for bidding on is +4 IMPS, is that enough to cover the risks?

I think it is fairly simple. If you can respond to an NF opening on near zero to improve the contract, then you can pass the rebid. Otherwise you pass the opener and hope oppos rescue you (as they do more often these days).

Only saw it because it is a problem, even though it is not objectively hard. Nice hand.

In the end I'll throw the diamond and finesse the Queen of hearts. If it loses I'll win the spade return, and cash the Ace of hearts. Now I'll play on diamonds taking the ruffing finesse.

Meanwhile, Although playing for the throw in is more fun, is it not more or less the same as playing the queen and running it (singleton King = singleton ten, and Kx = xx). And if doubler is 5224, unlikely of course, messing with spades is a potential downside. And for Frances, I'm not sure that the absoluteness of your statement is supportable, given my case above. Whenever you really are in the wrong contract at Pairs there are issues to deal with.l

All getting a bit overwrought? If I cannot guarantee to make 3H, then doing what everyone in 4H does, gets me the best possible score against them. Yes, if I'm wrong and there are significant numbers not in game, that is different. If I can guarantee to make 3H, that is different again. I

And how would everyone else play this? If everyone else is actually in 4H then you are supposed to play as safe as possible to make 3, but that is not really a relevant way of thinking since you are always making 3 on this hand so you should just try to maximize the number of tricks you take. What is the best way to do that? Not sure about the logic re 'relevant thinking' but OK.. I win the Queen of diamonds, Ace of diamonds, Queen of hearts. That's my idea of how the rest of the field will try to make their 4H.

I think this is a classic position. I believe everyone is in 4H, and I should just play exactly the way they would. Whether I am right in judging the auction, or able to work out how to play 4H is a different issue.

Seems clear to cash the second diamond. I'm a simple soul (poor MPs approach!), so I will definitely believe the club and try to discard on the diamond (not necessarily 52).

Looks like an adventure. I'm not playing for the lead from from QT.., so I win with the King of hearts. I'd really like to know how many club tricks I am making, so spade to the Queen and club Queen (club queen only feels wrong if this is an undeclared double dummy.. maybe). So next move?

Diametrically opposed to the previous quote (from the infromation point of view), I would welcome clarification.