Halo

Pass. There is a slight argument for 3NT on the basis that you are not odds on to make 2H anyway, but I would not go that way. If I bid it would be 3D and I would expect to play in 4D going off, when 2H might make.

Was it feasible to jump in Hearts or would that show more points? I agree with pulling 3NT. I pressed partner to believe slam was possible, so after 4S I won't veer back into pessimism. I'll place him with AQx,x,AQxxx,QJxx and have a shot at 6D. EDIT: - given him a thirteenth card in spades.

Pass and pass again over 4H. I have to assume that I'll be doubled going for 500 or even 800. and They are not in 4H yet and When it's only 500 I might have some chances in defence against 4H if spades split.

I could easily be persuaded (perhaps I have!) that double is the best bid, and that I shouldn't worry so much about the cases where it is passed for a poor score (and there will be quite a few of those cases). Double certainly leaves you better placed if partner bids. However I think it is stretching things to say that 6D is well against the odds. Chances of some diamond fit are much improved by the 7/8 card heart suit on your right. With as little as K10xx spades and Jxx clubs opposite, I've got fair chances in 6D, even without good enough trumps for a late entry to dummy.

I think North with pretty much any five card spade suit will pull the double. Just how often do you guys play Grand Slams?

4D. Good hand with a lot of diamonds.

I can bid NT or support partner naturally. I need 3C to be artificial, so I can get more information at an economical level. Say I am 3622 and weak, I don't want to rebid 3H.

Relieved to see I joined a 100% vote.

I think it is best to have an agreement that the reverse is wider range (in terms of points) with this shape. So I would bid 2D. I wouldn't want to bid differently based on method of scoring.

This is the heart of the matter. I think we will place RHO with 23 in the majors if he doesn't throw a heart on the third spade. If he has discarded a diamond on the third spade, playing king of diamonds after a winning club finesse clarifies the position and we make. If he has discarded a club on the third spade, then playing king of diamonds after a winning club finesse may drop the ten on the left or right. If the ten doesn't appear, I think we have done our best and we are guessing.

What is the entry for the fourth and fifth rounds of hearts.

We have to assume RHO has both aces as all say. If we are in dummy after two rounds of hearts and a diamond to the jack, clearing hearts gains when RHO has Ax diamonds, otherwise it is the same as finessing clubs. What was the layout or play that let your opponents make?

I would make a try over 2S, and no way in the world do I bid 3NT - unless it shows a bad spade suit with an ace outside, and why would it show that?

Expressed myself badly. I started by thinking that the finesse was best if both sides played in spades and AK if 3NT was in the frame. I was wrong. Even if we could eliminate clubs and hearts before finessing, it would actually still be better (by a small amount) to just cash AK of spades.

The AK line does not always gain against Qx offside since the hearts are eliminated. However, calculating correctly (my version of properly!) and taking account of changing odds there is an irreducible 1% or slightly more advantage to cashing AK - madeup of less than half the cases where East has doubleton or trebleton Q of spades, versus 75% or so of the cases where West has Qxx.

I liked AK here. Slightly surprised it proves a BAM winner on spade contracts at both tables - did we actually prove that? We are not claiming we calculated this at the table are we?

and so?

I'm with the cash AK of spades camp. I invest in giving them a theoretical edge when they play in spades, and get a net profit taking account of a NT contract. If my reasoning is sound then they may do the same thing and we tie the hand even when they are in spades. Added value is that when I lose, I lose with panache.

While I see the problems of being forced, I don't feel comfortable committing to eleven tricks. Even with a 44 diamond fit there is no guarantee that 5D is better than 4S. I'll pass and gamble that partner has bid the last making contract or the cheapest non-making.

I lead a heart - why are there two heart options, what does it matter which heart I lead? In the Hideous Hog books leading one of your aces is always a mistake.

1NT Most of the arguments have already been made. I'd add that I expect the opponents to make it harder to bid on the second round than it is now.

I'll switch to a diamond. This will gain when declarer has doubleton club and Axx diamonds. On the ethical issue I am not sure that partner tells me anything by thinking about the hand at trick one.

I'm struggling here. If I finesse the heart and a singleton 9/10 drops, I have a very nice ending placing the ace of clubs with four hearts in East, but then just heart to the ace and playing a club to the king makes. Q of clubs in East doesn't work. So I am missing something ... look forward to the solution.

6NT It's Pairs, and 6NT generally scores OK. Where's the entry in a heart contract? Second choice 7NT.

Ace of clubs (throw a diamond), A and Q of spades: no point in giving up the 5/6% when West has singleton J or 10 of spades. Spades don't split, heart to the Ace and ruff a heart, ruff a club, third spade and play hearts. Still got the diamond finesse available.