Apollo81

Frankly I'm surprised no one else reads this as a strong hand with just diamonds. What was partner supposed to do over 1NT? Double? Now when he bids 3♦ this hand is definitely going to bid spades. 2♦? Not appropriate for a strong hand.

double then jump in a new suit is generally a strong, forcing sequence look at these similar sequences 1. (1♣)-Dbl-(pass)-1♦ (pass)-2♥ 2. (1♣)-Dbl-(pass)-1♥ (pass)-3♥ #1 is forcing; you must bid #2 is strongly invitational, but not forcing; you may pass with a hand like what you had

Yes. Your hand is clearly worth at most 1 try for slam after partner's 3♦ bid.

What do you consider the problem caused by a stopper asking 3♠? The hand is pretty much ideal for that bid.

1♠-1NT-3x is 5-4 or better

Jxxx 10xx Qx J109x all red, IMPs (1NT)-p-(2♦)-p (2♥)-X-(p)-2♠ (p)-3♦-(p)-? methods over 1NT: double = major+minor 2♣ = majors 2♦♥♠ = natural

The main benefit of opening 1♥ is that you will reach 4♥ when you would have reached 3NT after a 2NT opening. 4♥ is very likely to be the better contract if you have a heart fit. The 1♥ opening also works better when pard is broke, as you will play a suit partscore instead of 2NT. You have no rebid problem after a heart opening, so there's no reason not to make the normal bid.

A club lead still does not do it. Assuming a normal auction to 4♥, Dealer's hand is fairly well known. When he wins the club with the 10, pulls trumps ending in dummy, and leads a diamond toward his hand, East should see a looming threat. If he ducks, Declarer is expected to have two club pitches for the remaining diamonds. This may allow two spades in the end, but never three. If East hops up, the diamonds come in for Declarer, allowing at least two spade pitches, so East should cash out and retire, in case of the actual layout. Further, the main point was to notice a hand where making six required finessing clubs both ways, working both ways. Hey, you said there were 3 other +480s and I was telling you how it happened... In real life when a diamond was played towards hand East either ducked without thinking or played declarer to have started with Kxx Kx Kxx AQxxx.

people led a club thats why

rofl

I am sure most people here are hoping that the opps don't bid over 5♣

It was a minimum GF to start. Now it is slightly better than that. I would bid 3♥.

I guess I'll vote for "4NT, raise if partner bids 5♣"

go team!

If you have 3♠ stopper asking available then I would bid that Otherwise I'd just bid 5♦

invite

yeah 5♣

The only reason for the hesitation I can think of is that declarer started with something like AQxx Ax AKQxx xx and was deciding between playing a spade finesse or a club now, and ultimately decided that you might hop with your actual hand playing him for KQxx Axx AKQxx x. I think that if he had this hand that he wouldn't take so long to play a club. I guess this means I would duck.

I'll vote for the uninspired 3rd best diamond.

I would finesse. I still think West would have preempted on 1633....

Would you really bid 3H on this? I can't imagine a hand that would fail to open 2♥ or 3♥ but then call 3♥ after (2NT)-p-(3♣) I thought the one I gave was much more likely than a single suiter with 6+♥ but maybe I just don't understand people....

after partner preempts, "standard" is new suit response forcing

Ok, so you will play EAST for the spade and diamond stoppers and expose him to an eventual S=D squeeze since WEST can not knock out the spade entry to south. However, this line requires WEST to misplay by not putting up the Q from QJ9x... If he has that desired hand, I will have him split his clubs at trick two... You have no way to avoid two club losers I think. Read my original post. I suggested to play for QJ7x of clubs onside, not QJ9x -- and no squeeze is necessary if LHO has the hand I stated.

For the line I suggested you need the ♠9 to have been singleton so there is room for that hand to hold 3 diamonds along with its 5-4 in the round suits.

We need to ruff a second spade early so West can't pitch his other spade on the hearts. So I think take the ht finesse, ruff a heart, ruff a spade, ruff a heart, d to A, cash the cKT and the hA. If West refuses to trump this then throw him in with the club and watch him get endplayed in diamonds.