Apollo81

Play as in your second part, then:

IMO its not a unspoken agreement unless responder stops dumping opener in responder's 5M or 6m with a weak hand. AFAIK if the ACBL catches you doing it more than once every couple months then it's an unspoken agreement in their view.

Mike, Am I missing something?

I suppose I'd win the ♦A and lead the ♣K. If LHO wins the ♣A then he may be afraid to play another diamond since the spot position isn't known. I really can't think of a legitimate way to make this if the ♠K is offside. More thinking to do depending on what happens on this trick. I may be able to tell who has the ♣A from hesitations too even if they don't win it.

Translation: I read Josh's last post

<sarcasm> There's this thing called "attitude signals" perhaps you've heard of it. This could have been used by East both at trick 1 and on his first discard to indicate the right play. Since you didn't specify what cards East played at these times, I assume EW don't play attitude signals. </sarcasm> P.S. West didn't bang down the heart king as he doesn't have it, and you should have specified who held the ♦10. Your post was clear even w/o this information though.

I'd open 2♣ on both. It's nicer to open at the 1-level when you have a 2-suiter, but come on! At some point you just have to make the power bid when you have 11 or 12 tricks in hand.

I plan for it to go all pass when you do that. (ok maybe not on the second one, but I'd be worried on the first)

So many good things can happen if you bid Stayman. We can steal the contract in 2M. Diamonds can outscore notrump. The opps can bid over 2♦pp. Even if diamonds is worse than notrump, the opps can still miss their spade fit or we can go -100 against -120 or something.

edit hidden:

I don't think so.

I don't see anything better than playing for both red aces onside. Specifically, I would win the ♠A and lead the ♥10. It may be covered, which will give me some additional chances. If it's not covered I will play the ♥K. If spades look 4-4 from RHO's card on trick 1 then I may think some more before playing this way.

♣K. If partner wanted a diamond lead then he wouldn't have bid 5♣.

I also like a small spade here cause of the heart situation.

Duck. What is the next trick?

I had previously posted something pretty long, but I did not notice the doubles in the auction.

If you didn't like the question, you could have explained 3NT as "natural and non-forcing" =) However, this may not be ethical either. From the ACBL alert procedure: * When asked, the bidding side must give a full explanation of the agreement. Stating the common or popular name of the convention is not sufficient. * The opponents need not ask exactly the "right" question. * Any request for information should be the trigger. Opponents need only indicate the desire for information - all relevant disclosure should be given automatically. The spirit of the alert rules is that you should tell them everything you know. Certainly the spirit should apply to any bridge organization.

2♥ 3♥ really should not be under consideration with this hand. It shows a bunch of hearts and strength.

I've just looked at this now. I agree with Frances.

NS share the blame. North should have bid 3♦ over 2♠, and South should have doubled 4♠.

I would overcall 2♣, as the auction is less likely to pass out if I do that than if I pass. I would sooner double than pass.

I'm not sure whether I'd bid 3♥ or 4♣ at my third turn, but I 'm sure I'd pass 4♥ in either case.

In my experience there is a huge difference between leading from Jxxx (which is one of my least favorite leads) and leading from J9xx. I'd also lead a spade.

I'd also double.

Duck trick 1. Cover whatever club is continued. Presumably it will go ♣Q,K,A. RHO now shifts to a heart, won with the ♥A. Now cash the ♦A. If the ♦J, 10, or 9 appears from RHO then finesse the ♦8 on the next round. If the diamonds don't work out as such then try to get the rest of the tricks from the majors. The problem with winning the first trick is that if you subsequently lose a trick to LHO it will go small club to ♣Q, club back, lost 5 tricks