Hanoi5

[hv=pc=n&s=saqj8763htdq943c5&w=sk5h6da865caqt843&n=st92hkqjdkt2ck976&e=s4ha9875432dj7cj2&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p(%21)3h3s4h4sppdppp]399|300[/hv] MP's. West led ♥6 and East returned the suit, South discarding his losing club and cashing the ♠A to watch the King fall. Should West lead something else or should East return something else?

1♦ is better than 1NT. I'm not sure whether 3♣ is better than 2♥, but over 1♦ I'd just bid 1♥. In this sequence west CANNOT pass 3♣.

Pass. No reason to interrupt them on their way to a slam which might not make when partner leads passively and scores his ♦Kx and another trick somewhere.

Pass. I don't really care about the Vulnerability but it'll be good to know if they are the red ones or us. 6-5 is quite a strong hand, if the suits were inverted I would surely prempt with 3♥, even if red myself I'd say.

You should read Michael Rosenberg's view on the subject, too.

3NT, hoping they don't run spades.

So, what would you play then? double diamond finesse or would you rely con clubs 4-3? And to Mike, you got to the final with such a bidding, does it tell you something about the opposition?

[hv=pc=n&s=sak6h864dt4cakj62&n=sqj953haq72dkj6cq&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=p1np2cp2dp3hp4sp4np5dd6sppp]266|200[/hv] ♠8 was led. Teams, first session (12 boards) of a Final (36).

The vulnerability calls for double. And I don't want to seem ridiculous so I'll double.

3NT. Partner will take care of spades.

I bid 4♠ since I don't envision a good ending in a slam. Partner is short in my long/good suit and I'm short in his other suit. Of course I have a maximum in HCP's but 4♠ won't close the bidding in most hands slam is on. Or so I hope. I had not fully understood the last train option here, so I'll change to that, 4♥. It's better than not showing interest at all, I suppose.

Teams, Semifinal: [hv=pc=n&w=shkjt84dq42cakt75&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1h1s2sd4h4spp?]133|200[/hv]

The Heart Ten is terribly placed. Had we ruffed a spade we might have a squeeze against west, but not anymore, I guess.

No UVU. 3♠ just showed spades and was forcing.

[hv=pc=s&e=sajt754hdkq94cajt&d=s&v=e&b=6&a=p1h2n(minors)3s4d5dp]133|200[/hv]

I'm in the redouble camp. I don't think partner will pass 2NT and 2♦ sounds tempting but shows fear and I don't want to serve it that easy to them. I'd prefer 1N with this hand, too. Mainly because of the expected misfit.

I'd double. And double 6♠, too.

Not everyone has a passport where one's Queen asks for one's passage through a country.

Down two. And I ask East not to speak again. Were you East?

Western cue-bid = California? Some people call it that here.

The ♣A is to our right, but not much than that can be known. Maybe the other Ace is on the left. But then we're kinda stuck. I'd say the King is to the left 'cause the lead was a club not a heart, but apart from that I don't see any clue.

pass

You should probably bid a (semi)forcing 1NT.

[hv=pc=n&n=skq63hj32dj963c52&e=st2hkq97654dak74c&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1h1sp2s3h4sppdppp]266|200[/hv] Partner led the club 4 which you ruffed and declarer thought for a moment he had won a trick with the club ten. What now?

MP's [hv=pc=n&n=sqh62dkj532caj643&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=2s(Weak)pp?]133|200[/hv]