Hanoi5

If partner had 5 spades and he threw one away...how do you plan to get this contract down?

[hv=d=e&v=n&w=skqha8dakqtxxckjx&e=sj7h6xxxxd32caq96]266|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] At my table East opened 2NT. The problem was at another table where the bidding went: Pass 1♦ 1♥ 3♦ Pass Who's at fault for not reaching at least a game? 6♦ is probably 90% or a bit more, but harder to get to, I think. What was the worst call 1♦ or Pass after 3♦?

That's a nice idea.

Everybody plays 5 card majors & best minor (some people open on a two-clubs holding with the 4=4=3=2). Most people play 2/1. There are many people mostly over 60, almost all of them play 15-17 (and those below 60 also do). There is a couple who play 16-19 :) There are no Polish players. I wish we could import some.

♣K from me, too.

You've convinced me of 7♦. But if I get a spade lead ruffed on the first trick I'm blaming you, ok?

When TC specifies that pd doesn't have the trump Q it means (I think) that you asked for it in the bidding. I don't think we're getting a trump lead unless they're REALLY bad.

7NT.

Oh no, I went down. LHO was 4153.

I think we can make it this time... I'd bid 1♣ if diamonds were the other suit.

It's unethical and against the spirit of the laws and the game to think when you shouldn't in order to mislead the opponents. So when you hold a singleton you should play it right away and not think before playing it (of course there are two issues, you shouldn't play TOO fast if you're a defender and you CAN think when the singleton is in dummy). Somebody told me I 'misbehaved' in this position: Dummy: ♦Q9x Declarer's hand♦AKxx RHO led a diamond and I hesitated a bit (apparently, I don't remember, and I didn't do it on purpose anyway) eventually playing the Ace. LHO (and probably RHO, too) was fooled into believing his partner had ♦K; no damage resulted but I was told off, i was told I HAD to win with the ♦K in order to make the situation clear. I asked somebody at the club and they said I DIDN'T have to play the ♦K but that I did have to say something like 'Sorry, I didn't have anything to think about'. What is correct in this type of situation? Now for the bonus: 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♠ All Pass I led the ♦A (Kelsey's style): [hv=d=s&v=n&n=s6xxhxxxdj87xcaj9&w=skthjxxdakxxxxckx]266|200|[/hv] Your lead catches only small cards. How do you continue? [hv=e=sjxhtxxd5ctxxxxxx&s=saqxxxxhakqxdqxcq]266|200|[/hv] Well, it involves a mistake from declarer (but a mistake many would commit). I couldn't make this defense though as my partner played the small diamond like a lightning (almost before dummy went down) and so I didn't want to take advantage or be unethical.

I'd lead the small club, but I might not want to defend if my opponents are good and my partner opens light.

I think there is another clue. Why didn't RHO return a spade after winning the heart? I played for the endplay (thought about it before finishing the clubs). At the other table they just played 2NT.

3♠ seems normal, 4♠ is not wrong either.

Count me on the 3NT bidders.

Hm, I play 3♥ shows only 2 cards, 3NT at least 3 cards, 4♥ minimum with 4♥'s. I'll transfer and either stop in 4♥ if partner has a fit or bid 5♣ if he doesn't. Hopefully he won't think I'm exclusionkcing...

♥K and then a spade, probably. Unless dummy asks for something else. Having watched that dummy, I'll return ♥A and another heart next.

Do I have any agreement on what the X means? If it's T.O. 5♠. If it's intended to punish one of their suits 5♦.

4NT. I'm betting pard has the minor. However he'd bid 5♠ if he doesn't, right?

♠KJxxxx ♥9x ♦Jx ♣Axx Bidding goes: P-P-1♦-2♠ 3♣-P-3NT-All Pass What do you lead? Opponents play 5-card Majors and best minor. Their 1NT range is (14)15-17.

2NT-3C-3D-3NT

♠Kx ♥QJT8 ♦x ♣AQT976 They're vulnerable, you're not. Partner passes and RHO opens 2NT. Up to you...

♠xxx ♥Txxx ♦Jx ♣A9xx ♠Ax ♥AJx ♦AT7x ♣KQJx Playing 3NT, I got a small diamond lead winning in my hand with the ten over RHO 9. I tried the clubs RHO had Tx and then played a heart to the 10 which RHO won with the Queen. A diamond was returned to the Queen and the King, RHO playing a small encouraging spade. I won and with the lead on my hand reached this: ♠xx ♥xxx ♦ ♣A9 ♠A8 ♥AJ ♦7 ♣Jx RHO will toss two hearts, LHO one spade on the clubs, where do you want to be and what will you play?

And he'd say 1♣.

Being the ♥J (or hearts 3-3) what gives 12 tricks I think it'll be a MP decision to go to 6NT instead of 6♠, and not a very good one at that.